GEOG 3813     GIS     Mid-Term Exam (Take-Home)

Assigned: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 (actually online Oct. 7)     Due: Noon, Wednesday, October 19, 2005

You may refer to your notes, handouts, the textbooks, software manuals and help, software, information on the World Wide Web, or any other printed reference material, BUT YOU MAY NOT DISCUSS THE EXAM IN ANY WAY WITH ANYONE EXCEPT THE INSTRUCTOR (except during class time on October 7, when we'll overview the exam as a class). By submitting your answers to the instructor you certify that you have complied with these instructions. Think about and organize your answer before you begin to write. Answer each question concisely, yet completely. Be sure to address each part of multiple-part questions. Your answers must be wordprocessed and printed out (some questions may also require a file or files to be submitted on disk). IT IS BEST TO PUT THE ANSWERS ENTIRELY IN YOUR OWN WORDS. IF YOU MUST QUOTE VERY SHORT PASSAGES (A SENTENCE OR TWO), BE SURE TO GIVE THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR FULL CREDIT IN A COMPLETE CITATION (otherwise, it is plagiarism which will earn you a ZERO on this entire exam and make you subject to other possible disciplinary action through the Office of Student Affairs; if you do not understand what plagiarism is or how to avoid it, please check this webpage http://ollie.dcccd.edu/library/Module4/M4-VII/plagar.htm ). You must write in complete sentences.  You will be graded on content, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  The exam is worth 100 points; the value of each question is given in brackets following the question number.

1.  [35]  Assume you have been assigned the task of introducing, explaining, and demonstrating what a GIS is and how it could be used in one of the following fields: demography, marketing, environmental management, wildlife management, or urban planning (your choice). Your presentation is for a junior-level, college class in one of those disciplines who have had no previous introduction to GIS. You will have only 45 minutes for your presentation.

(a)  Write up a detailed outline of your presentation, making sure there is enough substance to your outline that it is clear what will be covered.

(b)  Develop either an ArcGIS demonstration (saved as a map document on diskette or CD with appropriate access to data files) or a Worldwide Web-based demonstration (saved on diskette or CD as an HTML document with functional links)  or a PowerPoint presentation (saved on diskette or CD) to illustrate your discussion. Check "Build Your Own Webpage" in the WWW material for this class if you choose to develop a WWW-based demonstration.  Be sure to list the filename of the map document, HTML file, or PowerPoint file in your write up so that I can access it.


2.  [20]  Vector vs. Raster

(a)  Define vector and raster data structure (or data model).   Use at least one paragraph each to explain and describe each of these data structures.

(b)  Which types of applications are best suited to vector structure and which types to raster structure and WHY?


3.  [15]  Explain and compare (how they are similar) the following two coordinate systems:  (a) UTM and (b) State Plane Coordinate System.

4.  [15]  Explain each of the following classfication methods that can be used in ArcGIS and give a real-world example of when it would be appropriate to use each method:

(a) Natural Breaks (Jenks), (b) Equal Interval, (c) Quantile, (d) Standard Deviation, and (e) Manual. 


5.  [15]  Answer the following questions about map projections.

(a)  Why are map projections necessary in order to construct a flat map?

(b)  Describe the three general categories or types of map projections and note an application in which each would be appropriate:  conic, cylindrical, and planar.
Revised October 7, 2005.