GIS Spatial Analysis and Modeling

study book and selected readings. Rather, key concepts and principles must be well understood, then synthesised and applied. Read the information about ‘Plagiarism and academic misconduct’ in the previous section.

Please use the Harvard Style of referencing in citing all your sources, including web pages and course study materials. Deduction of marks may apply for ignoring this instruction.

1.Compare and contrast a) vector and b) raster data structures in representing a network in GIS. Cite an application (including specific example) where a network is better represented as raster data than vector data. Explain.

2. In the context of measuring shape, compare and contrast the concepts of sinuosity and spatial integrity. Provide your own example for each measure.

3. How does fuzzy logic different from Boolean logic in a GIS context? Provide your own example. What are the different methods/ways in defining the fuzzy membership functions? In your own words, describe the characteristics and a possible application of a sigmoidal membership function.

4. Explain the relative strengths and limitations of distance calculations/measurements for (a) vector and (b) raster data structure. Give an example (application) where distance calculation/measurement is better implemented in vector data (rather than raster data). Draw and discuss an example of a distance calculation in raster data.

5. Explain Figure 10.3 ‘Accuracy of Raster Data’ of module 10 (Study book). How can you avoid these potential problems or errors when using raster data?

6. In the GIS context, explain the meaning of the ‘smallest-scale rule’? Provide examples. What possible reason(s) can you cite for ignoring (i.e. not adopting) this rule? Explain.

7. Explain the principles and rationale involved in using variable buffers in vector data. Draw an example of how variable buffers can be applied in flood risk modeling. Explain your illustration.

8. Refer to Selected Reading 6 The Most Beautiful Formulae in GIS, by Water (1995). If you are working on a site suitability assessment for a shopping mall location, which three of the ten spatial formulae will you use most? Why? Provide your own assumptions, if needed.