"A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data."
The way data is organized and stored in a GIS, including vector and raster data types.
Arrays: A collection of elements with a fixed size, typically used to store and manipulate data.
Linked Lists: A data structure consisting of a sequence of nodes, each containing a reference to the next node in the sequence.
Stacks: A data structure that supports last-in first-out (LIFO) behavior, often used to implement function call stacks and expression evaluation.
Queues: A data structure that supports first-in first-out (FIFO) behavior, often used as a buffering or synchronization mechanism.
Trees: A hierarchical data structure consisting of nodes, with one node designated as the root and each node having zero or more child nodes.
Graphs: A collection of nodes and edges, where each edge connects two nodes and represents a relationship between them.
Hash Tables: A data structure that maps keys to values, allowing constant-time access to data based on a unique identifier.
Sets: A collection of unique elements, often used to simplify data manipulation operations.
Maps: A data structure that maps keys to values, similar to hash tables but with additional functionality and constraints.
Algorithms: A set of steps or procedures for solving a specific problem or achieving a particular goal, often involving data structures and optimization techniques.
Sorting: A set of techniques for arranging data elements in a specific order, such as alphabetical or numerical order.
Searching: A set of techniques for finding specific data elements within a larger data set, often using binary search, linear search, or other algorithms.
Spatial Analysis: A set of techniques and tools for analyzing spatial data, often using GIS software and related tools.
Data Visualization: A set of techniques and tools for presenting data in a visual format, often using charts, graphs, maps, or other visualizations.
Data Mining: A set of techniques and tools for discovering patterns or relationships in large data sets, often using statistical analysis, machine learning, or other methods.
Parallel Computing: A set of techniques and tools for processing large amounts of data in parallel, often using distributed computing frameworks or specialized hardware.
Optimization: A set of techniques and tools for maximizing or minimizing a particular objective or function, often used in data analysis and decision-making processes.
Data Structures in Programming Languages: An overview of how data structures are implemented and used in various programming languages, such as C++, Java, Python, and others.
Point: A data type used to represent a single location in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space.
Line: A data structure used to represent a series of connected points. Lines can be used to represent roads, rivers, or other linear features.
Polygon: A data structure used to represent an area on a map. Polygons are made up of a series of connected lines and can be used to represent things like parks, buildings, or lakes.
Grid: A two-dimensional data structure used to represent a continuous field of values, such as temperature or elevation. Grids are often used in spatial analysis for modeling terrain or climate patterns.
Network: A data structure used to represent a network of connected points and lines, such as a transportation system or a power grid.
Raster: A type of grid data structure that represents data as a series of regularly spaced cells or pixels. Rasters are often used in remote sensing and image analysis.
"[A GIS] consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data."
"Much of this often happens within a spatial database, however, this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS."
"One may consider such a system also to include human users and support staff, procedures and workflows, the body of knowledge of relevant concepts and methods, and institutional organizations."
"The uncounted plural, geographic information systems, also abbreviated GIS, is the most common term for the industry and profession concerned with these systems."
"The academic discipline that studies these systems and their underlying geographic principles, may also be abbreviated as GIS, but the unambiguous GIScience is more common."
"They are attached to various operations and numerous applications, that relate to: engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, and business."
"GIS and location intelligence applications are at the foundation of location-enabled services, which rely on geographic analysis and visualization."
"GIS provides the capability to relate previously unrelated information, through the use of location as the 'key index variable'."
"Locations and extents that are found in the Earth's spacetime are able to be recorded through the date and time of occurrence, along with x, y, and z coordinates."
"[x, y, and z coordinates representing] longitude (x), latitude (y), and elevation (z)."
"All Earth-based, spatial-temporal, location and extent references should be relatable to one another, and ultimately, to a 'real' physical location or extent."
"This key characteristic of GIS has begun to open new avenues of scientific inquiry and studies." Note: Since not all 20 questions can be answered directly by quotes from the paragraph, I have provided answers for the available quotes.