American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which statement is true about vectors in GIS?

1. GIS mapping function that displays maps.

2. Vectors is an acronym for coordinated geometry.

3. A mainframe computer system with GIS.

4. Vectors are to raster, as line art is to photography.

The correct answer is: Vectors are to raster, as line art is to photography.

The statement indicating that vectors are to raster as line art is to photography accurately reflects the fundamental differences between these two types of data representation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Vectors represent data through points, lines, and polygons, allowing for precise, scalable representations of geographic features. This is similar to line art, which consists of distinct lines and shapes with no gradients or continuous tones. In contrast, raster data is composed of a grid of pixels, akin to photography, where images are made up of color gradations over a continuous surface. This analogy helps to clarify the nature of vector data as providing clean, clear lines and shapes, whereas raster data blends together in a pixelated format, capturing more detailed, and often continuous, information that supports photographs or images. This understanding is crucial for GIS professionals when choosing the appropriate data type for a specific application or analysis.