G-4
Glossary
extrusion the extending of a flat object to have a
z-value.
face one of the sides of a block object.
false color composite an image arranged by not
placing the red band in the red color gun, the green
band in the green color gun, and the blue band in the
blue color gun.
false easting a measurement made east (or west) of
an imaginary meridian set up for a particular zone.
false northing a measurement made north (or south)
of an imaginary line such as used in measuring UTM
northings in the southern hemisphere.
fields the columns of an attribute table.
fonts various styles of lettering used on maps.
Galileo the European Union’s GNSS, currently in
development.
geocaching using GPS to find locations of hidden
objects based on previously obtaining a set of
coordinates.
geocoding the process of using the text of an address
to plot a point at that location on a map.
geodatabase a single file that can contain multiple
datasets, each as its own feature class.
geodesy the science of measuring Earth’s shape.
GeoEye-1 a satellite launched in 2008 by the GeoEye
company, which features a spatial resolution of 41
centimeters with its panchromatic sensor.
Geographic Alliance Network a National
Geographic-sponsored organization set up in each
state to promote geographic education.
geographic coordinate system (GCS) a set of
global latitude and longitude measurements used as a
reference system for finding locations.
Geographic Information System (GIS) a
computer-based set of hardware and software used
to capture, analyze, manipulate, and visualize spatial
information.
geographic scale the real-world size or extent of an area.
geoid a model of Earth using mean sea level as a base.
GeoPDF a format that allows for maps to be exported
to a PDF format, yet contain geographic information
or multiple layers.
geoprocessing the term that describes when an
action is taken to a dataset that results in a new
dataset being created.
georeferencing a process whereby spatial referencing
is given to data without it.
geospatial data items that are tied to a specific realworld location.
geospatial technology a number of different hightech systems that acquire, analyze, manage, store, or
visualize various types of location-based data.
geostationary orbit an orbit in which an object
rotates around Earth at the same speed as Earth.
GeoTIFF a graphical file format that can also carry
spatial referencing.
GeoWall a powerful computer tool used for
displaying data and imagery in stereoscopic 3D.
GIS Day the Wednesday of Geography Awareness
Week (observed in November) dedicated to GIS.
GIS Model a representation of the factors used for
explaining the processes that underlie an event or for
predicting results.
Global Positioning System (GPS) acquiring realtime location information from a series of satellites in
Earth’s orbit.
GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit
the Environment—an education program aimed at
incorporating user-generated data observations from
around the world.
GLONASS the former USSR’s (now Russia’s) GNSS,
currently rebuilding to a constellation of satellites.
GloVis the Global Visualization Viewer set up by
the USGS for viewing and downloading satellite
imagery.
GNSS the Global Navigation Satellite System, an
overall term for the technologies using signals from
satellites for finding locations on Earth’s surface.
Google Earth a freely available virtual globe program
first released in 2005 by Google.
Google SketchUp a 3D modeling and design
software program distributed online by Google, it
contains linkages with Google Earth.
GOS the Geospatial One-Stop, an online federal
government portal used for obtaining geospatial
data.
GPS the Global Positioning System, a technology
using signals broadcast from satellites for navigation
and position determination on Earth.
graduated symbols the use of different sized
symbology to convey thematic information on a map.
Glossary
extrusion the extending of a flat object to have a
z-value.
face one of the sides of a block object.
false color composite an image arranged by not
placing the red band in the red color gun, the green
band in the green color gun, and the blue band in the
blue color gun.
false easting a measurement made east (or west) of
an imaginary meridian set up for a particular zone.
false northing a measurement made north (or south)
of an imaginary line such as used in measuring UTM
northings in the southern hemisphere.
fields the columns of an attribute table.
fonts various styles of lettering used on maps.
Galileo the European Union’s GNSS, currently in
development.
geocaching using GPS to find locations of hidden
objects based on previously obtaining a set of
coordinates.
geocoding the process of using the text of an address
to plot a point at that location on a map.
geodatabase a single file that can contain multiple
datasets, each as its own feature class.
geodesy the science of measuring Earth’s shape.
GeoEye-1 a satellite launched in 2008 by the GeoEye
company, which features a spatial resolution of 41
centimeters with its panchromatic sensor.
Geographic Alliance Network a National
Geographic-sponsored organization set up in each
state to promote geographic education.
geographic coordinate system (GCS) a set of
global latitude and longitude measurements used as a
reference system for finding locations.
Geographic Information System (GIS) a
computer-based set of hardware and software used
to capture, analyze, manipulate, and visualize spatial
information.
geographic scale the real-world size or extent of an area.
geoid a model of Earth using mean sea level as a base.
GeoPDF a format that allows for maps to be exported
to a PDF format, yet contain geographic information
or multiple layers.
geoprocessing the term that describes when an
action is taken to a dataset that results in a new
dataset being created.
georeferencing a process whereby spatial referencing
is given to data without it.
geospatial data items that are tied to a specific realworld location.
geospatial technology a number of different hightech systems that acquire, analyze, manage, store, or
visualize various types of location-based data.
geostationary orbit an orbit in which an object
rotates around Earth at the same speed as Earth.
GeoTIFF a graphical file format that can also carry
spatial referencing.
GeoWall a powerful computer tool used for
displaying data and imagery in stereoscopic 3D.
GIS Day the Wednesday of Geography Awareness
Week (observed in November) dedicated to GIS.
GIS Model a representation of the factors used for
explaining the processes that underlie an event or for
predicting results.
Global Positioning System (GPS) acquiring realtime location information from a series of satellites in
Earth’s orbit.
GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit
the Environment—an education program aimed at
incorporating user-generated data observations from
around the world.
GLONASS the former USSR’s (now Russia’s) GNSS,
currently rebuilding to a constellation of satellites.
GloVis the Global Visualization Viewer set up by
the USGS for viewing and downloading satellite
imagery.
GNSS the Global Navigation Satellite System, an
overall term for the technologies using signals from
satellites for finding locations on Earth’s surface.
Google Earth a freely available virtual globe program
first released in 2005 by Google.
Google SketchUp a 3D modeling and design
software program distributed online by Google, it
contains linkages with Google Earth.
GOS the Geospatial One-Stop, an online federal
government portal used for obtaining geospatial
data.
GPS the Global Positioning System, a technology
using signals broadcast from satellites for navigation
and position determination on Earth.
graduated symbols the use of different sized
symbology to convey thematic information on a map.