Geospatial data shows where features or objects exist in the world; for instance, the physical locations of cities, rivers, or roads. It's used in GPS systems, mapping apps on your phone, and by researchers and planners to understand and manage the world around us.
Geospatial data helps us model real-world features like buildings, roads, lakes, and property boundaries on a computer screen using GIS (Geographic Information System) software. These real-world features have attributes associated with their location, like the address of a building, the length of a road, or the types of trees in a forest.
There are two types of geospatial data.
- Vector data is represented by points, lines, and areas (or polygons) which are discrete locations on a map. For example, it is common to see cities represented as points on a map, roads and rivers as lines, and lakes and provincial boundaries as areas.
- Raster data is represented by a matrix of cells or pixels (like a digital image) and is used to model continuous real-world phenomena, like temperature or elevation change.
MaDGIC can help you find, analyze, and visualize geospatial data in a GIS and other specialized software packages available to current Trent students, staff and faculty. To find out more about our services and facilities contact MaDGIC for personalized support.