GIS Glossary/0-9

GIS Glossary

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.bat file
A file that contains commands that can be run in a command window. It is used to perform repetitive tasks and to run scheduled commands, and is also referred to as a batch file.

.dbf
A database file format. In the ArcWeb Services Web site, users can upload data into Builder as either a DBF file or a shapefile (SHP).

.NET
A framework, developed by Microsoft, that compiles any of several COM-based programming languages into machine-executable language. The .NET framework also acts as a Web service toolkit.

1NF
The first level of guidelines for designing table and data structures in a relational database. The first normal form guideline recommends creating a unique key for every row in a database table, eliminating duplicate columns from a table, and creating separate tables to contain related data. A database that follows these guidelines is said to be in first normal form.

2NF
The second level of guidelines for designing table and data structures in a relational database. The second-normal-form guideline incorporates the guidelines of first normal form; in addition, it recommends removing data that applies to multiple rows in a table into its own table and using a foreign key to create a relationship to the original table. A database that follows these guidelines is said to be in second normal form.

3D feature
A representation of a three-dimensional, real-world object in a map or scene, with elevation values (z-values) stored within the feature's geometry. Besides geometry, 3D features may have attributes stored in a feature table. In applications such as CAD, 3D features are often referred to as 3D models.

3D graphic
A representation of a three-dimensional, real-world object in a map or scene, with elevation values (z-values) stored within the feature's geometry. Unlike 3D features, 3D graphics do not have attributes.

3D model
A construct used to portray an object in three dimensions. In GIS, 3D models are often referred to as 3D features.

3D multipatch
In ArcGIS, a type of geometry comprised of planar three-dimensional rings and triangles, used in combination to model objects that occupy discrete area or volume in three-dimensional space. Multipatches may represent geometric objects like spheres and cubes, or real-world objects like buildings and trees.

3D polygon
A three-dimensional object or volume defined by a number of plane faces or polygons.

3D scene
In the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension and ArcView 3.x, a document type that is used to display three-dimensional data. It consists of a table of contents and a display area called a viewer. The viewer has a control bar with buttons and tools that can adjust the display of 3D data and identify and select features. A 3D scene may contain multiple viewers showing the same data from different perspectives.

3D shape
A point, line, or polygon that stores x-, y-, and z-coordinates as part of its geometry. A point has one set of z-coordinates; lines and polygons have z-coordinates for each vertex in a shape.

3D style
In ArcScene and ArcGlobe, a library containing 3D symbols.

3D symbol
A symbol with properties that allow it to be rendered in three dimensions.

3NF
The third level of guidelines for designing table and data structures in a relational database. The third-normal-form guideline incorporates the guidelines of first and second normal form; in addition, it recommends removing from a table those columns that do not depend on the table's primary key. A database that follows these guidelines is said to be in third normal form.