Exercise Three - Ed's Answers

I'm going to be posting my answers to the exercises and I invite everyone to critique them and let me know if my answers differ from your own so we can discuss the differences until we have agreement on a final, correct answer.

• What data model would you consider and why?
• I would consider using a VECTOR data model because the university map is a two-dimensional (x, y coordinates) drawing which is not concerned with depth, a gradient scale, or frequency of motion or events (rate).  All of the latter of which are z coordinates.
• How many layers would you use to organize the geographic information?  What are they?
• In order to create the map, I would use layers which display similar information; rather than displaying many type of information on a single or a couple of layers.  For instance, I would group the layers as follows:
• Layer one would show the building shapes and the shape surrounding the building identifier.
• Layer two would show the building numbers
• Layer three would show the building abbreviations and building names
• Layer four would show the streets
• Layer five would show the street names
• Layer six would show the data dictionaries (legends)
• Layer seven would show the outlying alphanumeric grid markers
• List the type of feature class for each layer and explain why you chose to select a particular feature class to represent a type of object.
• Layer one would be composed of polygons because I think this is the best representation of a bulding shape and building identifier shape.
• Layer two would be composed of strings (text) because most of the buildings are identified by numbers, letters, or a combination of both.
• Layer three would be composed of strings (text) because most, if not all, of the buildings are identified by numbers, letters, or a combination of both.
• Layer four would be composed of lines because streets are best represented by lines.
• Layer five would be composed of stings (text) because names are normally text.
• Layer six would be composed of strings (text) because most of the information inside the data dictionary is text.
• Layer seven would be composed of strings (text) because the outlying grid is made up of entirely numbers and letters.
• List the possible attributes for each file (layer).
• Layer one could have the building dimensions (sq ft), age, construction type, etc.
• Layer two could have details about what the identifiers mean, for example, LIBR = Library, COBA = College of Business Administration, ELAB = Engineering laboratory, etc.
• Layer three could explain what each number means, for example, 49 = Student parking lot, F10 = Faculty/Staff Parking Lot
• Layer four could categorize the streets as minor, general, or major.
• Layer five could expand street abbreviations.
• Layer six could give more details about the one-word descriptions.
• Layer seven could have the directions relative to the center of the map, for example, north of center, southwest of center, etc.
• List the data measurements of each attribute.
• Layer one = square feet, years:months
• Layer two = no data measurements
• Layer three = no data measurements
• Layer four = one car lane, two car lane, three car lanes or more
• Layer five = no data measurements
• Layer six= no data measurements
• Layer seven= no data measurements
• Give an example about what you would include in a data dictionary.
• What building abbreviations mean.
• What building shapes designate.
• What building colors (if map is a color-map) mean.