1. Spatial Join – A function that combines the attributes of features in two layers based on
containment or distance. Each join is either a distance join or an inside join. With a spatial join,
you can:
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Find the closest features to another feature.
Find what is inside a feature.
Find what intersects a feature.
2. Distance Join – A function that combines the information from two feature tables based on the
features that lie closest to each other.
For example, you can find what attraction is closest to each hotel and how many attractions are
closest to each hotel.
3. Inside Join - combining the information from two feature tables based on one feature that lies
inside another.
For example, you can find out what county each school resides as well as how many
schools are in each county.
4. One-to-one join – A join where the attributes being joined have one record of the first table
corresponding to only one record of the second table.
For example, joining state capitals to states
5. Many-to-one join – A join where the attributes being joined have one record that is being
shared by many records after the join is completed
For example, joining county information with the corresponding schools would be many-to-one.
6. One-to-many join – A join where the attributes being joined have many records that are
combined with one record. This is not possible without combining the records in some way such
as a summary.
For example, how many schools are in each county? Or how many attractions are closest to
each hotel?
7. Simple joins – can be inside or distance joins, but they are either many-to-one or one-to-one
and never one-to-many. No attribute information needs to be combined to process a simple
join.
For example, In which county is each school located? And which attraction is closest to each
hotel?
Summarized joins – can be inside or distance joins with the relationship of one-to-many so that
the attribute information must be combined in order to complete the join.
For example, how many schools are in each of the counties? And how many attractions are
closest to each hotel? (page 158)
8. Geoprocessing – analysis of spatial data layers, such as dissolving, intersecting, and merging
9. Map Overlay – to combine two spatial data layers, either for display or to evaluate the
relationships between them
10. Clip Tool – used to remove features and portions of features that lie outside of the features of
another layer
11. Erase Tool – an overlay function that removes features lying inside the external boundary of
another polygon feature class
12. Intersect Tool – an operation to overlay two spatial data layers and find areas common to both
while discarding areas unique to either
13. Union Tool – an operation to create a new feature of set of features by combining all the areas
from two input layers
14. Polygon Sliver – a small polygon created during map overlay due to slight boundary differences
in the inputs; usually considered an error
15. Dissolve Tool – used to combine features together when they share the same value of an
attribute
16. Buffer Tool – used to delineate an area within a specified distance of a feature
17. Append/Merge Tool – used to combine two or more layers (or map features) into a single layer
(or map feature)
18. Python script – A programming language that can be used to build models for regular and
repeated query in model builder
19. ArcGIS Model Builder – a graphics interface used to combine existing tools including python to
create new tools and scripts. It’s repeatable, reusable, and easy to edit.
20. ArcGIS Environment Settings – Program-level or too-level settings that impact how tools run or
set characteristics of the output, such as cell size or coordinate system
21. Calculate Geometry Tool – can add information on feature areas, perimeters, lengths, or x-y
centroids on a table
22. Dangle node – a line feature that fails to connect to another line feature leaving a gap
23. Snapping – ensuring that features within a specified distance are automatically adjusted to meet
at exactly the same location to avoid gaps between features
24. Snap tolerance – a distance set during editing such that new vertices close to an existing feature
are snapped to it
25. Node snapping – only allows a new vertex to be snapped to the endpoints of an existing line
26. Edge snapping – constrains the feature being added to meet the edge of an existing line or
polygon feature
27. Edge matching – a spatial adjustment process that aligns features along the edge of an extent to
the corresponding features in the adjustment extent
28. Map algebra – a language that defines a syntax for combining map themes by applying
mathematical operations and analytical functions to create new map themes
29. Reclassify – to replace sets or ranges of values in a raster with different sets or ranges of values
30. Integer raster – a type of discrete raster which has integer values for each cell
31. Floating point raster – a raster for which each point has a floating point value which can be a
negative or positive number with a decimal
32. Spatial analyst – a program extension to ArcMap that is used to analyze raster data
33. Raster mapping – a raster layer applied during analysis to nullify unwanted cells, such as those
outside a study area boundary
34. Personal geodatabase – a geodatabase that stores data in Microsoft Office. A personal
geodatabase can be read simultaneously by multiple users, but only one user at a time can edit
the same data
35. Feature Dataset – a set of feature classes in a geodatabase that share a common coordinate
system and can participate in networks and topology
36. Geodatabase annotation – labels created from map features and stored separately for detailed
editing
37. FGDC – (Federal Geographic Data Committee) an organization that promotes and establishes
standards for exchange of data
38. Metadata standard – defined format for recording metadata by the FGDC
39. Positional accuracy – a measure of the likelihood that features on a map are actually in the
locations specified
40. XML – (eXtensible Markup Language) a tagged text presentation format used to store metadata