Examination and Study Questions for Map Projections and Coordinate Systems
- Essay Questions
- Short Answer
- Multiple-choice
Limit each essay to two double-spaced typewritten pages plus references.
- What special problems arise from attempts to create a seamless or continous digital map from conventional map sources?
- In what ways does the long and widespread use of SPC, UTM, COGO, and USPLS reference systems limit the possibility of building regional and state-wide GIS?
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Limit your answers to no more than 100 words.
- List three ways in which scale can be indicated on a map. Give examples.
- Township and range surveying was used in Texas, but the surveys are unaligned with USPLS meridians. Why?
- What is metes and bounds surveying and how is it used to measure and record land records?
- In preparing map projections, what is the difference between the terms "case" and "aspect?"
- The US Public Land Survey is a method of cadastral partitioning. How has it influenced the appearance of the American landscape and why?
- What is the rationale behind both the State Plane Coordinate and Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate systems?
- From the standpoint of locational reference systems (SPC and UTM) and methods of cadastral partitioning (USPLS, metes and bounds, etc.), why is Texas such an unusual state?
- What four sorts of distortion may be produced when geographic positions are projected onto two-dimensional maps? Which of these factors does a UTM projection retain?
- Describe the Township and Range land surveying system. Use a diagram.
- What is a false origin? In practice, why are they always placed outside of the map zone being used?
- How is land surveyed in the metes and bounds system? Use a diagram.
- You have two maps of the University of Texas campus, one of 1:1000 scale and the other of 1:200,000 scale. Which is the larger scale map? Which map would be more useful for planning bicycle routes on campus?
- What four types of information can be distorted by map projection?
- Which land surveying system uses principal meridians and baselines?
- On any projected map, where is the map the most accurate? Why?
- In a state of Texas's size, why can't SPC or UTM coordinates be used for mapping and GIS projects that span the entire state?
- Why are conformal projections preferred for most GIS applications?
- Why was the State Plane Coordinate System such an important advance for mapping in the US?
- How have different land surveying systems affected the cultural landscape of Texas?
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Choose the best or most appropriate answer(s) to the question.
- An automated multi-purpose cadastre can be used to:
- maintain county tax records
- produce zoning maps
- dispatch ambulances
- plan new subdivisions
- allocate municipal resources
- prepare architectural plans for government buildings
- Which of the following statements are true of both SPC and UTM coordinate systems?
- both SPC and UTM are for mapping in the US
- both SPC and UTM employ conformal, equidistant projections
- within the US both systems yield horizontal coordinates of equal precision
- UTM zones correspond to state boundaries, whereas SPC zone are aligned with county boundaries
- Which system incorporate a false origin to measure position within a Cartesian grid?
- metes and bounds
- State Plane Coordinate System (SPC)
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
- Township and Range
- long lots
- Which of the following are true about the SPC?
- accuracy is 1 part in 10000
- the system is best used in regional and statewide GIS projects
- city governments resist using the SPC because of cost
- both A and B
- none of the above
- Which of the following land surveying systems were employed in the State of Texas?
- metes and bounds
- township and range
- Spanish riparian systems
- UTM zones
- SPC zones
- all of the above
- 1, 2, 3
- None of the above
- 4, 5
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Created on 22 Dec 95. Revised on 5 February 2000. LNC