Vector data is used to represent real world features in a GIS. A vector feature can have a geometry type of point, line or a polygon. Each vector feature has attribute data that describes it. Feature geometry is described in terms of vertices. Point geometries are made up of a single vertex (X,Y and optionally Z).
Vector data is the most common type of GIS data. Most data loaded into a GIS software program tends to be in vector data. Vector data represents geographic data symbolized as points, lines, or polygons. Raster data represents geographic data as a matrix of cells that each contains an attribute value.
Vector data is a geographic data type where data is stored as a collection of points, lines, or polygons along with attribute data. Individual points recorded as coordinate pairs, which represent a physical position in the world, make up vector data at its most basic level.
Spatial data types provide the information that a computer requires to reconstruct the spatial data in digital form. In the raster world, we have grid cells representing real-world features. In the vector world, we have points, lines, and polygons that consist of vertices and paths.
The vector model uses points and line segments to identify locations on the earth while the raster model uses a series of cells to represent locations on the earth. The figure represents vector (left) versus raster (right) data.
Raster files display a wider array of colors, permit greater color editing, and show finer light and shading than vectors — but they lose image quality when resized. An easy way to tell if an image is raster or vector is to increase its size. If the image becomes blurred or pixelated, it's most likely a raster file.
In comparison between the two forms of data, there are particular advantages and disadvantages of use. Vector data is considered to be a more traditional method for cartographic representation, it delivers a representation that is sharp, clean and scalable. Also it is more visually aesthetically pleasing.
The raster map is loaded by default, and loads the map as a grid of pixel-based raster image tiles, which are generated by Google Maps Platform server-side, then served to your web app.
Vector data formats that are common for sharing data are shapefile, GeoJSON, OpenStreetMap (for OpenStreetMap data), and CSV (for point data).
main characteristics of vector data are well represented as points, lines, or polygons, complex data structure, little storage space, topology is easily maintained, visualization is more pleasing and features are identified.
There are two types of data to be entered in a GIS - spatial (geographic location of features) and non-spatial (descriptive or numeric information about features).
3.1 Data Types
A vector contains values that are homogeneous primitive elements. That is, a numeric vector contains only real numbers, a logical vector stores values that are either TRUE or FALSE , and character vectors store strings.
Three fundamental vector types exist in geographic information systems (GISs): points, lines, and polygons (Figure 4.8 "Points, Lines, and Polygons"). Points. In a GIS, points have only the property of location.
Spatial data can be referred to as geographic data or geospatial data. Spatial data provides the information that identifies the location of features and boundaries on Earth. Spatial data can be processed and analysed using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or Image Processing packages.
A shapefile (. shp) is a vector data storage format for storing the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features. A shapefile is stored in a set of related files and contains one feature class.
The most common types of vector file are AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), PDF (Portable Document Format), and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).
The three basic symbol types for vector data are points, lines, and polygons (areas). These GIS file formats house vector data. The shapefile is BY FAR the most common geospatial file type you'll encounter. All commercial and open source accept shapefile as a GIS format.
You can use vectors in PowerPoint. Unlike JPEG and PNG images, vector images are made up of mathematical expressions instead of pixels. One of the major advantages of this format is that vectors and graphics for PowerPoint can be scaled up and down without losing its quality.
Raster GISs (grid cell) work by storing attribute data as grid cell values. Raster GISs have superior analytical power to vector GISs, but grid cell map presentation tends to be less attractive than vector map presentation. Choosing an appropriate cell resolution can be tricky.
Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) data sets are raster (occasionally vector) files developed by classifying raw satellite data into land use and land cover classes.
Disadvantages of Vector Data Structures
More complex Data Structures. Combination of several vector polygon maps or polygon and raster maps through overlay creates difficulties. Simulation is difficult because each unit has a different topological form.
Vector formats take up less space than raster image formats, so working with vector graphics decreases the amount of storage needed for your art files. Smaller file sizes also make it quicker and easier to share images via email or file-sharing applications.