Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

What is the most probable structure for all the assessor plats scanned into a GIS file?

1. Vector data structure

2. Metadata structure

3. Raster data structure

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Raster data structure

The most probable structure for all the assessor plats scanned into a Geographic Information System (GIS) file is a raster data structure. Assessor plats are typically drawn maps or drawings representing land parcels, which when scanned, are converted into a series of pixels or grids that form an image. This imaging format aligns well with raster data structures, where geographic information is represented in a matrix of cells or pixels. Raster data is particularly effective for these types of scanned images because it allows for the representation of continuous phenomena and spatial information in a format that can be easily manipulated for analysis and visualization. Each pixel in a raster dataset corresponds to a specific value and displays specific attributes of the scanned image, such as color or intensity. Vectors, on the other hand, represent discrete entities using points, lines, and polygons with defined coordinates, which is not applicable for scanned images that are inherently pixel-based. Metadata structures pertain to data that provides information about other data, which does not match the primary function of scanned assessor plats as geographic representations. Therefore, raster data structure emerges as the most appropriate choice for this context.