The 3 main components of Geographic Information Systems are:
1. Data
GIS stores location data as thematic layers. Each data set has an attribute table that stores information about the feature. The two main types of GIS data are raster and vector:
Raster Pixels
Raster
Raster data look like grids because they store data in rows and columns. They can be discrete or continuous. For example, we often represent land cover, temperature data, and imagery as raster data.
Editing Trace
Vector
Vectors are points, lines, and polygons with vertices. For example, fire hydrants, contours, and administrative boundaries are often vectors.
