Most often, classified raster data is continuous data, and from those continuous layers, we can extract the information we would need to create discrete data. The slope must pass through all of the percentages to gradually rise (some places that rise is much more rapid, but the slope must still pass through all the values first). Slopes (with the exception of cliffs) do not just change from 0% to 47% by taking one step forward on a hike. Each defined value on the scale of descriptive values must exist in order to arrive at the next one. Normal transverse, obliqueĪre all examples of continuous data. Most often a cone, cylinder, or plane (azimuthal)įaces in relation to the geographic coordinate system. Used as the base shape to transfer features during projections. The difference between the highest and lowest point within a particular area while landforms are the descriptive words for individual featuresĪnd a single point on the Earth's surfaceĪ geometric shape which will not be distorted when flattened. The word is a Greek-rooted combo of topos meaning 'place' and graphein 'to write.' It includes the mountains, hills, creeks, and other bumps and lumps on a particular hunk of earth. The measurement above or below the global average at a single point on the Earth's surface used for recording the elevation ofĪ detailed map of the surface features of land. They wouldn't have a comprehension of Colorado or Kansas as independent objects. If Colorado, represented by discrete data, was absorbed by Kansas and a new border was drawn, future generations would not have experience with Colorado or Kansas - their reality might be Kansarado, a state with a clear and define boundary. Just because it doesn't have a label doesn't mean it doesn't exist or you have no comprehension of what it is. Even if you removed 75☏ from the English language, 75☏ will not cease to exist. Continuous data will continue to exist even if you take away one portion of it (which is impossible). 3.4.2: Continuous DataĬontinuous data is the opposite of discrete data, data which does not have clear and definable boundaries, but instead makes a 'blanket' of data across a landscape, defined with interval-ratio of values. Discrete data can be any of the three geometries: points, polylines, or polygons, or one or many pixels of a raster layer. The State of Colorado could continue to exist even if all the other states suddenly dissolved their boundaries similarly, we can have a map of just Colorado. The United States has a clear and definable administrative boundary, as does each state in the Union.

For example, a vector layer (a generic name for spatial data) showing the continental United States could be categorized as discrete data. 3.4.1: Discrete Dataĭiscrete data is data that represents features which can exist independently with clear and definable boundaries, even when part of a larger data set. While both raster and vector data can contain data with either discrete or continuous, most often, vector data is described as discrete while raster is described as continuous. The spatial distribution of raster and vector data can be placed into two descriptive categories: discrete data and continuous data.

Point measure discrete