Vector (discrete)
and
Raster (continuous) Models
GIS works with three fundamentally
different types of geographic data
models:
Vector (discrete), Raster (continuous)
and TIN
In the vector model, information about points,
lines and polygons is encoded and stored as
a collection of x,y coordinates
The vector model is extremely useful for
describing discrete features, but less useful for
describing continuously varying features such
as soil type
The raster model has evolved to model such
continuous features
All three models (vector, raster & TIN) have unique
advantages and disadvantages
Modern GISs are able to handle all three models
Sl. Characteristic Vector Structure Raster Structure
No.
1. Data structure Complex Simple
2. Ease of learning Difficult – software is Easy - functions tend to be
complex more intuitive than in
vector
3. Positional Can be very precise and Precision increased with
precision thus accurate increased processing time
and data storage needs
accuracy. Limited by pixel
size
4. Attribute Good for polygon, point Good for continuous data;
precision and line data; not good limited by size of pixels in
for continuous data representing attribute
unless connected to TIN distribution in real world
or similar technology
5. Comprehensiven Good for spatial query Not good for spatial query
ess of analysis and relatively simple but very good for spatial
capability data, analysis-limited to analysis filtering, and
Intersections modeling
Sl. Characteristic Vector Structure Raster Structure
No.
6. Overlay ability Limited, but overlaying Because all pixels line up,
many layers can cause overlay procedures do not
many splinters, etc. in the create problems
result which are difficult to
eliminate
7. Storage Relatively small but Relatively large and simple but
requirements complex may be complex
8. Ability to work with Poor - data must be Good - uses same kind of data
image data vectorized first structure
9. Conversion to Usually included in package Difficult and quite often creates
other map and relatively simple to do warped images which do not
projections fill the raster, causing
problems with neighborhood
functions
10. Ability to work with Good - because system can Poor - raster structure not
network data handle lines amenable to network
structures
11. Cost Expensive Inexpensive
12. Output map quality Very good - looks like a Poor - doesn't look like a map
map to lay people
Vector to Raster Conversion
L = f1 (X, Y)
E = f2 (X,Y)
Raster to Vector Conversion
X = f3 (L, E)
Y = f4 (L,E)
Where,
L = scan line
E = element / pixel number within scan line
X = horizontal coordinates of the GIS system map projection
Y = vertical coordinates of the GIS map projection
f1…f4 = Polynomial functions derived by least squares analysis
of control points which can be identified on an image
Difference between an image and a grid
• Though both are raster data models
• The shape of all raster data models can either be
rectangular or square
Characteristics Image Grid
Unit Pixel Cell
Value Only positive Both positive and
integers negative integers
and real numbers
Spatial resolution
The measure of how closely pixels
can be resolved in an image is called
spatial resolution, and it depends on
properties of the system creating the
image.
For practical purposes the clarity of
the image is decided by its spatial
resolution.