Nova Scotia's
    Geographic Information
    Standards

5.0 Introduction

The Terminology Task Group began compiling material to develop a standard set of terms and terminology back in October 1993. This glossary is meant as a mechanism for all to reference and use in settling terminology conflicts. It was not the intent of the task group to define or redefine terms which were already in existence in the geomatics field. Rather the task group simply wished to document those terms most frequently referenced in Nova Scotia and select an associated definition which would cause the least amount of conflict in referencing a term. In instances where a term was used in more than one fashion, a number of definitions were adopted.

The standards glossary will be applied to all documentation coming out of the standards initiative. In instances where the Standards Committee and/or associated task groups have terminology difficulties, they will refer back to this glossary to resolve conflicts. Agencies are also encouraged to reference this glossary when drafting Request for Proposals or other documentation directed towards the geomatics community.

There will be undoubtably be instances when an individual accessing this glossary will not agree with a definition selected. The task group is always interested in discussing various definitions and encourages individuals to come forward if they feel alternate definitions should be included in the glossary.

For your convenience, the glossary has been broken up into small parts. The first glossary appearing in the standards manual is in fact a reduced version of a large document found in Appendix A. The terms found here relate to terms specific to Nova Scotia's community. Appendix A is an extended version of the Terms and Terminology adopted by the task group.

5.1 Source List

The following is a list of sources referenced while compiling the Terminology section of this manual:

Black, H. C. [1968]. "Black's Law Dictionary", Forth Edition. St. Paul, Minnesota. West Publishing Co.

Canadian General Standards Board [1992]. "Canadian Geomatics Interchange Standards: Formal Definition." Catalogue number 171-GP-1P. Prepared by Surveys and Resource Mapping Branch, Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks British Columbia. December 1992.

Dale, P.F. and J.D. McLaughlin [1989]. "Land Information Management". Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, [1992]. "National Topographic Data Base, Standards and Specifications" Second Edition V2.2. Surveys, Mapping and Remote Sensing Sector.

Environmental System Research Institute Inc., [1992]. "Understanding GIS, The ARC/INFO Method", Redlands CA.

Freedman, A. [1993]. "The Computer Glossary - Sixth Edition." American Management Association, New York, NY.

Horrne, G.J. [1993]. "Evaluation of Desktop Mapping Software." Report prepared for the National Sensitivity Mapping Program, Environment Canada, Conservation and Protection. June, 1993.

Krzanowski, R.M. et al. [1992]. "1991-1992 International GIS Sourcebook." GIS World.

Laserna, R. et al. [ 1990]. "Desktop Mapping for Planning and Strategic Decision Making." Strategic Mapping Inc., San Jose, CA.

Longley, D. and M. Shain, [1986]. "Dictionary of Information Technology - Second Edition." Oxford University Press, New York. By permission of Oxford University Press.

LRIS - Alberta, [1991]. "LRIS EDP Standards", Prepared by LRIS EDP Standards Task Group, Edmonton. November 27, 1991.

Microsoft Press, [1994]. "Computer Dictionary - Second Edition." Microsoft Press, Redmond, Washington.

Montgomery, G.E. and H.C. Schuch, [1993]. "GIS Data Conversion Handbook", GIS World Books, Fort Collins Colorado.

Province of Nova Scotia [1989]. "Corporate Land-Related Information Strategy For the Province of Nova Scotia." Project No. SCS 14-013. Prepared by UMA Group, September 1989.

Province of Nova Scotia [1991]. "Information technology Architecture Plan." Prepared by Management Board. Final Report, April 12, 1991.

Province of Nova Scotia, [1992]. "Nova Scotia Land Information Standards Study, Final Report." Prepared by DMR Group Inc. June 30, 1992.

Province of Nova Scotia, [1993]. "A Property Records Information Management Policy For The Province of Nova Scotia." Prepared by the Land Information Systems Advisory Committee, April 15, 1993.

Robinson, A. et al. [1984]. "Elements of Cartography - Fifth Edition." John Wiley and Sons, New York.

State of Vermont, [1991]. "Policies, Standards, Guidelines and Procedures Handbook"

5.2 Acknowledgements

The Nova Scotia Committee on Standards for Geographic Information wishes to acknowledge the following sources for providing a point of reference for compiling the terminology section of this manual:

Environmental Systems Research institute, Inc., Understanding GIS: The Arc/Info Method. Revision 6. Copyright 1990;1991;1992 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

"Glossary." From GIS Data Conversion Handbook, Glenn E. Montgomery and Harold C. Schuch. Copyright 1993 by GIS World, Inc. Fort Collins, CO and UGC Consulting, Denver, CO and Toronto, Canada. Reproduced by permission.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher from THE COMPUTER GLOSSARY: THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED DESK REFERENCE, 6th EDITION by Alan Freedman, 1993 The Computer Language Company Inc. Published by AMACOM, a Division of the American Management Association. All rights reserved.

5.3 Glossary of Terms and Terminology

    Glossary Search Engine
    Full Text Glossary - indexed


Chapter Five Table of Contents