What is the difference among vector, raster and tabular data?
Maps, tabular data, summary statistics, and remotely sensed imagery are examples of geographic information that can be input to a GIS. Raster charts are digitized by “scanning” the paper chart, using technology common in desktop publishing. Each tiny segment of each line on a chart is converted to a “raster” picture element or “pixel”. These pixels are similar to a television picture. Beyond geo-referencing, there is no intelligence inherent in the image. For example, you may interpret a string of pixels to be the number “2” but the computer cannot do this. CanMatrix product available on GeoGratis Web site is an example of raster data. Vector charts are “smart charts” that carry geo-spatial intelligence within the data and have a database of information associated with them. For instance, on a vector chart you can click on different features, such as a road or a waterbody, and retrieve additional information on them. Vector charts also allow users more control over the display of the c
