A3. Glosssary - LUPMISManual

Annex 3: Glossary and Abbreviations

When exploring or using LUPMIS, it may be helpful to become familiar with the following terms and abbreviations:

• API: Application Programming Interface, here Maps-API (see example)
  

• ArcView / ArcGIS: Commercial GIS software, by ESRI
  

• Attributes: Characteristics of a geographic feature described by numbers, characters, and images, typically stored in a tabular format and linked to the feature by an identifier; column in a database table. Attribute data are usually alphanumeric (letters or numbers).
  

• Bitmap: Format to store images, here in particular aerial photographs and satellite images, in forms of rasters with pixels, e.g. JPG, TIF, ECW, BMP, etc
  

• Calibration: Process of conversion to standard, here conversion of geographical data to GIS standard (WGS 84)
  

• CBD: Central Business District
  

• Census data: The Government of Ghana conducts a survey of the population every ten years and publishes detailed description of subgroups within the overall population
  

• Centroid: The point that may be considered the center of a polygon. There are different ways to calculate the center point.
  

• CMS: Content Management System, software system for content management
  

• Corner: Specific vertex (see there) at the begin / end of a line or polygon
  

• Datum: Model of the shape of the earth (reference ellipsoid) to define a geographic coordinate system (see Annex 2.2)
  

• DBMS: Database Management System, here synonymous with RDBMS (see DBMS component of LUPMIS: Permit Database)
• DEM: Digital elevation model: Raster based elevation model, with z representing the altitude or other descriptive data, such as rainfall (see Chapters  5.5 and  6.8)
• Demographic: Data characteristics of human population, such as size, growth, density, distribution etc
• Detail map: Inset map showing part of the of the area of interest (‘main map’) in more detail, i.e. in a larger scale (see  Chapter 6.3.4 for the procedure to insert detail map)
• DOP: Dilution of Precision, error assessment of GPS (see part A of Chapter 5.1.6)
• Estate: Working term for subcomponent (part) of Local Plan
• Drawing Tools: Set of utilities ('tools') to enable accurate drawing, like - and in excess of - CAD functionalities; add-on to Map Maker, developed for the particular needs of TCPD to formulate Local Plans
• FTP: File Transfer Protocol, standard protocol to transfer files through the internet
• GE: Google Earth
• Geocoding: GIS component of a structured street naming database (see Chapter 7.7.4)
• Georectification: Calibration of geographical data to a projection, for use at the GIS (see example in Chapter 5.3.3)
• GIS: Geographical Information System
• GPS: Global Positioning System
• Graticule: Grid on maps, showing the latitude and longitude (see also  Chapter 6.5)
• Grid: Rectanglar (or almost rectangular) frame on maps, showing coordinates (here: UTM) (see also  Chapter 6.5)
• GRN: Geodetic Reference Network
• ICT: Information and Communication Technology
• IGF: Internally Generated Funds (with its spatial components handled by LUPMIS Revenue Tools, see Chapter 8.6)
• Index map: Overview map showing the areas of individual images, photographs or topo maps (see Chapter 3.7 for the procedure to create a grid)
• IS: Information System   
• Island: Area (polygon), which is completely surrounded by one other unit (polygon) (see Chapters 2.14 and 2.15)
• ITRF: International Terrestrial Reference Frame
• LAN: Local Area Network, cabled computer network
• Land evaluation: Assessment of the suitability of land for a particular land use (see Chapter 4.5)
• LAP: Land Administration Project (see web homepage
• Layer: Geographical referenced subset of information in a GIS, mostly limited to one theme (topic)
• Line: A level of spatial measurement referring to a one-dimensional defined object having a length and direction and connecting at least two points, e.g. roads, telecommunication lines, rivers etc
• LIS: Land Information System
• Line map: Term used by the Survey Department to describe vector map, not a technical term
• Location map: Overview map of smaller scale with indication of the area of interest (‘main map’)(see Chapter 6.3.3 for the procedure to insert overview map)
• LUPM: Land Use Planning & Management (Project)
• Map: Graphic representation of a part of the whole of the Earth's surface using signs and symbols or photographic images at an established scale
• Map Maker: GIS software of choice for TCPD, to perform GIS for land use planning
• Map layer: Refers to the various 'overlays' of data, each of which normally deals with one thematic topic. Layers can be viewed individually or in combination with other layers.
• Marginalia: Graphical or text features beside the map on a map sheet, including legend, title, scale bar etc
• Metadata: Data about data. This often includes the data's source, accuracy, data type, projection, date of origination and other general descriptions
• Modeling: Applying structured rules and procedures to one or more spatial database overlays to conduct spatial and/or network analysis to derive new information to aid in problem solving and planning. It also refers to a process of simulation, prediction and description that involves changing the parameters and generating new results or prediction of outcomes to what-if scenarios.
• MTDP: Medium Term Development Plan
• Mosaic: Composition of different geographically referenced images
• Neighbourhood: Working term for subcomponent (part) of Structure Plan; can consist of one or more Local Plan areas
• NSA: Network Storage Appliance Server
• Overlay: The ability to superimpose graphically one map on another and display the result
• PDA: Personal Digital Assistant, ‘pocket PC’
• PGIS: Participatory GIS
• PHP: Programming language for dynamic web pages
• PND: Portable Navigation Device
• Point: A single location in space. Many different natural or man-made features are modeled as points in a spatial database.
• Polygon: A two-dimensional figure with three or more sides that represents an area on a map. Many different natural or man-made features are typically represented by polygons in a spatial database.
• Printing Tools: Set of utilities ('tools') to enable standardized and easy print of maps and other data from LUPMIS; add-on to Map Maker, developed for the particular needs of TCPD
• Project: here at GIS: Definition of references to layers, projection, view and styles, which can be saved (see Chapter 1.6
• Projection: Transfer of the three dimensions of the earth to a two-dimensional map format
• QA: Quality assurance, externally executed, also called ‘total QC’
• QC: Quality control, internally executed
• Query: A logical search specification finding spatial features with linked records that contain matching geographic and/or non-graphic attributes. Once selected, additional operations can be performed such as drawing them, listing with their attributes or summarizing attribute values.
• RAS: Remote Access Service, VPN technology
• Raster map: Map consisting of rows and pixels (see Chapter 5.3.1and Annex 2)
• RDBMS: Relational Database Management System, synonymous with DBMS
• Scale: The ratio between map distance and real distance, where the map distance is usually represented as 1. For example, a map scale of 1:2500 means that one unit of measure on the map equals 2500 of the same unit on the Earth.
• SDF, Spatial Development Framework: Indicative plan of districts, municipalities, metropolitan authority areas or regions, showing the expected development over a given time period, including the present and future proposed major land uses and transportation networks and the boundaries of areas of special planning concern along with the direction of further growth
• SMD: Survey & Mapping Division (previously: Survey Department)
• Spatial: In relation to space or geographical extension: Any data which can be expressed in its appearance on the ground, with coordinates. This common-sense use of the word is used in such a way throughout the entire GIS terminology, but contradicts to the specific, academic definition of the term in use by some British land use planners
• Spatial analsyis: Study of geographic features and the relationships between them
• SQL: Standard query language, database language
• Structure Plan: Plan for urban areas and their peripheries, showing present and proposed future development over a given time period and including major land uses, major roads, waterways and railway lines and all areas of special planning concern or interest, including conservation areas and areas of special ecological and environmental concern.
• TCPD: Town & Country Planning Department
• TIN: Triangulated irregular network (also DEM: Digital elevation model): Series of triangular, 3D polygons, each defined by 3 nodes with x, y, z values.
• Topography: The features of the actual surface of the Earth considered collectively according to their form, such as grassland, built-up areas, forest etc. A single feature, such as one mountain or one valley, is called a topographic feature
• Topology: here at GIS: Internal structure of vector map, as handled by the GIS software, including their linkage to external data files
• UPN: Unique Parcel Number, identifier of parcels (see Chapter 7.7.1)
• Vector map: All geographically referenced data, which are expressed with their coordinates (x,y) in a given coordinate system, in most cases limited to polygons, lines, points
• Vertex: Point with x-y coordinates, which defines the shape of a line or polygon
• VPN: Virtual Private Network
• WAN: Wide Area Network, often replaced by VPN technology
• WGS 84: World Geodetic System 1984, standard datum and ellipsoid definition (see Annex 2.2)