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Geographical Information Systems

GCSE Geography now uses digital tools like GIS. This quiz explores how maps, data and technology combine to help geographers investigate places and solve real-world problems.

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Fascinating Fact:

A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a computer-based tool that stores, manages, analyses, and displays data linked to locations on the Earth’s surface.

In GCSE Geography, you use Geographical Information Systems to explore patterns on maps. GIS combines digital mapping with data from sources such as censuses, satellites and fieldwork surveys.

Key Terms

Digital map: A map shown on a computer or device that can be zoomed, searched and updated more easily than a paper map.
Attribute data: Extra information linked to a location, such as population, land use or average income for each mapped area.
Query: A question asked inside a GIS to select features that meet certain conditions, for example all roads within a flood-risk zone.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What do students learn about GIS in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, students learn how to use GIS to map data, spot spatial patterns, test ideas about places and support decisions in case studies such as flooding or urban change.

What kinds of data can be shown in a GIS map?

A GIS map can show many data types, including population, relief, land use, rainfall, traffic counts and environmental quality scores, all linked to specific locations or areas.

How is GIS different from a paper map?

GIS is interactive. You can switch layers on and off, zoom in, run queries and update data, whereas a paper map is fixed and cannot be analysed so flexibly.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of the following is not an essential part of a GIS?

A smartphone

Computer hardware

A digital map

A geographical database

You could access and use a GIS via a smartphone but it is not essential. Whatever you use to access the GIS, you need the software to link the database information to the map

2 .

How is the data displayed on a map by a GIS?

Using a pencil

As a single image

As a series of layers

As numbers

The different layers can be switched on and off to help the user to spot patterns

3 .

A GIS can be used for ...

analysing geographical information

capturing geographical information

displaying geographical information

All of the above

It is also used for managing geographical data too

4 .

GIS stands for ...

Geodesic Information Series

Geodesic Information System

Geographical Information System

Geographical Information Satellite

You will also see it written as 'geographic information system'

5 .

A GIS reveals ...

relationships between data sets

patterns in data sets

trends in data sets

All of the above

A GIS is a powerful set of computerised tools that enables the user to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualise data in many ways

6 .

The data for a GIS is usually stored in ...

a rich text file

a cupboard

a database

a cardboard box

Different systems can use different files but data is usually stored in databases or spreadsheets

7 .

There is a lot of geographical data contained in an atlas so why would you use a GIS instead?

To save having to have somewhere to keep an atlas

It takes up more room

The pages of the atlas could get accidentally ripped and lost

It is easier to add more data to maps

In an atlas, each map contains only a limited amount of data, it is not easy for you to add or remove other data but with a GIS it is usually as simple as making a few clicks with a mouse (or taps on a screen). But that's only one advantage, for the exam, make sure you know some others too

8 .

Which of the following is not a use of a GIS?

Construction and urban design

Navigating using a map and compass

Crime and surveillance

GPS mapping

Navigating using a map and compass does not involve a computer, software or digital map

9 .

Which of the following data would you be least likely to obtain from a GIS?

The area of a parish

The population of a village

The services available in a town

The names and addresses of all the vicars in Cambridgeshire

A GIS contains geographical data. Some of this will be relevant to human geography but will not identify individual people other than perhaps the owners of local businesses when the data was collected

10 .

Which of the following is not an advantage of using a GIS?

It is faster than traditional analysis methods

It does not work during a power cut

It can include a lot of data on one map

It improves communication

A GIS contains many different ways to present the data and can present complex information in a visual and easy-to-understand way

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)