Image Data

Images can be displayed as maps along with other spatial data containing map features. Image data offers a quick way to get spatial data for a large area and is more cost- and time-effective than trying to collect layers of data like buildings, roads, lakes, etc,. one at a time. However, image data is one file, or layer, so you can not break down the different components and attach data to them separately. Image data is the best choice if you need to add a point of reference to vector data without attaching additional information.

Images can also be attributes of map features. In other words, you can add images to other map features so that clicking on the feature would display the image. For example, you might have a map of California with cities. By clicking on the point that is the City of San Francisco, you open up an image of San Francisco.

Almost any document or photograph can be scanned and stored as an attribute in a GIS database. Photos of houses for sale can be linked to a real estate map, field data forms can be linked to sample sites, and scanned permits can be linked to building sites.

This map was created for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's department to assist the sheriff's emergency operations center during the Southern California fires of 2003. The map shows perimeters for two of the fires. The fire perimeter data was captured using aerial equipment and GPS. The perimeter is overlaid with digital elevation data and local transportation data. Learn more and see the full map.