> > Ah yes, but Graphical Information Systems are just that - Information > > Systems. > > the "G" is for geographical. > Sorry yes - that's what I meant.
> > Given that a large percentage of what GIS systems do is interprete and > > extrapolate pure numbers I should hope that this is stored in a database. > > no, as a matter of historical fact they were not. most were (and some still > are) file based 3-5 years ago--we GIS practioners love our topology. we gave > it up for a while just to get decent database engine based databases. > Yeah I know... I had to deal with one briefly about 5 years ago.... ~shudder~ Which is why I said "hope" ;o) > > ;o) Images created from that extrapolated data or interpreted data > placed > > over an image is only the very top layer of what a GIS does. The User > > Interface if you will, not the entire application layer. > > nonsense. we're storing vector data in databases these days. arcSDE for > example comes with a couple of sql API for manipulating data in the db, > performing spatial searches, etc. i do this for a living. > Vector data is just that vector _data_.... A bunch of points that you join together to draw a picture, he says simplifying it horribly. The APIs are there to simplify the calculations that the database has to do for the developer/end-user. Stephen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Host with the leader in ColdFusion hosting. Voted #1 ColdFusion host by CF Developers. Offering shared and dedicated hosting options. www.cfxhosting.com/default.cfm?redirect=10481 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
