This is the final version 3:15 PM Friday April 28.
 

What are the two mechanisms that Oracle 8i uses to represent geometry?  What does Oracle formally define as the benefits of the Object-Relational Model? .. and the Relational Model?

What are the geometric types supported by Oracle 8.1.5? Briefly define each. Does Oracle 8.1.6 add any additional types?

The spatial data model is defined by Oracle as a hierarchical structure consisting of what three basic components?

Oracle 8.1.6 adds a tolerance parameter to the data model. What is tolerance and what is it used for?

Oracle 8i uses a two-tier query model? What is this and how does it work. How does quad-tree indexing apply?

Be prepared to describe (in words) the basic way in which quad-tree indexing is used in Oracle.

List the the Eggenhoffer topological operators supported in Oracle, the "spatial relationship operators" in Arc8 and the SDO_GEOM.RELATE operators. Indicate which operator corresponds with which and discuss any operations supported in one that are not supported in the other.

Oracle describes each spatial object as having an interior, boundary and exterior. Define these for lines and polygons.

Zeiler presents a table (pages 72-73) that summarizes and compares the characteristics of coverages, geodatabases and shapefiles. You should be very familiar with the content of these and be prepared to compare and contrast. A typical question might be "how do geodatabases, coverages and shapefiles each deal with polygon topology?" or "how do the different datasets differ (and how are they the same) in the way that they each represent a line feature?" etc.

What is a "layer" in Arc8 - how does it differ from a layer in ArcView?

In Oracle 8.1.6 and/or in Arc8 which commands/operations create a new polygon based on:

1.  a buffer
2.  a polygon that represents the area that results from the subtraction of the area of polygon B from the area of polygon A
3. the polygon that represents the area in polygon A or in polygon B
4. the polygon that represents that area that is found in both polygon A and polygon B
5. the polygon that represents the area that is in polygon A or in polygon B but not in both
6. the polygon that is a convex hull of another
7. the polygon that is closest to polygon A
8. the polygon that is within a specified distance of polygon A

What is the ESRI "geodatabase model"?  How does it compare/differ with the Oracle 8.1.6 data model? Provide details!

In Arc8 usage define (or draw an defining diagram) for: point, multipoint, polyline, polyline with multiple connected paths, polyline with multiple disjoint path, envelope, path, parametric curve, polygon, polygon with multiple disjoint rings, edge, junction, node, source, sink, solver, netflag, barriers, and ring.

IN Arc versions prior to Arc 8 geometric features that were composed of multi-part geometries (e.g. Hawaiian Islands) were stored as "regions" while other simple polygons were stored in polygon coverages. How are these differing types now dealt with in Arc 8?

According to Zeiler what are the benefits of the geodatabase model?

Define polymorphism, abstract class, associations, creatable class, instantiable class, multiplicity, encapsulation, aggregation, composition and inheritance when used in a object context. Provide a geodatabase example of each.

Zeiler proposed five steps in building a database - what are they?

When and/or why would you use a subtype of "parent class X" rather than create a new class with inheritance from "parent class X?"

Arc8 allows a set of possible actions when geometric features are either split or merged. Describe what types of actions are possible and why having this capability is important (or is it)?

You should be able to populate the 3 x 3 cells for point, line and polygon spatial relationships (as shown in Zeiler page 110).

You should be able to view a diagram of the result of a topological operator and determine which it is and/or be abel to draw the operation's result - if given the name of the operation.

What are simple and complex junctions and simple and complex edges, how do the simple versus complex versions differ and what are two real-world examples of each? In particular discuss how splitting edges differs between a simple and a complex edge

Using a simple example that includes (a) water mains (b) service lines - smaller lines that connect mains to houses and (c) water meters:

1. draw a simple "geographic view,"
2. draw a "network view"
3. dummy up tables for each feature class and
4. dummy up tables for the edges, connectivity, and junctions.

What is a weight in a geometric network in Arc 8? Provide eight examples of real-word weights.

How do barriers differ from enable/disabled flags? Why are both needed?