Glossary

artboard

In Adobe Illustrator, the artboard is the area defined for your vector work, which can be edited with the Artboard Tool.

 

attribute

Attribute data is information about spatial features and is stored in tables. MAPublisher supports the following attribute data types: Boolean, Integer, Double, String, Image.

 

Avenza Maps

Avenza Maps is a mobile map application that allows users to download maps for offline use on iOS, Android, and Windows smartphones and tablets.

 

Avenza Map Store

The Avenza Map Store is an in-app map store that contains almost one million maps for sale from map publishers, mapping organizations, and cartographers from around the world.

 

Bézier curve

Smooth curves that can be scaled indefinitely, often defined by a start and end point, but can also be a combination of linked paths that can be modified.

 

buffer

A buffer is a measure of distance outward from an object. The result is a polygon layer representing the proximity from the object.

 

Cartesian coordinates

Cartesian coordinates specify the location of a point in a 2D plane or 3D space. For a 2D plane, two perpendicular axes that cross at a central point are called the origin. Coordinates are found on the east/west (x axis) and north/south (y axis) displacements from the origin. For 3D space, include a vertical third axis (z axis).

 

centroid

The geometric center of a plane object.

 

control point

In georeferencing, a point on the map with known pixel (x,y) coordinates.

 

coordinate system

Coordinate systems enable geographic datasets to use common locations for integration. A coordinate system is a reference system used to represent the locations of geographic features, imagery, and observations such as GPS locations within a common geographic framework. A coordinate system provides the basis for identifying locations on the earth's surface.

 

coordinate system transformation

In the MAP View Editor, transform a source coordinate system to a destination coordinate system.

 

compound path

Paths used to create a compound shape. A compound shape consists of multiple paths that act as one object (not necessarily connected or adjacent).

 

crop

A geoprocessing operation that trims vector data to a rectangular or ellipse area.

 

custom coordinate system

A user defined coordinate system with custom parameters.

 

data link

In MAPublisher, a path or link to the data source (see MAP Views panel and Importing Map Data).

 

datasource objects

Individual entries in the geodetic datasource are known as data source objects. Different types of data objects are available for different types of definition. Objects contained in the geodetic data source are: Angular Units, Coordinate Systems, Datum Transformations, Ellipsoids, Envelopes, Horizontal Datums, Linear Units, and Prime Meridians.

 

destination coordinate system

The coordinate system of the destination image. For example, the coordinate system of an image after transformation.

 

Douglas-Peucker method

A simplification method that takes the proximity value and iterates through the line vertices to determine the points that fall within the specified proximity distance off the line and removes those vertices. Once all vertices are determined to be greater than the proximity value, the line processing ends. A smaller proximity value will usually result in a fewer number of nodes being removed.

 

EPSG code

An EPSG code is a definition of coordinate reference systems or coordinate transformations.

 

error

Pertaining to data quality, error is a measured value that differs from the true value. It can also be interpreted as measurements of inaccuracies and imprecision from the true value.

 

Expression Builder

In MAPublisher, the Expression Builder is used to create and edit expressions. Expressions are built using a combination of names, operators and functions. It is used in a number of locations such as when creating new attribute values and properties, making selections or applying styles.

 

feature

A representation of a real-world object on a map.

 

FME Auto add-on

A MAPublisher add-on that connects the GIS data processing environment of FME Desktop to the cartographic design and publishing environment MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator.

 

geodetic datasource

An extensive geodetic parameter database included in MAPublisher. It contains all the latest updates from the widely used EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset maintained by the Geodesy Subcommittee of OGP (International Association of Oil and Gas producers) as well as custom systems maintained by Avenza.

 

geographic coordinate system

Geographic coordinate system locations are defined in terms of the position on a globe using latitude and longitude values. The angles of latitude and longitude are based on a point at the centre of the earth. As the earth is not a perfect sphere a number of globes (spheres, spheroids) exist in mapping each with slightly different centre points and characteristics. As locations are defined by degrees, distances cannot be accurately measured. The most common geographic coordinate system is the World Geodetic System 84 (WGS84).

 

Geographic Imager

Geographic Imager mapping software enhances Adobe Photoshop to make working with spatial imagery quick and efficient. It adds tools to import, edit, manipulate and export geospatial images such as aerial and satellite imagery. Use native Adobe Photoshop functions such as transparencies, filters, pixel editing, and image adjustments like brightness, contrast, and curve controls while maintaining spatial referencing.

 

geopackage

GeoPackage is an open, standards-based, platform-independent, portable, self-describing, compact format for transferring geospatial information.

 

Georeferencer

A MAPublisher tool used to provide data with spatial coordinates, coordinate system and referencing.

 

geospatial PDF

Geospatial PDF is a specification that includes georeferencing and can contain geometry such as points, lines, and polygons.

 

graticule

Lines of latitude or longitude on a map referencing true geographic locations on the earth.

 

grid

Horizontal and vertical lines spaced out at even intervals used to identify locations on a map.

 

halo

An outline around text used to make the text more legible against the background.

 

Import

Import provides a way to import geographic data into the document.

 

join table

An operation that appends two tables together based on a matching identifier in each table.

 

knockout

A knockout masks parts of features that are covered by text and is used to make the text more legible against the background.

 

label

Text that is used on a map that identifies a feature.

 

latitude

Latitude lines are east-west in direction and are parallel to each other. Latitude values (y) range from -90 and +90 degrees.

 

legend

A map legend is a visual explanation of the symbols (points, lines, or areas) used on a map, usually accompanied with a text description.

 

longitude

Longitude lines are north-south in direction and converge at the poles. Longitude values (x) range from -180 to +180 degrees.

 

MAP layer

A MAP layer contains both attribute data and spatial data. It belongs in a MAP View.

 

map package

A folder that contains files compatible with the Avenza Maps app. A map package can be uploaded by a publisher to be put for sale on the Avenza Map Store.

 

map scale

A ratio between the distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground.

 

MAP Web Author

Export Adobe Illustrator documents with GIS data to interactive HTML5 web maps complete with callout bubbles, rollovers, layer control, pan and zoom controls, and with all the underlying GIS attributes intact.

 

MAP View

A MAP View contains MAP layers and defines the overall coordinate system used by the map on the artboard.

 

Multiple Data Import

Multiple Data Import provides a way to import multiple data sets often of different formats and different coordinate systems into the document.

 

projected coordinate system

Projected coordinate system locations are defined using Cartesian x, y coordinates on a flat, two-dimensional surface. This enables accurate measurements of distance, angles and areas. Projected coordinate systems are based on a sphere (for example WGS84) that is projected onto a flat plane. Projected coordinate systems are often referred to as projections. Common projected coordinate systems include Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) and Lambert Conformal Conic.

 

projection transformation

The mathematical conversion of geographic data from one coordinate system to another.

 

raster

A model representing the world in a matrix of cells, with each cell based on a geographic location and an attribute value such as elevation, temperature, or other value.

 

reference

The spatial information behind geographic data.

 

reference file

A file that contains the relationship between source image coordinates (pixel locations) and real-world reference coordinates (lat/long or other real-world coordinate units). Common reference files include World files, Blue Marble Reference files, MapInfo Tab files, and ER Mapper Reference files. Some reference file formats can hold additional information such as coordinate system information.

 

source coordinate system

The coordinate system of the original data. For example, the coordinate system before transformation.

 

stylesheet

Stylesheets are part of MAP Themes and are used to define how art is styled based on feature attributes.

 

topology

The spatial relationships between adjacent or neighboring features. Map topology allows you to edit features while retaining quality and data integrity.

 

Web Feature Service

Web Feature Service (WFS) allows you to acquire spatial vector data through the web. Features from a WFS are downloaded as GML.

 

Web Map Service

Web Map Service (WMS) allows you to acquire spatial raster data through the web. Features from a WMS are downloaded as various raster image formats.

 

web tiles

Image tiles that can be used for online map purposes. Google Maps, Bing Maps, OpenStreetMap, Tile Map Service, and MapBox formats are supported.

 

vector

A model representing the world in points, lines, and areas. For example, points can represent locations, lines can represent streets, and areas can represent countries.

 

vertex

A vertex (plural: vertices or vertexes) is a point where two or more curves, lines, or edges meet.

 

Visvalingam-Whyatt method

A simplification method which is an area-based algorithm that eliminates points based on their effective area. By iterating through points of lines and areas, it calculates and removes the point with the least effective area.