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148 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Accuracy |
The closeness of observation, computations, or estimates to the true values or to values accepted as being true. |
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Aerial |
Of, pertaining to, or occurring in the air or atmosphere. |
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Aerial Photograph, Oblique |
An aerial photo taken with the camera axis directed between the horizontal and the vertical.
High Oblique; horizon is shown Low Oblique; horizon is not shown |
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Aerial Photograph, Vertical |
An aerial photo made with the optical axis of the camera approximately perpendicular to the earth's surface and with the film as nearly horizontal as is practical. |
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Alluvium |
Any material deposited by running water; the soil material of floodplains and alluvial fans. |
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Altitude |
Elevation above or below a reference datum; the datum is usually the average sea level. |
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Aquifer |
Any subsurface material that holds a relatively large quantity of groundwater and is able to transmit that water readily. |
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Area |
A generic term for a bounded, continuous, two-dimensional object that may or may not include its boundary. |
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Aspect |
The horizontal direction in which a slope faces, commonly expressed as compass direction (for example North, NorthEast); degrees clockwise from North. |
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Attribute |
A defined characteristic of an entity.
eg. topographic slope |
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Attribute Value |
A specific quality or quantity assigned to an attribute.
eg. 15% slope |
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Baseflow |
The portion of streamflow contributed by groundwater; it is a steady flow that is slow to change even during rainless periods. |
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Berm |
A low, linear mound of earth and soil. |
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Buffer |
(1) The zone around the perimeter of a wetland or lake where land-use activities are limited to protect the water features.
(2) A zone of a specified distance around any map feature in a GIS layer. |
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Cadastre |
A parcel-based land information system. |
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Carrying Capacity |
The level of development density or use that an environment is able to support without suffering undesirable or irreversible degradation. |
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Characterization |
The delineation or representation of the essential features or qualities existing at a site. |
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Chloropleth Map |
A map comprised of areas of any size or shape representing qualitative phenomena (e.g. soil fertility) or quantitative phenomena (e.g. elevation); often has a mosaic appearance. |
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Climate |
The general or representative conditions of the atmosphere at a place on earth. |
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Clustering |
A land development concept in which buildings and infrastructure are grouped together, and large contiguous areas of open space remain undeveloped. |
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Coefficient of Runoff |
A number given to a type of ground surface representing the proportion of rainfall converted to overland or surface flow. |
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Concentration Time |
The time taken for a drop of rain falling on the perimeter of a drainage basin to pass through the basin to the outlet. |
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Constraint |
Any feature or condition of the built or natural environment that poses an obstacle to proposed land uses. |
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Contour |
An imaginary line on the ground, all points of which are at the same elevation above or below a specific datum. |
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Contour Interval |
The difference in elevation between two adjacent contours. |
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Control Point |
Any station in a horizontal or vertical control system that is identified on a photograph and used for correlating the data shown on the photograph. |
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Crown Diameter, Visible |
The apparent diameter of a tree crown imaged on a vertical aerial photograph. |
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Data Set |
A file or files that contain related geometric and attribute information; a collection of related data |
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Datum |
A reference system for measuring another attribute, such as horizontal or vertical location. |
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DEM (Digital Elevation Model) |
A topographic surface arranged in a data file as a set of regularly spaced x,y,z coordinated, in which z represents elevation. |
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Design Storm |
A rainstorm of a given intensity and frequency of recurrence that is used as the basis for stormwater management. |
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Detention |
A strategy used in stormwater management in which runoff is detained onsite to be released later at some prescribed rate. |
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Development Density |
A measure of intensity of development or land use; defined, for example, on the basis of area covered by dwelling units, impervious surfaces, or building floor area. |
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Digitization |
The process of converting a photograph, map, or other image into numerical format. |
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Discharge |
The rate of water flow in a stream channel or from a site; measured as the volume of water passing through a cross-section of a stream or swale per unit of time, commonly expressed as cubic meters per second. |
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Discharge Zone |
An area where groundwater seepage and springs are concentrated. |
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Disturbances |
An impact on the environment, such as forest clearing, characterized by physical or biological change. |
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DLG (Digital Line Graph) |
A digital representation of cartographic information; digital vectors converted from maps and related sources. |
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DOQ ( Digital Orthophotoquadrangle) |
A digital image with the properties of an orthographic projection; derived from a digitized vertical aerial photograph so that image displacement caused by camera tilt and relief of terrain are removed, or rectified. Orthophotos combine the image characteristics of a photograph with the geometric qualities of a map. |
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Drainage Network |
A system of stream channels usually connected in a hierarchical fashion. |
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Drainage Basin |
The area that contributes runoff to a stream, river, or lake.
An area of land where surface water from rain, melting snow, or ice converges to a single point at a lower elevation, usually the exit of the basin where the water joins another waterbody. |
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Easement |
A right-of-way granted, but not dedicated, for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose. |
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Ecosystem |
A group of organisms linked together by a flow of energy; it is also a community of organisms and their environment. |
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Ecotone |
The transition zone between two groups, or zones, of vegetation. Also the spatial boundaries of communities.
A species may find shelter in one ecotone but abundant food sources in another. |
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Elevation |
Vertical distance from a datum point, such as a mean sea level, to a point or object on the earth's surface, not to be confused with altitude, which refers to points or objects above the earth's surface. |
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Endangered Species |
According to the US Endangered Species Act, a species in imminent danger of extinction in all or a significant portion of its range. |
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Environment |
The aggregate conditions that affect the existence or development of properties intrinsic to a site. |
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Environmental Site Characterization |
The essential features or qualities, including all of the conditions, influences, and circumstance, existing at a place or location designated for a specific use, function, or study. |
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Environmental Assessment |
A preliminary study or review of a proposed action (project) and the influence it could have on the environment; often conducted to determine the need for more detailed environmental impact analysis. |
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Ephemeral Stream |
A stream without base flow; one that flows only during or after rainstorms or snowmelt events. |
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Erosion |
The removal of rock debris by moving water, wind, or another agent; generally the sculpting or wearing down of the land by erosional agents. |
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Eutrophication |
The increase of biomass of a water body leading to infilling of the basin and the eventual disappearance of open water. |
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Evapotranspiration |
The loss of water from the soil through evaporation and transpiration. |
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Feasibility Study |
A type of planning aimed at identifying the most appropriate use of a site. |
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Filtration |
A term generally applied to the removal of pollutants, such as sediment, with the passage of water through a soil, organic and/or fabric medium. |
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Floodway Fringe |
The zone designated by US federal flood policy as the area in a river valley that would be lightly inundated by the hundred-year flood. |
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Floor Area |
The area of all floors of a building or structure. |
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Footprint |
Area covered by a building. |
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Geocoding |
A coding process in which a digital map feature is assigned an attribute value.
e.g. vertical or horizontal location. |
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Geographic Information System (GIS) |
A mapping system designed for analysis, planning and management applications involving overlapping and complex distributional patterns. Two classes of GIS are vector and raster. |
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Geomorphology |
A science that deals with the land and submarine relief features of the earth's surface, or the comparable features of a celestial body, and seek a genetic interpretation of them. |
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Georeference |
To establish the relationship between coordinates on a planar map and real-world coordinates. |
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Geospatial Data |
Information identifying the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth; geospatial data may be derived from,, among other things, remote sensing, mapping and surveying technologies. |
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Global Positioning System (GPS) |
The Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging (NAVSTAR) GPS is a passive, satellite-based, navigation system operated and maintained by the Department of Defense (DOD). |
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Gradient |
The inclination or slope of the land, often applied to systems such as streams and highways. |
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Ground Truth (jargon) |
The term coined for data and information obtained on surface or subsurface features to aid in interpretation of remotely sensed data; ground data and ground information are the preferred terms. |
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Ground Data |
Data collected on the ground, and information derived there from, as an aid to the interpretation of remotely recorded surveys, such as airborne imagery; generally this should be preformed concurrently with the airborne surveys; data collected on weather, soils, and vegetation types and conditions are typical. |
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Groundwater |
The mass of water that occupies the subsoil and upper bedrock zone; the water occupying the zone of saturation below the soil-water zone. |
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Habitat |
The local environment from which an organism gains its resources; habitat is often variable in size, content, and location, changing with the phases in an organism's life cycle.
The place where it lives or one would go to find it. |
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Hardpan |
A hardened soil layer characterized by the accumulation of colloids and ions. |
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Hazard Assessment |
An evaluation of the dangers to land use and people from environmental threats such as floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. |
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Horizon |
A layer in the soil that originates from the differentiation of particles and chemicals due to moisture movement within the soil column. |
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Hydric Soil |
Soil characterized by wet conditions, or saturation, most of the year - often organic in composition. |
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Hydrograph |
A Streamflow graph that shows the change in discharge over time, usually hours or days. |
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Hydrologic Cycle |
The planet's water system, described by the movement of water from the oceans to the atmosphere to the continents and back to the sea. |
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Impervious Cover |
Any hard surface material, such as asphalt or concrete, that limits stormwater infiltration and induces high runoff rates. |
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Infiltration Capacity |
The rate at which a ground material takes in water through the surface; measured in inches or centimeters per minute or hour. |
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Isopleth Map |
A map comprised of lines (isolines) that connect points of equal attribute value. |
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Lacustrine Wetland |
A wetland associated with standing water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and reservoirs.
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Land Cover |
The materials such as vegetation and concrete that cover the ground. |
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Land Use |
The human activities occurring within an area of the landscape.
e.g. agricultural, industrial and residential uses. |
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Layer |
In a geographic information system, spatial data of a common type or theme. |
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Legend |
An explanation of the symbols, colours, and styles used on a map or plan, usually in a box next to the map or plan. |
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Lithosphere |
The solid part of the earth or other spatial body, distinguished from the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. |
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Lot |
A parcel, tract or area of land estabished by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law. |
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Lot Frontage |
The portion of a lot adjacent to a street. |
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Magnetic Declination |
The deviation in degreed east or west between magnetic north and true north. |
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Map |
A graphical representation of a portion of the earth's surface, drawn to scale, on a specific projection, showing natural and manmade features. |
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Metadata |
"Data about data" describe the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data.
e.g. the date and source from which field data were collected. |
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Microclimate |
The climate of small spaces, such as an inner city, a residential area, or a mountain valley. |
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Mitigation |
A measure used to lessen the impact of an action on the natural or human environment. |
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Mitigation Banking |
In wetland mitigation planning, new wetlands are created in anticipation that existing wetlands will be destroyed.
Constructed wetlands typically have a lowered biodiversity. As well, unless the new wetland is constructed near the existing it can alter hydrologic regimes and contribute to flooding. |
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Moraine |
The material deposited directly by a glacier; the material (load) is also carried in or on a glacier; as landforms, moraines usually have either hilly or rolling topography. |
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Mosaic |
A term used in landscape ecology to describe the patchy character of habitat as a result of fragmentation through land use. an assemblage of overlapping aerial or space photographs or images whose edges have been matched to form a continuous pictorial representation of a portion of the earth's surface. |
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Nonpoint Source |
Water pollution from a spatially diffuse source such as the atmosphere or agricultural land.
(ie. fertilizer runoff) |
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Palustrine Wetland |
Wetlands associated with inland sites that are not dependent on streams, lakes or oceanic water.
e.g. marshes, wet meadows, fens, playas, bogs, swamps and small shallow ponds ect. |
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Parent Material |
The particulate material in which a soil forms; the two types of parent material are residual and transported. |
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Peak Discharge |
The maximum flow of a stream or a river in response to an event such as a rainstorm, or over a period of time such as year. |
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Percolation Rate |
The rate at which water moves into soil through the walls of a test pit; used to determine soil suitability for wastewater disposal and treatment. |
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Percolation Test |
A soil-permeability test performed in the field to determine the suitability of a material for wastewater disposal and treatment. |
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Permeability |
The rate at which soil or rock transmits groundwater (or gravity water in the area above the water table). |
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Photosynthesis |
The process by which green plants synthesize water and carbon dioxide and, with the energy from absorbed light, convert it into plant material in the form of sugar and carbohydrates. |
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Physiography |
A term from a physical geography that is traditionally used to describe the composite character of the landscape over large regions. |
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Planned Unit Development (PUD) |
An area planned, developed, operated, and maintained as a single entity containing one or more structures and common areas; it may include multiple land uses
e.g. commercial or residential |
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Plat |
A map or maps of a subdivision or site plan. |
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Point Source |
Water pollution that emanates from a single source such as a sewage plant or stormwater outfall. |
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Rainfall intensity |
The rate of rainfall measured in inches or centimeters of water deposited on the surface per hour or minute. |
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Rational Method |
A method of computing the discharge from a small drainage basin in response to a given rainstorm; computation is based on the coefficient runoff, rainfall intensity, and basin area. |
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Recharge Zone |
An area where groundwater recharge is concentrated. |
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Recharge |
The replenishment of groundwater with water from the surface. |
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Relief |
The range of topographic elevation within a prescribed area |
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Retention |
A strategy used for stormwater management in which runoff is retained onsite in basins, underground, or released into the soil. |
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Right-of-Way |
A strip of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, one or more walkways, utility lines, or other special uses. |
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Riparian Wetlands |
Wetlands that form on the edge of a water feature such as a lake or stream. |
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Riparian |
The environment along the bank of a stream, often more broadly applied to the larger lowland corridor on the stream valley floor. |
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Risk Management |
An area of planning that involves preparation and response to hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and toxic waste accidents. |
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Runoff |
The flow of water from the land as both surface and subsurface discharge; in the more restricted and common use, surface discharge is in the form of overland flow and channel flow. |
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Scale |
The relationship between a distance on a map, chart, or photograph and the corresponding distance on the earth. |
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Septic System |
A sewage system that relies on a septic tank to store and/or treat wastewater; generally, an on-site (small scale) sewage disposal system that depends on the soil for wastewater treatment. |
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Setback |
The minimum distance that a structure or facility should be separated from an edge, such as a property line. |
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Siltation |
The deposition of sediment in water due to soil erosion and stormwater runoff. |
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Soil Profile |
The sequence of horizons, or layers, of a soil. |
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Solar Heating |
The process of generating heat from absorbed solar radiation. |
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Solar Gain |
The amount of solar radiation absorbed by a surface or setting in the landscape. |
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Solstice |
The dates when the declination of the sun is at 23.27 degree north latitude (The tropic of Cancer) and 23.27 degrees south latitude (Tropic of Capricorn) - June 21-22 and Decemebr 21-22, respectively. |
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Spatial Data |
Data or information with implicit or explicit information about location. |
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Stream order |
The relative position, or rank, of a stream in a drainage network. Streams without tributaries, usually the small ones, are first order; streams with two or more first order tributaries are second order, and so on. |
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Subdivision |
The division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels for sale or development. |
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Sun Angle |
The angle formed between the beam of incoming solar radiation and a plane at the earth's surface. |
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Surge |
A large and often destructive wave caused by intensive atmospheric pressure and strong winds. |
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Threatened Species |
According to the U.S, Endangered Species Act, a species with a rapidly declining population that is likely to become endangered. |
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Topsoil |
The uppermost layer of the soil, characterized by a high organic content. |
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Water Table |
The upper boundary of the zone of groundwater. In fine-textured materials it is usually a transition zone rather than a boundary line. The configuration of the water table often approximates that of the overlying terrain. |
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Wellhead Protection |
Land-use planning and management to control contaminant sources in the area contributing recharge water to community wells. |
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Wetland |
An area where the ground is permanently wet or wet most of the year and is occupied by water-loving (or tolerant) vegetation, such as cattails, mangrove, or cypress. |
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Zenith |
For any location on earth the point that is directly overhead to an observer. |
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Estuarine |
e.g. tidal waters of costal rivers and embayments, slaty tidal marshes, mangrove swamps and tidal flats. |
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Hydrophytes |
A plant that only grows in or on water. |
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Housing Density |
Expressed as the the number of dwelling units allowed per unit area (acre or hectare).
The "yield" of housing units increases as the site area increases. |
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Topographic Survey |
Provide information on the biophysical and cultural context of a community or region.
The three key attribute maps can derived from a topographic survey; elevation, slope and aspect.
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Landscape "Signatures" |
Characteristic landforms resulting from differences in soil parents material and weathering. |
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Riparian |
Relating to, or situated on the banks of a river
Ecology of or relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams. |
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Terrestrial |
Living and/or growing on or in the ground or dry land.
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Epiphytic |
A plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests. |
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Watershed |
an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. |
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Soil attributes |
- Acidity/Alkalinity - Permeability - Erosion potential - Depth to seasonally high-water table - Depth-to-bedrock |
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Communities |
A group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat.
Communities are often named for the dominant plant species, which may dominate due to size or abundance. (ie. beech-maple-hemock or Oak savana communities) |
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Niche |
Position or status of an organism within its community and ecosystem resulting from the organism's structural adaptations, physiological responses, and specific behaviours.
The habitat is the "address" and the niche it its "profession". |
