An interface definition that permits invoking services from application programs without knowing details of their internal implementation.

Conceptual schema for data required by one or more applications.

OWS Services operating on user devices or servers that have network connectivity. Users use Application Services to access Registry, Portrayal, Processing and Data Services. Application Services commonly, but not necessarily, provide user-oriented displays of geospatial content and support user interaction at the user terminal.

An ordered string of vertices (x, y coordinate pairs) that begin at one location and end at another. Connecting the arc’s vertices creates a line. The vertices at each endpoint of an arc called nodes.

[software] ArcCatalog is an application in the ArcGIS suite used to manage geographic data – similar to windows file explorer.

[ESRI software] A Web service processed and executed from within an ArcGIS server. Each Web service has a distinct HTTP location (URL). Web access is enabled by default for all ArcGIS Server services, but can be turned off by an administrator.

[software] ArcGlobe is a global three-dimensional visualization and analysis environment as part of the Esri ArcGIS suite (3D analyst), specializing in global datasets and larger study areas.

An abstract technical description of a system or collection of systems. Modern software architectures employ interoperability interfaces to enable enterprises and whole industries to establish coherent, flexible, integrated information flows that can be implemented with heterogeneous but intercommunicating software systems. The OpenGIS Specification defines the interoperability interfaces that make it possible to include geographic information in these information flows. Conceptually based, architecture does not contain the level of detail needed for construction

A user defined area (represented by a bounding box, circle or polygon). Often used as a filter in a query.

Instantaneously recording an image in a single frame.
 

[GIS processing] Aspect is the slope direction on a terrain surface. Aspect is measured clockwise starting North as 0° to 360° North again with flat areas given a value of -1 (or 0 degrees).

Named property of an entity.

Descriptive information about features or elements of a database. For a database feature like census tract, attributes might include many demographic facts including total population, average income, and age. In statistical parlance, an attribute is a `variable,` whereas the database feature represents an `observation` of the variable.