Question

What is difference between spatial and non-spatial data? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

1. Spatial Data: The spatial data represent a geographical space. They are characterized by points, lines, and polygons. The point data represent positional characteristics of some of the geographical features such as schools, hospitals, wells, tube- wells, towns, and villages, etc. on the map. In other words, if we want to present the occurrence of the objects on a map on a dimensionless scale but with reference to location, we use points.

Similarly, lines are used to depict linear features like roads, railway lines, canals, rivers, power and communication lines, etc. Polygons are made up of a number of interconnected lines bounding a certain area and are used to show area features such as administrative units (countries, districts, states, blocks); land-use types (cultivated area, forest lands, degraded/wastelands, pastures, etc.) and features like ponds, lakes, etc.

2. Non-spatial Data: The data describing the information about spatial data are called as non-spatial or attribute data. For example, if you have a map showing the positional location of your school you can attach the information such as the name of the school, subject stream it offers, number of students in each class, schedule of admissions, teaching, and examinations, available facilities like library, labs, equipment, etc. In other words, you will be defining the attributes of the spatial data. Thus, non-spatial data are also known as attribute data.
Sources of Geographical Data: The geographical data are available in analog (map and aerial photographs) or digital form (scanned images).