The Answer

How many layers or themes make up this map? 

The above map of the location of public schools in our region is composed of several layers of data that are pulled from the GIS database upon request and inserted into the map. These layers are called themes in the ArcVoyager GIS program. These themes are:

1. the Mask layer, the beginning white layer that contains the state lines and state names.
2. Interns, the location of the current interns, identified by the black school houses and the school names
3. the WNC public schools, white school shapes which are numbered (names and numbers are too small to see properly at this scale).
4. Places, showing city and town names
5. the Counties layer
6. Roads
7. Highways
8. the multi-colored Terrain data showing mountains, peaks, etc.

If you were such an observant viewer that you noticed five, you did well. The five easier ones are: WNC schools, Places, Counties, Roads and Terrain. Otherwise, you would need more experience with GIS systems to know about the other themes (layers).

Mathematics, Spreadsheets and Thinking Home page    |     Page author: Houghton  Updated September 21, 2004