What would be a suitable representation for a wide road in a GIS model?

A suitable representation for a wide road in a GIS model would be a polygon because polygons can encapsulate area, allowing for the ability to represent not just the path of the road, but also its width and the specific area it occupies. Unlike a line feature, which represents only the centerline of a road and cannot convey width, a polygon can outline the entire surface of the road, providing a more accurate depiction of its footprint within a geographic space.

For instance, using polygons for wide roads allows for better management of land use analysis, environmental assessments, and infrastructure planning since it gives a comprehensive view of the area that the road physically occupies. This representation is particularly useful in urban planning where the width of roads can impact traffic flow and zoning considerations.

The other representations such as points, line features, and raster grids do not effectively depict the area occupied by wide roads. Points represent discrete locations; line features lack the ability to show width; and raster grids, while useful for continuous data over an area, do not provide clear delineation of road boundaries on their own.