Esri ArcGIS Pro Foundation Certification Practice Test

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

1. A polygon

2. A point

3. A line feature

4. A raster grid

The correct answer is: A line feature

A suitable representation for a wide road in a GIS model is a line feature because roads are typically linear objects that extend in both directions and have a length aspect to them. While a road could be represented as a polygon if you wanted to capture its width by creating a closed shape, in many GIS applications, especially for cartographic and analysis purposes, they are represented more efficiently as line features. Line features not only simplify the data structure but also allow for easier integration with transportation networks and analysis of connectivity. In addition, line features can be symbolized with varying widths to represent the physical characteristics of the road, such as its actual width on the ground. This allows for a clearer visualization when mapping and enables the GIS to handle attributes like speed limits, traffic counts, and road conditions effectively. Other representations, such as points or raster grids, do not capture the linearity and the contextual attributes associated with roads as effectively as line features do. Points are excellent for discrete locations but do not convey length or width, while raster grids represent continuous data over an area, which can obscure specific details about the road structure.