Which of the following best describes “buffering” in GIS?

Buffering in GIS refers specifically to the process of creating a zone around a geographic feature, which can be a point, line, or polygon. This zone is typically defined by a specified distance from the feature. The purpose of buffering is to analyze proximity and spatial relationships between different geographic entities.

For instance, if a buffer is created around a river, it can help identify which buildings or other features fall within a certain distance from the river, which is vital for studies involving flood zones, ecological impacts, or land-use planning. The width of the buffer can be adjusted according to the needs of the analysis, and multiple buffers can be created for comparative analysis.

Other options do not accurately capture the concept of buffering. While creating a visual representation of data density might involve mapping techniques, it does not define a buffer zone around features. Determining the average distance between points refers to statistical analysis rather than proximity zones. Visualizing data in a three-dimensional context is a different method of analysis, often used in modeling elevation and terrain but does not pertain to the creation of zones for proximity analysis.