Esri ArcGIS Pro Foundation Certification Practice Test

Which spatial property should be preserved when creating a map to measure the area of a national park?

1. Area

2. Direction

3. Distance

4. Shape

The correct answer is: Area

When creating a map to measure the area of a national park, preserving the property of area is crucial. This is because the primary goal is to accurately calculate the size of the park, which is a function of its area. Maps can be created using different projections, and each projection can affect how spatial properties are represented. However, some projections are specifically designed to preserve area, which means they maintain the proportional relationship between the areas on the map and the actual areas on the ground. This is particularly important for land management, conservation planning, and resource allocation where accurate area measurements are necessary. While direction, distance, and shape are also important spatial properties, they are not the focus when measuring an area. For instance, a projection that preserves area may distort the shapes or distances, but it ensures that the area measurements remain true to reality, which is the fundamental requirement for assessing the size of the national park.