Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 12:53:06 -0400
To: viewps@llareta.dagh.uta.cl
From: Leslie Apollon <la@las.com>
Subject: Re: Information:1997At 12:16 PM 5/15/95 -0400, you wrote:
Hi' GRASS User's:
Need do one reference:
Which are the vantages and disadvantage the GRASS whit relation to ARC/INFO??
Thank for your answer in advancing..
Zorka Zegarra R.
Depto. Ingenieria Computacion e Inf.
& Depto. Geografia
Universidad de Tarapaca, Chile
e-mail:viewps@llareta.dagh.uta.clDear sir.
One could go on for hours over that subject, which can be enlarged to the
differences between raster-based and vector-based GIS. In fact this is a
debate that is still open in the GIS community, and there is a LOT of
documentation on the subject.
Some can say that it depends on the type of data you are using and the type
of problem you are trying to resolve. If you are dealing with statial
distribution of a phenomena, or more basicaly with continuous values ( as
elevation data, vegetation cover, pollution concentration and distribution,
satellite or airborne imagery, etc), you will want to use RASTER data,
because it is best suited for high spatial variability. The file structure
is simple, so algorithms are easy to implement.
Vector data is more compact, more precise for location, and represents
objects better (roads, buildings, administrative borders, etc). It supports
topological relationships and graphical output is somehow better.
It can also be answered by how much you can afford to spend for GIS software.
------------------------------------
Leslie Apollon, M.Sc Géographie
Conseiller SIG - Support Technique
LAS Inc. tel. : (514) 858-1104
1570, rue Chabanel Ouest fax : (514) 389-9373
Montréal, Québec, Canada e-mail: la@las.com
H4N 1H4
Grassland home-page : http://www.las.com/grassland