Glossary

.layer file

Layer definition file. In Infrastructure Map Server, a file that saves all of the information required to recreate a layer, that is, the references to the source data and the styles that have been applied to it.

area topology (industry model)

In an industry model, a description of spatial relationship between geographic area features. Area topologies contain line strings and centroids. In an enterprise industry model, the polygons are generated automatically from the surrounding line strings. Examples of area topologies are parcels, land use, land cover and political boundaries.

Autodesk Industry Model Data Editor

A standalone application that lets you work directly with industry model features without running Infrastructure Map Server.

Autodesk Industry Model Editor

A dialog box within Autodesk Infrastructure Administrator that is used to create, update, and deploy data models.

Autodesk Industry Model Setup

A component for setting up the enterprise industry model server, the System Administrator, and main users. Use it also to administer the System Administrator and to update the structure of your data models. Infrastructure Map Server.

Autodesk Infrastructure Administrator

A module that allows Infrastructure Map Server System Administrator users to configure certain aspects of industry models and application settings.

Autodesk Infrastructure Application Extension

A web-based version of Infrastructure Map Server.

Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server

The server application (formerly called MapGuide) that includes Infrastructure Studio and Web Server Extension. This suite of products allows you to set up a map server and deliver CAD, GIS, and asset information on the web.

Autodesk Infrastructure Studio

A web-based application for delivering CAD, GIS, and asset information. This application (formerly known as MapGuide Studio) is part of Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server.

Autodesk Infrastructure Web Server Extension

The component that exposes the services offered by the Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server to client applications over the Internet or on an intranet using HTTP protocol.

COGO

Short for Coordinate Geometry. There are specific COGO commands for enterprise industry model data.

continuous data

Data that can fall anywhere in a broad range. When creating a theme, continuous data is usually organized into smaller ranges that show data trends. For example, property value is continuous data that can be placed into the ranges 0 to $50,000, $50,000 to $100,000, and over $100,000, with each range displayed in a different color. Compare with discrete data .

control points

Locations with established latitude and longitude, and often elevation, used for accuracy and precise location of maps. A system of geodetic control points covers the entire United States. Similar systems exist for all countries, such as Bench Marks and Trigonometry Points in the United Kingdom. See also monuments , geodetic coordinate system .

coordinate system

credentials

The user ID and password required to connect to a database.

data provider

A recognized FDO feature source provider, used to connect to geospatial data.

data source

A UDL (universal data link) file that points to a collection of data and provides information on how to access the data.

data store

In FDO , a collection of feature classes contained in a single storage location. The data store consists of an integrated set of objects, which are modeled by classes or feature classes defined within one or more schemas. Data stores can be either file-based, such as SDF, or a database, such as Oracle. See also FDO provider and feature class .

datum

A mathematical model that provides a smooth approximation of the earths surface. Each datum includes both an ellipsoid, which specifies the size and shape of the earth, and a base point for latitude and longitude. If two maps use different datums, points on the map may not line up. See also geodetic coordinate system .

DEM

Digital Elevation Model. A file that contains a representation of surface terrain. The surface is stored as a grid in which each cell can have any one of several different meanings, such as elevation, color, density, and so on.

discrete data

Data that falls into explicit categories. For a feature layer that uses a theme , each value is displayed differently. For example, an agricultural thematic map might show each crop in a different color. Compare with continuous data .

display model (enterprise industry model)

In an enterprise industry model, a way to administer thematic views. A display model definition specifies which set of layer files (feature layers) is loaded into the Display Manager. Also, the display model defines multiple map windows and autoload layers.

domain (enterprise industry model)

Sets of values. For example, a domain defines the values that are allowed for a feature attribute. Enterprise industry models store domains in domain tables, which are created using the Data Model Administrator.

DTED

Digital Terrain Elevation Data.

DWF

An Autodesk file format for sharing 2D, 3D, and spatially enabled design data. DWF files are easy to publish and view on the web. See also geo-referenced DWF .

DWG

Drawing file. The Autodesk file format for storing 2D, 3D, and spatially enabled design data.

elevation

The vertical distance from a datum to a point or object on the surface of the Earth. The datum is generally considered to be at sea level. Equivalent to the Z coordinate in an XYZ coordinate system.

ellipsoid

An approximation of the shape of the Earth that does not account for variations caused by the nonuniform density of the earth. Synonymous with spheroid . See also geoid .

enterprise industry model

A specialized schema stored in an Oracle database. Industry models contain feature classes, rules, relationships, and other settings. There are electric, water, wastewater, and gas industry models. You can create, edit, and configure industry models using the Autodesk Infrastructure Administrator.

expression

An automatic calculation used to specify values for URL, tooltip, and feature labels. For example, you might create a text expression that specifies a state name and population for a label. To express the population in millions, you might apply a number expression that divides the population value by 1,000,000.

FDO

Feature Data Objects (FDO) data access technology. An Autodesk software standard and general purpose API for accessing features and geospatial data regardless of the underlying data store. See also feature(s) , feature class .

FDO provider

An implementation of the FDO API that provides access to data in a particular data store, such as an Oracle or ArcSDE database, or to a file-based data store, such as SDF or SHP.

feature

An abstraction of a natural or man-made real world object. A spatial feature has one or more geometric properties. For example, a road feature might be represented by a line, and a hydrant might be represented by a point. A non-spatial feature does not have geometry, but can be related to a spatial feature that does. For example, a road feature may contain a sidewalk feature that is defined as not containing any geometry. In Infrastructure Map Server, features are accessed and added to maps using Data Connect ( FDO ) or by opening an industry model drawing or an enterprise industry model.

feature class

For feature data, a schema element that describes a type of real-world object. It includes a class name and property definitions. Commonly used to refer to a set of features of a particular class, for example, the feature class "roads" or the feature class "hydrants." See also FDO , property , schema .

feature class form (industry model)

A way to view, edit, and generate reports on attribute data for an individual feature in an industry model drawing or an enterprise industry model.

Feature Data Objects

See FDO .

Feature Search (enterprise industry model)

In an enterprise industry model, finds the location of a certain object, such as a building, a parcel, or any other type of feature that has geometry. The geometry found will be the center of a graphic generation or a zoom GoTo. There are several types of search such as Sequential search and Flat search.

feature source

In Infrastructure Map Server, any source of feature data that has been connected by means of FDO . In Autodesk Infrastructure Studio, one of the two types of resources created either by loading file-based data or by connecting to a spatial database. Feature sources are stored in the repository either in SDF 3 format or as database connections and contain raw geometry only. Compare with drawing source .

field

A specific category of information in a data file, such as Address or Diameter. Also called a column . See also table .

filtered record

A record that matches the conditions of an SQL filter or spatial filter and is therefore available for selection.

geodetic coordinate system

A coordinate system that is referenced directly to a datum. Compare with cartographic coordinate system .

geographic data

Information about geographic features. See feature(s) .

geoid

An ellipsoid with a highly irregular surface used to describe the shape of the earth. See also ellipsoid .

georeferenced DWF

A DWF file published by Infrastructure Map Server or AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 or later that contains a global coordinate system and defined latitude and longitude coordinates based on the WGS84 datum. See also DWF , Design Review .

georeferenced image

An image that references real-world coordinates in its correlation source. Example: Georeferenced images include GeoSPOT, GeoTIFF, and images that use world files as their correlation source.

GeoTIFF

A type of tagged image file format (TIFF) that supports georeferencing information.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A computerized decision support system that integrates geographic data, attribute data, and other spatially referenced data. A GIS is used to capture, store, retrieve, analyze, and display spatial data.

global coordinate system

A method that converts the spherical coordinates of the Earth representing latitude and longitude into an Infrastructure Map Server drawings Cartesian coordinate system, and accounts for the curvature of the surface of the Earth with a projection. A coordinate system is usually defined by a projection, an ellipsoid definition, a datum definition, one or more standard parallels, and a central meridian.

grid surface

See surface .

implicit checkout

The action of checking out features by selecting them, without using the Check Out Features command. See also checkout , explicit checkout .

industry model

A specialized schema stored in an Oracle database (an enterprise industry model) or in a drawing or template file (a file-based industry model). Industry models contain feature classes, rules, relationships, and other settings. There are electric, water, wastewater, and gas industry models. You can create, edit, and configure industry models using the Autodesk Infrastructure Administrator.

industry model drawing

A DWG file containing a specialized schema. Industry models contain feature classes, rules, relationships, and other settings. There are electric, water, wastewater, and gas industry models. To share an industry model drawing with an AutoCAD user, you must first save it as a regular AutoCAD file.

industry model template

A DWT file containing a specialized schema. Industry models contain feature classes, rules, relationships, and other settings. There are electric, water, wastewater, and gas industry models. When you create a drawing with an industry model template, you have expanded functionality.

job (enterprise industry model)

All changes in an enterprise industry model can be controlled and performed by exact reports on appropriate processing steps, if they are performed inside a job. Using jobs allows you to control the version. A job includes various processing states (live, pending, project). For each processing state, an application exactly defines which actions are allowed.

job perimeter (enterprise industry model)

The spatial area in which a job can be processed. You can use job perimeters to control where the modifications of the current job is allowed. Features outside the job perimeter cannot be processed. Also, you can define feature rules to be applied on the objects within the perimeter.

JPG2000

An advanced raster image format from Joint Photographics Expert Group, featuring options for lossless compression, wavelet compression, incremental decompression, and support for up to 48-bit color.

label (enterprise industry model)

In an enterprise industry model, any attribute data of a feature can be displayed as text, using label features. Label features are generated by arbitrary select statements you can define. Label definitions (select statements and other settings) are stored in the system table TB_LABEL_DEF. Label definitions can be created or edited using the Infrastructure Administrator. Label features can be styled with the Display Manager by displaying the LABEL_TEXT property.

label (geospatial features)

Text placed on or near map feature(s) to describe or identify them.

label definition (enterprise industry model)

Select statements that create labels. The label definition queries data from the database and specifies positioning and text orientation. This information is used in the Display Manager for stylization.

layer

A resource that references a feature source or a drawing source. The layer contains styling and theming information, and optionally a collection of scale ranges.

logical operator

A symbol such as And, Or, Not, =, >, >=, <, and <= used to define logical relationships.

logical topology (industry model)

In an industry model, the description of the relationship of features of any feature classes, both attribute or geometry feature classes. The features need not be spatially connected. A logical topology connects points with points, lines with lines,lines to points, or attribute features to attriute features. Utility networks are based on logical topologies that connect points (nodes) and lines (edges). For example, a logical topology can represent a waste water network or electrical transmission lines. Also called a network topology.

long transaction

Database transactions that extend over hours, days, or months, unlike the more typical database transactions that last for only seconds. Long transactions support atomicity, consistency, and durability, and can be committed or rolled back.

map

A collection of layers displayed within a consistent coordinate system and extents. See also layer .

MapGuide Open Source

A software platform for distributing spatial data over the Internet or on an intranet. MapGuideOpen Source is supported by the community (www.mapguide.osgeo.org). The Autodesk version of MapGuide is called Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server.

MAPMAIN (enterprise industry model)

The default name for an enterprise industry model System User with restricted (non-administrator) rights.

MAPSYS (enterprise industry model)

The default name for the enterprise industry model server component that stores application settings and server-side stored procedures. To use an enterprise industry model, you must connect to either MAPSYS or MAPMAIN.

master-detail form (industry model)

A feature class form in which related records are shown in an embedded sub-form on one or more tabs.

monuments

Features with known coordinates, used to establish accurate and precise location on a map. See also control points .

network topology

A description of the spatial relationship between linear drawing objects (links and, sometimes, nodes). For example, a network topology can represent pipelines, streets, electrical transmission lines, and rivers.

node

A single point or a link end point or intersection in a topology. A node can be represented as a block or point object.

node topology

A description of the spatial relationship between geographic point objects in a drawing. Examples of node topologies include point sources of pollution and road signs.

normalizing

In a theme, the scaling of data values relative to another data value. A common example is adjusting the thematic value based on the area, length, or perimeter of the entity.

OGC

Open Geospatial Consortium. A non-profit, international, voluntary consensus standards organization that leads the development of standards for geospatial and location based services. (www.opengeospatial.org)

OpenGIS Agent

The component of the Autodesk Infrastructure Application Extension that implements several OpenGIS Web-mapping protocols to expose the services offered by the Server to standards-based OpenGIS clients.

OSGeo

Open Source Geospatial Foundation. A foundation created to support and build the highest-quality open source geospatial software. The goal of the foundation is to encourage the use and collaborative development of community-led projects. (www.osgeo.org)

package

In Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server, a compressed file that can speed up the process of loading data onto the server. Large source-data files can be zipped up in this file format and saved to a network location or copied to a CD.

path trace

For a network topology, a trace begins at a specified point, finds the shortest distance to another point and is based on resistance (the length by default).

profile (enterprise industry model)

A longitudinal section of line features. A profile is created by projecting features on an axis.

profile data model (enterprise industry model)

A set of profile system tables and an arbitrary set of profile feature classes. Profile system tables store the basic configuration and settings. Profile feature classes store the components of each profile drawing.

project (industry model)

A project includes one or more industry models. Selecting a project loads all necessary objects, including the appropriate menus and toolbars, for all industry models in that project. For enterprise industry models, a project is the central workflow unit, which you must open to work with the enterprise industry model. For file-based industry models, a project is the same as an industry model drawing or template.

For different user groups, such as EDITOR, VIEWER or ADMIN, you can define the appropriate projects with respective roles and rights in the Infrastructure Administrator.

property

For feature(s) data, a single attribute of a class. A class is described by one or more property definitions. For example, a Road feature class may have properties called Name, NumberLanes, or Location.

property data

Values associated with a geographic object, such as river depth, road width, or pipe diameter. In Infrastructure Map Server, these items are represented as block attributes, values in object data tables, or values in a linked external database.

ramp

A sequence of display properties used to render a theme; for example, a sequence of colors, line styles, or hatch patterns.

range of values

In a theme, a segment of data along a continuum, such as property value, temperature, or population.

raster

Images containing individual dots (called pixels or cells) with color values, arranged in a rectangular, evenly spaced array. Aerial photographs and satellite images are examples of raster images used in mapping. Compare with vector .

raster-based surface layer

resolution

In a raster image, the density of pixels-per-inch (PPI) or dots-per-inch.

rule (for feature themes)

A feature theme consists of a collection of rules. Each rule specifies a style and feature label for the features that meet the specified condition. You can add a legend label to provide a description of the condition of a rule. As a layer is drawn, each feature(s) is compared to the rules in the order that they are listed. The first rule for which the feature meets the condition is used to specify the style and feature label for that feature.

rule (industry models)

A method or trigger that processes data accordingly to predefined algorithms. For example, rules perform complex consistency and dependency checks at certain events, such as before inserting or after modifying a feature.

scale

The ratio of the distance on a paper map to the distance on the ground. If a paper map has a scale of 1:100,000 (also represented as 1/100000), then a distance of 1 unit on the paper map corresponds to 100,000 units on the ground. On a digital map, scale represents the scale of the map from which the digital map was derived.

scale threshold

You can define different stylizations at different scale thresholds. For example, turn on the display of road names only when the drawing scale factor is below 1:5000.

schema

The definition of multiple feature classes and the relationships between them. A schema is the logical description of the data types used to model real-world objects, and does not reference the actual data instances (a particular road or land parcel). Rather, it is metadata. See also feature class .

schema plan (enterprise industry model)

A schematic diagram that represents real world features by transforming the original feature geometry to an alternative location, for example by applying a coordinate offset. The schema plan represents real-world features in a clear structure, and preserves topology. A schema plan can be displayed as an overlay on the original features, or in a secondary window. Use Infrastructure Administrator to define schema plans.

schematic feature (enterprise industry model)

Features derived from real-world features. They are stored in the database and are used to draw the schema plan. Each schematic feature is associated with its real-world feature.

SDF

Spatial Data File. An open source file-based geodatabase that can contain multiple feature classes or types of data stored in tables with attributes and geometry. See SDF 2 , SDF 3 .

SDF 2

The previous version of the SDF file format. It was the native file format for Autodesk MapGuide 6.5 and earlier. Each SDF 2 file generally contained one feature class or type of data, for example points, lines, polygons, or text.

SDF 3

The current version of the SDF format. It is the native format for Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server and Open Source. Each SDF 3 file can contain multiple feature classes or types of data stored in tables with attributes and geometry. See feature class .

service

An Oracle database.

shortest path trace

See path trace .

site

The collection of servers that process Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server requests.

Site Administrator

A web-based application, installed with Autodesk Infrastructure Map Server, for managing a site and its servers.

Site Explorer

The tree view in Autodesk Infrastructure Studio that displays the resources stored in the resource repository.

site server

In a site, the server that contains the resource repository.

spatial analysis

The process of understanding, extracting, or creating information about a set of objects. Spatial analysis includes techniques used to determine the distribution of objects over a network or area, and the relationships between those objects. The location of, proximity to, and orientation of objects can be analyzed with spatial analysis. It is useful for evaluating suitability and capability, for estimating and predicting, and for interpreting.

spatial context

The general metadata or parameters within which the geometry for a collection of features resides. In particular, the spatial context includes the definition of the coordinate system, spheroid parameters, units, spatial extents, and so on, for a collection of geometries owned by features.

spatial data

Information about the location and shape of geographic features, and the relationships between those features. See also feature(s) .

Spatial Data File

See SDF .

spatial index

An index created in an Oracle Spatial database by dividing the extents of the drawings in the database into rectangular tiles. Infrastructure Map Server uses the index to locate the geometry to be imported.

spheroid

See ellipsoid .

style

Settings that specify how to display the feature(s) or drawing objects in a Display Manager layer. For example, a polygon style that makes parcel polygons 50% transparent and which appears at a scale of 1:50000. One or more styles can be applied to a single element.

styling

The process of assigning display characteristics (such as line color, line pattern, fill color, fill pattern, and so on) to feature(s) (points, polylines, polygons). See also theming .

stylization

Visually or textually changing the display of drawing objects according to the assigned styles, rather than displaying them with their native object properties. See also style .

superuser

A user who controls user IDs, passwords, and access to sensitive procedures.

surface

A network of elevation data. Infrastructure Map Server supports raster-based grid surfaces, such as DEM, DTED, and ESRI Grid. In these types of surfaces, the points of a surface are connected into a grid, which are then used to interpolate contours, and to generate profiles and cross-sections. A surface represents the ground condition at a particular time or event.

symbol

A bitmap or vector image that is used to represent a point.

symbol library

In Autodesk Infrastructure Studio, a collection of related symbols. Image files are converted into symbols when they are brought into the symbol library. The symbol library is stored in the resource repository.

System Administrator

An Infrastructure Map Server user with access to the Autodesk Infrastructure Administrator module.

table

A set of data arranged in records (rows) and fields (columns). When a table is displayed in a grid, records display in horizontal rows and fields display in vertical columns. Each field value in the table displays in a cell.

template (enterprise industry model)

In an enterprise industry model, an arrangement of recurrent features. The arrangement includes feature attributes, geometry and connectivity.Use templates to place a feature arrangement in one single step.

template file

A file that formats another file, such as a text file for saving information from queried objects.

thematic map

See theme .

theme

A theme is a special style used to vary the stylization based on some property of the objects. For example, instead of just coloring the lakes blue, you could vary the shade of blue based on the depth of the lake. Instead of just altering the line width of the roads, you could vary the line width based on traffic flow.

theming

The process of styling feature(s) according to an attribute value. See also styling .

tiling scheme

The method of breaking a large map into multiple smaller tiles.

topic (enterprise industry model)

A collection of feature class tables, like containers, used to organize feature classes. Considering a data transfer, topics are fully independent of one another. Each topic may have sub-topics.

To build a clear and transparent data structure, you can group feature classes into topics, group several topics into main topics, and define feature classes with sub-feature classes. These relations between topics and feature classes serve only as an illustration of the data structure. There is not necessarily an actual relation between the tables.

topology

A set of geometric relationships between drawing objects, including links, nodes, and centroids. Topology describes how lines, nodes, and polygons connect and relate to each other, and forms the basis for advanced GIS functions such as network tracing, spatial analysis, buffer analysis, overlay analysis, and dissolving a polygon topology.

topology checker (industry data model)

A tool that checks topologies in an industry model drawing or an enterprise industry model. The results are displayed in a tree view, displaying all feature errors.

versioning

A database function that allows multiple copies of a spatial dataset to be stored and tracked by date of creation, data of change, and so on.

viewport (enterprise industry model)

Area of interest for the generate graphic process. An enterprise industry model viewport is a spatial filter on the map.

WFS

Web Feature Service. A web service based on the specification defined by the OGC. Acts as a source of feature(s) data.

WMS

Web Map Service. A web service based on the specification defined by the OGC. Produces an image (for example, a PNG or JPG image) of geospatial data.

workflow (enterprise industry model)

A guide for the user through tasks like acquisition, analysis, and reports.

zero-client viewer

zoom

To change the display magnification so that it focuses on progressively smaller areas (when you zoom in) or larger areas (when you zoom out) of an image.

zoom extents

To magnify a drawing based on its extents so that the view shows the largest possible view of all spatial objects.