Spatial representation

Real world objects can be represented in the GIS as points, lines, areas and surfaces.

• Points (eg. trees, houses, road intersections)
  
  
• Lines are one dimensional ( eg. roads, rivers, regional boundaries, fences)
  
  
• Areas are two-dimensional ( eg. administrative regions, land cover types, geological regions)
  
  
• Surfaces are three dimensional (e.g. hills, valleys)
  

Objects are represented within conceptual models and translated into a computer format using data models.