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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Landscape ecology terminology has been modified from Forman and Godron, 1986; Forman, 1995; and Elkie et al, 1999.

GIS terminology has been adapted from Burrough and McDonnell, 1998; DeMers, 1997

A
Accuracy - conformance to a recognisable standard. The degree to which an estimated value differs from the true value

Algorithm - a set of rules for solving a problem

Anthropogenic - of or relating to the study of the origins and development of human beings

Application - a task addressed by a computer system

Arc - a complex line connecting a sequence of coordinate points - also known as a chain or string

Area - a fundamental unit of geographic information which is a measure of a particular extent of the earths surface

Area metrics - measures of area eg Class area, Landscape area

Area weighted mean patch fractal dimension - a measure of shape complexity adjusted for patch size

Area weighted mean shape index - a measure of shape complexity adjusted for shape size

Aspect - the azimuthal direction of surface features

Association - spatial relationship that exists between different elements of the earth that occur at the same locations

Attribute - non-graphic descriptors of point, line and area entities in a GIS

Attribute error - incorrect or missing attributes

Attrition - the act of wearing down by constant abuse

Autocorrelation - statistical concept expressing the degree to which the value of an attribute at spatially adjacent points varies with distance or time separating the observations

Azimuthal projections - a family of map projections resulting from conceptually transferring the earths coordinates onto a flat surface placed perpendicular to the sphere

B

Benchmark - test to evaluate the capabilities of a computer system in terms of customer requirements

Biota - the flora and fauna of a region

Biodiversity - the variety of life forms especially number of species but including number of ecosystem types and genetic variation within species

Boolean operators - operators based on logic which are used to query 2 or more sets of data - they allow inclusion, exclusion, intersection and differences in the data to be determined

Boundary - a zone composed of the edges of adjacent ecosystems

Broad scale - referring to a large area where the ratio of map length to true length is small. Opposite of fine scale

Buffering - the process of creating areas of calculated distance from a point, line or area object

C

Cadastral - a map showing the boundaries of the sub division of land for the purpose of describing and recording ownership and taxation

Cadastre - involves interests in land ownership and management

Cartesian coordinate system - a mathematical construct defined by an origin and a unit of distance in the X and Y direction from that origin

Cartographic - relating to the tools and techniques of surveying land surfaces for the purposes of making maps, or the graphic tools and techniques used to produce maps.

Cartography - the art and science of drawing charts and maps

CD-ROM - a compact disk used as a 'Read Only Memory' devise

Cell - the basic element of spatial information in the raster/grid description of spatial entities

Chain - see arc

Character - an alphabetical, numerical or special graphic symbol that is treated as a single unit of data

Class area - sum of areas of all patches belonging to a given class

Classification - the procedure of assigning the same or similar attribute types into groups or classes

Clustered - spatial arrangement of objects where they occur in groups located close to one another, leaving large empty spaces between

Command - an instruction sent from the keyboard or other control device to execute a computer program

Community - all the interacting populations of various living organisms in a particular area

Complexity - a complicated arrangement of interrelated parts

Composition - the factors of parts that got to make up something also the way in which factors make up the whole

Conceptual model - an abstraction, representation and ordering of phenomena using the mind

Configuration - the location and juxtaposition of landscape elements

Conflation - the computational equivalent of stretching a map until its internal components can be rectified - see also rubber sheeting

Connectivity - LE - a measure of how connected or spatially continuous a corridor or matrix is; GIS - the linking of different spatial, mostly linear units into complex chains

Contagion - measure of contact or close association between patches

Contiguity measures - tools which identify adjacent features (polygons or arcs, a measure that is concerned with relative positions rather than exact locations

Contiguous - adjacent spatial units touching to form an unbroken chain or surface

Continuous - data that occur everywhere on the surface of the earth

Continuous surface - any statistical surface whose values occur at an infinite number of locations

Continuum - gradual change in species composition along an environmental gradient

Contour - a line connecting points of equal elevation

Contrasted weighted edge - the sum of patch perimeter segment lengths multiplied by their corresponding contrast weights divided by total patch perimeter

Control points - any points on a map for which the geographic coordinates are well known and reasonably accurate

Core area metrics - measures that calculate the core area present within a patch or patches eg Core area density, Mean core area, Core area standard deviation, Core area density, and Total core area index

Core area density - a measure of the relative number of disjunct core patches relative to the landscape area

Core area standard deviation - the standard deviation of disjunct core areas

Corridor - a narrow strip of land that differs from the matrix on either side

Coverage - a single thematic map in a multi-map GIS database - also known as a data layer or an overlay

Currency - the level to which data is kept up to date

D

Dangling node - a node located at the end of an undershoot

Data dictionary - detailed description of the data contents of a database with particular attention being paid to explanations of categories

Data model - an abstraction and representation of real world phenomena according to a formalised conceptual schema which is usually implemented using the geographical primitives of points, lines and polygons or discretised continuous fields

Data record - see tuple

Data structure - the organisation of data in ways suitable for computer storage and manipulation

Data types - the classification of different data according to their characteristics

Database - a collection of many files collectively associated with a single general category

Database structures - a set of approaches for organising large collections of computer files commonly relating to a single major subject - they enable storage, editing, searching and retrieval of files or individual pieces of data within the files

Database Management System (DBMS) - a set of computer programs for organising the information in the database. A DBMS can contain routines for data input, verification, storage, retrieval and combination

DEM - see digital elevation model

Digital - the representation of data in discrete, quantised units or digits

Digital Elevation Model - a quantitative model of part of the earths surface in digital form - also a digital terrain model (DTM)

Digitise - to encode map coordinates in digital form Digitiser - a devise for entering the spatial coordinates of mapped features from a map to the computer

Discrete - data that only occur in selected places on the earths surface

Dissection - to cut into small pieces or to take apart

Disturbance - an event that causes a significant change from the normal pattern in an ecological system

Disturbance patch - an area that has been disturbed within a matrix

Diversity - the number and variety of species present in an area and their spatial distribution.

Diversity and interspersion metrics - measures that investigate the variety and spatial distribution of patches eg Mean nearest neighbour, Interspersion Juxtaposition Index, Mean proximity index, Shannon's diversity index and Shannon's evenness index

E

Easting - a measurement of distance east of a preselected standard meridian

Ecoline - is a term used at the local level to describe a natural or human-made corridor

Ecology - the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment

Ecosystem - all organisms in a given place in interaction with their non-living environment.

Edge - an outer band of a patch that has an environment significantly different from the interior of the patch

Edge density - amount of edge relative to the landscape area

Edge effect - a distinctive species composition or relative abundance in the outer band of a patch

Edge matching - the process of aligning the edges of two or more documents

Edge metrics - measures that calculate the amount of edge present in a landscape or around patches eg Total edge, Edge density, Mean patch edge and Contrasted weighted edge

Edge species - species found primarily near the perimeter of a landscape element

Edit - to remove errors from or modify a computer file or map

Element - a fundamental geographical unit of information eg a point, line, area or pixel - also known as an 'entity'

Ellipsoid - a surface of which all the plane sections are ellipses or circles

Endogenous disturbance - disturbance originating from internal or natural processes

Entities - distinct units of real world phenomenon

Entity error - error of position for cartographic objects

Error - a difference between the approximate or observed value and the actual or true value of a quantity

Evapotranspiration - the process in which rain water evaporates from trees and returns to the atmosphere.

Evenness - measure of spatial distribution or abundance

Exogenous disturbance - disturbance due to external influences such as anthroprogenic activity

F

Feedback - a loop in which one component affects a second component that in turn affects the first component

Field - a set of records in a database containing information or a type or class of data

File - a collection of related information in a computer that can be accessed by a unique name

Filter - a matrix of numbers used to modify the grid cell or pixel values of the original through a variety of mathematical procedures (used in raster GIS and digital image processing)

Fine scale - referring to a small area where the ratio of map length to true length is large. Opposite of broad scale.

Format - the way data are arranged for transmission between computers

Fractal - a object having a fractional dimension, one that has variation that is self-similar at all scales, in which the final level of detail is never reached and never can be reached by increasing the scale at which observations are made

Fractal dimension - a measure of complexity (2 times the logarithm of patch perimeter divided by the logarithm of patch area)

Fragmentation - the breaking up of habitat, ecosystem or land use types into smaller parcels (one of several processes in land transformation)

Function - the flow of mineral nutrients, water, energy or species or the operation of landscape processes

G

Gene flow - the mixing of genes through interbreeding

Generalisation - the process of reducing detail on a map as a consequence of reducing the map scale

Geocoding - the activity of defining the position of geographical objects relative to a standard reference grid.

Geographical data - data that record the location and value characterising the phenomenon

Geographical data model - formalised schema for representing data which has both location and characteristic

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - a set of computer tools for collecting, storing, retrieving at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world for a particular purpose

Geoline - is a term used at the continental level to describe corridors or trajectories along which biota energy and nutrients flow

Geomorphology - study of the forms of the land surface ad the processes producing them and the study of the underlying rock or paten materials and the landforms present which were formed in geological time

Georeference - to establish the relationship between page co-ordinates on a planar map and known real-world co-ordinates.

GPS (Global Positioning System) - a set of satellites in geostationary earth orbits used to help determine geographic location anywhere on the earth by means of portable electronic receivers

Gradient - a gradual change with distance

Grid - a set of regularly spaced sample points or a tessellation by squares

Grid map - a map in which the information is carried in the form of regular squares - also called raster

H

Habitat - the ecosystem where a species lives or the conditions within that ecosystem

Hardware - the physical components of a GIS (eg computer, plotters, printers, VDU etc)

Heterogeneity - the amount of diversity within a selected area - opposite of homogeneity

Heterogeneous - consists of dissimilar constituents

Heterozygosity - cell, plant or animal with dissimilar alleles (1 dominant and 1 recessive gene)

Hierarchical database structure - computer database structure employing parent/child or one to many relationships that require direct linkages among items for a search to be successful or a method of arranging computer files so that the units of data storage are connected by a hierarchically defined pathway

Hierarchy - a sequence of sets composed of smaller sets

Home range - area around an animals home that is used for feeding and other daily activities

Homogeneity - the degree to which attributes in a region are similar - opposite of heterogeneity

Homogeneous - having all parts identical to each other Illumination - the effect of shinning a light onto a 3-dimensional surface

I

Illumination - the effect of shining a light onto a 3 dimensional surface to produce a shaded relief image

Indexed files - files of data records in which pointes based on a particular ordering system such as alphabetic are used to quicken accessing and searching instructions

Input - the data entered into a computer system

Input device - a hardware component for data entry

Instability - A state in which a small environmental change is sufficient to divert a system out of equilibrium, its regime of oscillation around a central position

Interpolation - the estimation of values of an attribute at unsampled points from measurements made at surrounding sites

Intersection - the crossing of lines or polygons to form new units

Interspersion - the level of spatial intermingling that takes place within a community or between patches of the same type

Interspersion Juxtaposition index - a measure of patch adjacency

Interior species - species located primarily away from the perimeter of a landscape element.

Intervisibility - a cumulative operation for looking at the areas that can be seen from target locations

Island biogeography Theory - theory explaining the number of species on islands as related to an islands area, isolation and age, as caused by the balance between colonisation and extinction Isolated system - a system that has no exchange of energy or matter with its surrounding environment

J

Join - to connect two or more separately digitised maps

K

Keyboard - the device used for typing information into the computer

Kriging - an exact interpolation routine that depends on the probabilistic nature of surface changes with distance

L

Landform - a geomorphic feature of the earths surface

Land Information Systems - subset of GIS that pay specific attention to land related data

LANDSAT - a series of earth resource scanning satellites launched by the USA

Landscape - a heterogeneous land area composed of a cluster of interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form throughout. Landscapes vary in size.

Landscape area - sum of areas of all patches in the landscape

Landscape change - an alteration in the structure and function of the ecological mosaic over time

Landscape ecology - the study of the structure, function and change in a heterogeneous land area composed of interacting ecosystems

Landscape element - the basic relatively homogenous ecological unit, whether natural or human in origin, on land at the scale of the landscape

Landscape function - the flows of energy, materials and species (processes) among the component ecosystems

Landscape structure - the distribution of energy, materials and species in relation to the sizes, shapes, numbers, kinds and configurations of landscape elements or ecosystems

Landscape transformation - landscape in which the configuration is changing from one type to another

Large scale - similar to broad scale

Latitude - angular measurement north and south of the equator

Layer - a logical separation of mapped information according to a theme

Line - one of the basic geographical primitives defined by at least two pairs of XY coordinates

Lineage - the history of a data set

Line corridor - a narrow band essentially dominated throughout by edge species

Location-allocation - a group of models designed to determine the best locations for activities in geographic space and to assign a portion of geographic space to existing facilities based on demand and location

Logical consistency - how well logical relations among data elements are maintained

Longitude - angular measurement east and west from the prime meridian

M

Managed landscape - a landscape such as a rangeland or forest where native species are harvested

Map - a hand drawn or printed document describing the spatial distribution of geographic features in terms of a recognisable and agreed symbolism

Map projection - the basic system of coordinates used to describe the spatial distribution of elements in a GIS Matrix - the most extensive and most connected landscape element type present, which plays the dominant role in, landscape functioning. Also a landscape element surrounding a patch.

Maximum likelihood - a method embodying probability theory for fitting a mathematical model to a set of data

Mean core area - the average size of disjunct core patches

Mean nearest neighbour - a measure of patch isolation Mean patch edge - average amount of edge per patch

Mean patch fractal dimension - a measure of shape complexity Mean patch size - measure of the average size of patches

Mean perimeter-area ratio - a measure of shape complexity

Mean proximity index - a measure of the degree of isolation and fragmentation

Mean shape index - a measure of shape complexity

Median patch size - the middle patch size or the 50th percentile

Mental Models - a persons perceptions of the world

Menu - a list of available options displayed on the computer screen that the user can choose from by using the keyboard or a devise such as a mouse

Mercator projections - conceptual map projections introduced specifically for nautical navigation

Meridians - lines of longitude drawn north and south on the globe and converging at the poles

Metadata - data about data, an overall description of data in the database

Metapopulation - a population consisting of a spatially-separate subpopulations that are connected by the dispersal of individuals

Microclimate - the climate of a small area such as within vegetation

Migration - a cyclic movement of animals between separated areas that are used during different seasons

Model - a simplified verbal, graphic or mathematical description used to help understand a complex object; GIS - a representation of attributes or features of the earths surface in a digital database

Module - a separate and distinct piece of hardware or software that can be connected with other modules to form a system

Mosaic - a pattern made up of different small componenets

Mosaicing - the practise of stitching small images together to form a larger image

Mouse - a hand steered device for entering data or commands to the computer

Multispectral scanner - a devise for capturing an image of an object obtained simultaneously in a number of discrete spectral bands

Multivariate analysis - methods that concurrently analyse many factors, plus the relationships among the factors

N

Natural landscape - an area where human effects if present, are not ecologically significant to the landscape as a whole

Nearest neighbour - the closest patch of similar type

Nearest neighbour analysis - a statistical test to compare the distance between each point object and its nearest neighbour to an average between neighbour distance

Neighbourhood functions - GIS analytical functions that operate on regions of the database within the proximity of some starting point or grid cell

Network - two or more interconnected computer systems for the implementation of specific functions or a set of interconnected lines or arcs

Network database structure - a method of arranging data in a database so that explicit connections and relations are defined by links or pointers of a many-to-many type

Niche - the ecological role of an organism in a community in regard to food and shelter

Node - the point at which arcs (lines, chains, strings) are joined

Noise - irregular variations or error in the data

Northing - a measurement of distance north of a preselected standard starting parallel

Number of patches - a measure of the total number of patches found in the landscape if 'analyse by landscape' is selected or number of patches for each individual class if 'analyse by class' is selected

O

Object-oriented database structure - the organisation of data within a database defined by a series of predefined objects and their properties and behavioural characteristics

Object-orientated database management system - GIS system based on object-orientated programming methods and demonstrating object inheritance

Output - the results of processing data in a GIS - can be maps, tables, images, and files

Overlay - the process of stacking digital representations of various spatial data on top of each other so that each position in the area covered can be analysed in terms of these data

Overshoot - an arc that extends beyond the arc with which it was meant to connect

P

Package - a set of computer programs that can be used for a particular generalised class of applications

Patch - a nonlinear surface area differing in appearance from its surroundings

Patch density and size metrics - measures that calculate the density and size of patches eg Number of patches, Mean patch size, Median patch size, Patch size standard deviation, and Patch size coefficient of variance

Patch size coefficient of variance - the coefficient of variation of patches

Patch size standard deviation - the standard deviation of patch areas

Patch theory - a theory relating to the view of landscapes as being made up of a hierarchy of patches

Patchiness - the density of patches or the fineness of the mosaic

Pattern - a repeated design or configuration of elements; the regular arrangement of objects

Perforation - to be made up of a series of holes

Performance - the degree to which a device or system fulfils its specifications

Persistence - a measure of stability, referring to the time period during which a certain characteristic continues to be present at a given level

Photogrammetry - a series of techniques for measuring position and altitude from aerial photographs or images using a stereoscope or stereoplotter

Pixel - a picture element, smallest unit of information in a grid cell map or scanner image

Plate tectonics - the study of the movement of huge rock shields that underlie the earth's surface

Point-in-polygon - the process of overlaying a point coverage with a polygon coverage to determine which polygons contain which points

Polygon - a multi-sided figure representing an area on a map

Polygon overlay and intersection - the creation of new polygons (entities) by the process of overlaying and intersecting the boundaries from two or more vector representation of area entities

Population - a group of individuals of the same species located in a particular time and place. The individuals regularly exchange genes through reproduction.

Porosity - the measure of the density of patches in a landscape matrix

Precision - degree of accuracy of a numerical representation

Predation - the act of preying upon, a mode of life practised by certain animals in which food is primarily obtained by the killing and consuming of other animals

Primary key - a set of attributes in a relation database that are designed as the primary search criteria for the database

Probability - the chance of an event or occurrence

Program - a set of instructions directing the computer to perform a task

Projection - see map projection

Proximity - the closeness of one item to another

Puck - a hand held device for entering data from the digitiser which usually has a window with accurately engraved cross hairs and several buttons for entering associated data

Q

Quality - an essential or distinctive characteristic or property of a thing often relating to the standard of excellence

R

Raster - a regular grid of cells covering an area

Raster data structure - a database containing all mapped spatial information in the form of regular grid cells

Raster map - a map encoded in the form of a regular array of cells

Rasterisation - the process of converting an image of lines and polygons from vector representation to a grided representation

Raster to vector conversion - see vectorisation

Recolonisation - to re establish a colony

Record - a set of attributes relating to a geographical entity

Redundancy - the inclusion of data in a database that contribute little to the information content

Regeneration - to under go regrowth or renewal

Region - a set of loci or points having a certain value of an attribute in common

Relictual - a landscape element in the process of diminishing

Relations - relationships between entities and attributes in a database

Relational database structure - a method of structuring data in the form of sets of records or tuples so that relations between different entities and attributes can be used for data access and transformation

Remnant patch - an area remaining from a former large landscape element and now surrounded by disturbed area

Remote sensing (RS) - the observation of objects or groups of objects, normally at a distance, most often with the use of some form of mechanical or electronic device

Resampling - techniques for transforming a raster image from one particular scale and projection to another

Resolution - the degree to which small objects are distinguishable; the smallest spacing between two displayed or processed elements, the smallest feature that can be mapped or sampled

S

Salination - the process whereby soluble salts accumulate in the soil

Salinity - to have a high concentration of salt

Sampling - the technique of obtaining a series of measurements to obtain a satisfactory representation of the real world phenomenon being studied

Scale - the level of spatial resolution perceived or considered. The ratio of length on a map to the true length or size in the real world

Scanner - a device for converting images from maps, photographs or from part of the real world into digital form

Selection - a sorting process involving overproduction of offspring, variability, competition and survival of the fittest offspring

Shannon's diversity index - a measure of relative patch diversity

Shannon's evenness index - a measure of patch distribution and abundance

Shape metrics - measures that investigate patch shape eg Mean perimeter-area ratio, Mean shape index, Area weighted mean shape index, Mean patch fractal dimension and Area weighted mean patch fractal dimension

Shrinkage - to contract to a smaller volume

Side looking airborne radar (SLAR) - a system mounted at the base of an aircraft that sends out and receives radar signals in a sweeping motion perpendicular to the flight path of the aircraft

Simulation - using the digital model of the landscape in a GIS for studying the possible outcome of various processes expressed in the form of mathematical models

Sink - an area or 'reservoir' that absorbs objects

Sliver polygons - small polygons, often without attributes that result either from digitising the same line twice or following the overlay of two or more coverage

Slope - measure of the amount of rise divided by the amount of horizontal distance travelled

Small scale - similar to fine scale

Smoothing - a set of procedures for removing short-range erratic variation from lines, surfaces and data series

Soil - the top layer of the earths surface where rocks have been broken down unto relatively small particles through biological, chemical and physical processes

Source - an area or 'reservoir' that gives off objects

Spatial - anything dealing with the concept of space - primarily dealing with the distribution of things on the earths surface

Spatial arrangement - the placement, ordering, concentration, connectedness or dispersion of multiple objects within a confined geographic space

Spatial data model - see geographic data model

Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) - a computer system that can be used to make recommendations on solutions to particular problems

Species area curve - the relationship plotted between increasing area and the number of species

Species composition - the particular species present eg in a community

Species diversity - the number and the relative abundance of species

Species dynamics - changes in a community due to colonisation, extinction and population size fluctuation

Species source - an area from which species come in colonisation

Spheroid - a geometric representation of the shape of the earth

Software - general name for computer programs and programming languages

Stability - the condition of a system characterised by a variation curve with a general tendency and a large or small regular oscillation

Stepping stone - a spot that is colonised by species that can be used for the movement of species between landscape elements

Stream corridor - a band of vegetation bordering a stream or river

Strip corridor - a wide band with a central interior environment that contains an abundance of interior species

Structured Query language (SQL) - a standard language for interrogating and managing relational databases

Subsurface flow - the more or less horizontal movement of water and dissolved substances beneath the soil surface

Suburban landscape - a town or country area with a heterogeneous patchy mixture of residential areas, commercial centres, cropland, managed vegetation and natural areas

Succession - a directional species replacement process often leading through a series of recognisable stages to a climax community

Supersaturation - to add to beyond the point of satuation

Surface runoff - the movement of water over a soil surface

Sustainability - the condition of maintaining ecological integrity and basic human needs over human generations

Systems analysis - the study of behaviour and interactions among components in a model of a complex system

T

Tablet - a small digitiser used for interactive work on a graphics workstation

Temporal - of or relating to time

Texture - the visual appearance of a symbol resulting from the spacing and placement of internal markings

Thematic map - a map whose primary purpose is to display the locations of a single attribute or the relationships among several selected attributes

Theodolite - an instrument for taking the heights and distances of objects, or for measuring horizontal and vertical angles in land-surveying

Thiessen polygons - a method of creating polygons or proximal regions around point objects by defining them mathematically, dividing the distance between each point and connecting these distances with straight lines

Tile - a part of the database in a GIS representing a contiguous part of the earths surface

Topographical map - a map showing the surface features of the earths surface

Topological models - a vector data structure that incorporates explicit spatial information about the relative locations of objects in the database - these are necessary for advanced analysis in GIS

Topological space - a map that accurately represents the spatial ordering.

Topology - a term used to refer to the continuity of space and spatial properties, such as connectivity, that are unaffected by continuous distortion

Total core area index - a measure of the amount of core area in the landscape

Total edge - measure of the perimeter of patches

Transect - a set of sampling points along a straight line

Transform - the process of changing the scale, projection and orientation of a mapped image

Transverse projections - a type of Mercator projector

Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) - a vector data structure for representing geographical information that is modelled as a continuous field (usually elevation) which uses tessellated triangles or irregular shape

Tuple - a set of values of attributes pertaining to a given item in a database - also known as a record

U

Undershoot - an arc that does not extend far enough to connect with another arc - also known as dangling arcs

Union - the joining of two or more data sets together

UNIX - a computer operating system

Unsupervised classification - the process of classifying digital data in remote sensing without the interaction of the user

Urban landscape - a landscape with a densely built up matrix

V

Variegated landscape - a landscape which has been subject to varying degrees of modification

Vector - the representation of spatial data in a GIS by points, lines and polygons

Vector data structure - a means of coding and storing point, line and areal information in the form of unit of data expressing magnitude, direction and connectivity

Vectorisation - the conversion of point, line and area data from a grid to a vector representation

Vector to raster conversion - see rasterisation

Verification - to make certain of or prove the truth or accuracy of something

Videography - the practice or art of recording images with a video camera

Viewshed - those parts of the landscape that can be seen from a particular point

W

Windows 95, Windows NT - operating system used with personal computers and workstations

Workstation - a minicomputer or a high level personal computer used for local computations, it is often connected to other computers by a network

Z

Zones - on the UTM grid system the earth is divided into columns 6 degrees of longitude wide. Each of these is called a zone and is numbered from 1 to 60 eastward beginning at the 180th meridian

Zoom - a capability for proportionately enlarging or reducing the scale of a figure or map displayed on a computer screen