Question

In the context of GIS, select the CORRECT option that shows the match between attribute and data scale.

Attribute	Data scale
(P) 23 °C	(1) Nominal
(Q) Woodland	(2) Interval
(R) Kilogram	(3) Ordinal
(S) Small	(4) Ratio

• A. (P)-(2); (Q)-(1); (R)-(4); (S)-(3)
• B. (P)-(2); (Q)-(1); (R)-(3); (S)-(4)
• C. (P)-(1); (Q)-(2); (R)-(4); (S)-(3)
• D. (P)-(1); (Q)-(3); (R)-(2); (S)-(4)

Hint:

Recall the four GIS attribute measurement scales: Nominal (unordered categories), Ordinal (ordered categories), Interval (equal gaps, no true zero), and Ratio (equal gaps, true zero).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Recall the four levels of measurement used for GIS attribute data.
Nominal data are pure category labels with no order or numeric meaning, for example land cover class names. Ordinal data have a meaningful order but the gaps between values are not measurable, for example small, medium, large. Interval data have equal, measurable gaps between values but no true zero point, so ratios between values are not meaningful, for example temperature in \(^\circ\)C. Ratio data have equal gaps and a true zero point, so ratios between values are meaningful, for example mass in kilograms.

Step 2: Classify each attribute (P), (Q), (R), (S).
(P) 23 \(^\circ\)C is a temperature reading. The Celsius scale has equal sized degree intervals but \(0^\circ\)C is not an absence of temperature, it is an arbitrary reference point, so ratios such as 46 \(^\circ\)C being twice as hot as 23 \(^\circ\)C are not valid. This makes it an Interval scale, matching (2).

(Q) Woodland is a land cover category name with no inherent order relative to other categories such as urban or water body. This makes it a Nominal scale, matching (1).

(R) Kilogram is a unit of mass. Mass has a true zero, 0 kg means no mass, and equal intervals, so ratios such as 4 kg being twice as heavy as 2 kg are valid. This makes it a Ratio scale, matching (4).

(S) Small is a relative size category. It is ordered, small less than medium less than large, but the difference between small and medium is not a measurable fixed quantity. This makes it an Ordinal scale, matching (3).

Step 3: Assemble the match and check against the options.
The correct pairing is (P)-(2); (Q)-(1); (R)-(4); (S)-(3), which is exactly option (A). Option (B) wrongly swaps (R) and (S). Option (C) wrongly swaps (P) and (Q). Option (D) is inconsistent with all four correct classifications.

\[ \boxed{\text{Option (A): (P)-(2); (Q)-(1); (R)-(4); (S)-(3)}} \]