Advantages and Disadvantages of raster and vector images.

Vector images advantages.

Data can be represented at its original resolution and form without generalisation. Since most data, e.g. hard copy maps, is in vector form no data conversion is required. Allows for efficient encoding of topology, and as a result more efficient operations that require topological information, e.g. proximity, network analysis. Disadvantages vector images. The location of each vertex needs to be stored explicitly. Continuous data, such as elevation data, is not effectively represented in vector form. Usually substantial data generalization or interpolation is required for these data layers. Raster data advantages. Due to the nature of the data storage technique data analysis is usually easy to program and quick to perform. Discrete data, e.g. forestry stands, is accommodated equally well as continuous data, e.g. elevation data, and facilitates the integrating of the two data types. Raster data disadvantages The cell size determines the resolution at which the data is represented. It is especially difficult to adequately represent linear features depending on the cell resolution. Accordingly, network linkages are difficult to establish. It is especially difficult to adequately represent linear features depending on the cell resolution. Accordingly, network linkages are difficult to establish.