Andmekihtide

Andmekihtide is a term used in Estonian to refer to data layers, a fundamental concept in data organization and geographic information systems. In GIS, each andmekiht is a collection of geographic features or non-spatial records that share a common theme, such as roads, land use, or hydrology. A layer has its own geometry or tabular structure, attributes, a coordinate reference system, and styling information, and it is linked to a data source or dataset.

In practice, layers are organized into base layers and thematic overlays. Base layers provide general context, such as a street network or topography, while overlays add specific information for analysis. The order of layers affects visualization and analysis results. Layers can be combined through operations like query, join, overlay, and spatial analysis, enabling complex maps and data products.

Managing andmekihtide involves metadata, data quality, and governance. Important considerations include the coordinate reference system, scale dependencies, update frequency, and provenance. File formats and services commonly used for andmekihtide in GIS include GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, and web services like WMS and WFS.

Beyond GIS, the concept also appears in data architecture and software design as logical layers that separate concerns, such as presentation, business logic, and data access. Clear definition and documentation of andmekihtide support interoperability, reusability, and performance.