Which example illustrates a continuous data layer in a GIS?

• A. Satellite imagery representing land cover intensity.
• B. City boundary shapefile.
• C. Road network as lines.
• D. Parcel ownership records.

Answer: (A)

Continuous data layers represent a surface where values vary across space without hard boundaries, forming a field rather than individual objects. Satellite imagery representing land cover intensity is a classic example because every pixel holds a value that changes gradually across the landscape, capturing continuous variation in what’s on the ground.

The other options depict discrete features: a city boundary shapefile defines clear borders; road networks as lines represent linear features with specific paths; parcel ownership records delineate separate parcels. These are object-based, not continuous fields, so they don’t illustrate a continuous data layer.