the process of eliciting information from a GIS by asking questions of the geographic data —note 1. query can be spatial or logical; spatial query is the process of spatially selecting features, e.g., select all stands within 300 ft (91.4 m) of another stand or set of stands; logical query is the process of selecting features whose attributes meet specific logical criteria, e.g., select all vegetation types whose value for SPECIES is ponderosa pine —note 2. the query process involves selecting a set of features, then performing additional operations with those features and drawing them with assigned symbols, listing their attributes, or summarizing attribute values, e.g., calculating the total or average value of an itemThis definition last updated 07/14/2008