When one feature is said to 'Cover' another in GIS terms, what does this mean?

When one feature is said to 'cover' another in GIS terms, it implies that the covering feature completely encloses the covered feature. This means that all points of the feature being covered are within the boundaries of the covering feature. The concept of coverage in GIS is crucial as it defines relationships between spatial entities, and in this context, it highlights the spatial dominance of one feature over another.

In this case, complete enclosure signifies that the covering feature provides a spatial context or extent that encompasses the entirety of the other feature, thereby establishing a clear hierarchical relationship. Having one feature cover another can affect analysis and visualization in various applications, such as land use planning or environmental modeling, where understanding spatial relationships is essential.

The other options, such as entirely overlapping or sharing boundary points, do not adequately convey the specificity of the term 'cover' in this scenario. Coverage indicates a definitive inclusion rather than mere proximity or sharing, which is why identifying it as complete enclosure accurately captures the essence of this spatial relationship in GIS.