Which of the following is not a category of attributes in GIS?

In the context of GIS (Geographic Information Systems), attributes are key elements that describe the characteristics of spatial data. There are four main categories of attributes: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Each of these categories provides different kinds of information and insights about the data.

Nominal attributes are categorical and do not have a numeric value; they can identify names or categories (e.g., types of land use). Ordinal attributes also do not have inherent numeric values but can be ranked or ordered (e.g., survey ratings). Interval attributes use a numeric scale where the differences between values are meaningful, but there is no true zero point (e.g., temperature in Celsius). Ratio attributes possess both order and a meaningful zero point, allowing for the calculation of ratios (e.g., height, distance).

The option that is not recognized as a category of attributes within GIS is "Variable." While "variable" may refer to different measurable elements or data types in various contexts, it does not represent a recognized category of attributes used to classify data in GIS. Instead, nominal, interval, and ratio are established classifications used for analyzing and interpreting the nature of the data within GIS frameworks. Therefore, identifying "Variable" as not being an attribute category highlights an understanding