What defines a geodatabase?

A geodatabase is fundamentally defined as a database specifically structured to store, query, and manage spatial data, which encompasses not only geographic information but also the spatial relationships among different data elements. This capability is essential for various applications in GIS (Geographic Information Systems), allowing users to efficiently handle and analyze geographic data.

In a geodatabase, spatial data is organized in a way that supports advanced spatial functions, enabling complex queries and analyses, as well as the incorporation of both vector and raster data formats. This makes the geodatabase integral to any work involving mapping, geographic analysis, or spatial decision-making.

Other options present different concepts. A collection of images stored in long-term memory could pertain to various forms of data storage but lacks the spatial querying and management characteristics inherent to what defines a geodatabase. A software tool for creating 3D models indicates a specific application but does not encompass the broader functionalities associated with spatial data management that a geodatabase provides. A manual for geospatial analysis techniques would serve as a guide or reference for performing tasks rather than representing a database that directly manages spatial datasets.