« EML and DEIMS - Mapping Mission | Main | Devel snippets »
October 05, 2011
EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes
How to treat variable information (called an Attribute in EML) is at the forefront of my mind for a few reasons:
1) Variables can vary widely (ha,ha) among and within data sets which makes the EML specification rather complex.
2) Portions of this complexity are ensconced within the DEIMS metadata structure but much of it is not. I tend to agree with this approach as encasing the entire specification would create a huge proliferation of fields that would rarely be used and would make direct metadata entry into the DEIMS system by non-expert researchers nearly impossible.
On with the show.
EML Specification*
<attributeName> is the official name of an attribute, typically the name of a field in a data table. This is often short and/or cryptic.<attributeLabel> (optional): is used to provide a less ambiguous or cryptic alternative identification than what is provided in <attributeName>. This content may be used as a column or row header in an HTML display.
<attributeDefinition> gives a precise and complete definition of attribute being documented. It explains the contents of the attribute fully so that a data user can interpret the attribute accurately.
Corresponding DEIMS variable fields
Node Title -> attributeName
Variable Abbreviation (field_attribute_label) -> attributeLabel
Definition (field_var_definition) -> attributeDefinition
This is confusing. Variable Abbreviation maps to attributeLabel although the latter is designed to be the full variable name (i.e., Node Title.)
EML Specification* - yields 5 over-arching variable categories:
<measurementScale> indicates the type of scale from which values are drawn for the attribute. One of the 5 scale types must be used: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio, or dateTime,The <nominal> scale is used to represent named categories. Values are assigned to distinguish them from other observations. This would include a list of coded values (e.g. 1=male, 2=female), or plain text descriptions. Columns that contain strings or simple text are nominal. Example: plot1, plot2, plot3.
<ordinal> values are categories that have a logical or ordered relationship to one another, but the magnitude of the differences between the values is not defined or meaningful. Example: Low, Medium, High.
<interval> These measurements are ordinal, but in addition, use equal-sized units on a scale between values. The starting point is arbitrary, so a value of zero is not meaningful. Example: The Celsius temperature scale uses degrees which are equally spaced, but where zero does not represent “absolute zero” (i.e., the temperature at which molecular motion stops), and 20 Celsius is not “twice as hot” as 10 Celsius.
<ratio> measurements have a meaningful zero point, and ratio comparisons between values are legitimate. For example, the Kelvin scale reflects the amount of kinetic energy of a substance (i.e., zero is the point where a substance transmits no thermal energy), and so temperature measured in kelvin units is a ratio measurement. Concentration is also a ratio measurement because a solution at 10 micromolePerLiter has twice as much substance as one at 5 micromolePerLiter.
<dateTime>, is a date-time value from the Gregorian calendar and it is recommended that these be expressed in a format that conforms to the ISO 8601 standard. An example of an allowable ISO date-time is “YYYY-MM-DD”, as in 2004-06-25, or, more fully, as “YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssTZD” (e.g., 1997-07-16T19:20:30.45Z).
Corresponding DEIMS variable fields
The DEIMS implementation is simplified into the following groups:
Quantitative Variable: Interval/Ratio are clumped under ratioDate Time Variable: dateTime
Text Based Variable: Nominal/Ordinal are clumped under nominal.
- Note: pattern here is /attribute/measurementScale/nominal/nonNumericDomain/enumeratedDomain - are the last two contradictory? Partial answer: possibly not because there is a numericDoman field
EML Specification* - "The
<unit> Units should be described in correct physical units. Terms which describe data but are not units should be used in <attributeDefinition>. For example, for data describing “milligrams of Carbon per square meter”, “Carbon” belongs in the <attributeDefinition>, while the <unit> is “milligramPerMeterSquared”.
Corresponding DEIMS variable fields
Unit (field_attribute_unit) -> Unit within a customUnit tag
Notes to follow-up on:
Code-definition doesn't show up in the EML output. views-bonus-eml-export-eml.tpl.php indicates it should appear as
attribute/measurementScale/nominal/nonNumericDomain/enumeratedDomain/code
attribute/measurementScale/nominal/nonNumericDomain/enumeratedDomain/defintion
Although it seems this would be correct
attribute/measurementScale/nominal/nonNumericDomain/enumeratedDomain/codeDefition/code
attribute/measurementScale/nominal/nonNumericDomain/enumeratedDomain/codeDefintion/defintion
*EML Best Practices Working Group. EML Best Practices for LTER Sites V2.0. August 1st, 2011. http://im.lternet.edu/sites/im.lternet.edu/files/emlbestpractices-2.0-FINAL-20110801_0.pdf
Posted by kkwaiser at October 5, 2011 11:19 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/mt-bin/mt-tb.cgi/2256
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes:
» Hugh Deason from Hugh Deason
Wow, great blog article.Really thank you! Really Cool. [Read More]
Tracked on January 26, 2012 03:19 PM
» kortingscode from kortingscode
Alle kortingscodes van nederland! [Read More]
Tracked on October 28, 2012 10:05 AM
» Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS from wow power levelin
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 8, 2013 06:28 AM
» christian louboutin Sandals from christian louboutin Sandals
hzazbqc hzazbqc pdv1 hzazbqc hzazbqc [Read More]
Tracked on April 11, 2013 11:14 AM
» Celine Sale from Celine Sale
Keep functioning ,splendid job! [Read More]
Tracked on April 13, 2013 05:49 AM
» nike flyknit from nike flyknit
I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives... [Read More]
Tracked on April 14, 2013 11:50 PM
» nike blazers sale from nike blazers sale
It takes me into a mysterious aura, where every living thing grows with a specific sound, sound that nobody can hear; where in a black background stood an old castle, with decaying beauty, frightening spirits and horror mixed with love and death. And I... [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 07:09 AM
» VNXeCXAl from VNXeCXAl
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 08:14 AM
» nike lunar flyknit from nike lunar flyknit
Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you. [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 06:05 PM
» hermes bags from hermes bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 07:53 PM
» mulberry bags from mulberry bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 07:54 PM
» red bottom shoes from red bottom shoes
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 09:47 PM
» seo tools from seo tools
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2013 11:21 PM
» wow gold from wow gold
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 17, 2013 12:06 AM
» burberry bags from burberry bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 17, 2013 06:45 PM
» celine bags from celine bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 19, 2013 12:39 PM
» miu miu from miu miu
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 20, 2013 02:35 AM
» michaelkorsausa from michaelkorsausa
Eliminate Air Jordan 11 Concord 2012 Difficulties Completely [Read More]
Tracked on April 23, 2013 06:33 PM
» buyairshoes from buyairshoes
Control Air Jordan 11 Concorde Complaints For Good [Read More]
Tracked on April 23, 2013 06:33 PM
» sac louis vuitton from sac louis vuitton
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on April 29, 2013 08:50 AM
» Burberry Outlet from Burberry Outlet
Luxury toms outlet can be the wise option for you to be unqiue and fashion. [Read More]
Tracked on May 2, 2013 10:00 PM
» Burberry Outlet Online from Burberry Outlet Online
It's our honor for you to visit toms outlet website. [Read More]
Tracked on May 2, 2013 10:01 PM
» diablo 3 gold from diablo 3 gold
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 3, 2013 01:34 PM
» chanel bags from chanel bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 7, 2013 01:12 PM
» hermes bags from hermes bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 7, 2013 01:12 PM
» celine bags from celine bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 8, 2013 07:38 PM
» lebron 10 from lebron 10
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 8, 2013 07:39 PM
» www.atlantianbsgroup.com from www.atlantianbsgroup.com
I¡¯m curious if you ever have problems with what people post? Recently it seems to have become an epidemic, except that recently it seems to have become better. What are your thoughts? [Read More]
Tracked on May 11, 2013 10:44 AM
» speedupmypc 2013 from speedupmypc 2013
serial do speedupmypc2013 [Read More]
Tracked on May 12, 2013 09:20 AM
» Jimmy Choo Wedges from Jimmy Choo Wedges
from Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes the US, Europe, Australia and Asia "totalling to over 230 countries globally. We also boast more than ten million Christian Louboutin outlet British isles mer... [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 08:15 AM
» Christian Louboutin Boots from Christian Louboutin Boots
christian louboutin outlet with Christian Louboutin sale likely to Christian Louboutin sale be the evolution relating to modern society and the emergence regarding several distinct foodsLast but mo... [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 08:15 AM
» cheap soccer cleats from cheap soccer cleats
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 11:22 AM
» Chanel Handbags from Chanel Handbags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 11:23 AM
» CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN from CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 11:23 AM
» cheap oakley sunglasses from cheap oakley sunglasses
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 11:23 AM
» prada bags from prada bags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 13, 2013 11:24 AM
» Christian Louboutin Outlet from Christian Louboutin Outlet
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 15, 2013 12:03 AM
» celine outlet from celine outlet
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 15, 2013 12:03 AM
» cheap jordans from cheap jordans
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 15, 2013 12:03 AM
» Cheap Philadelphia Eagles Hats from Cheap Philadelphia Eagles Hats
Handful of players could do what Kaline could on the field. He could hit for energy, normally had a higher batting typical, and was a perennial gold glover in correct field. He basically had no weaknesses. He won a batting title at the young age of 20!... [Read More]
Tracked on May 17, 2013 07:40 PM
» CHEAP BEATS BY DRE from CHEAP BEATS BY DRE
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 18, 2013 05:46 AM
» cheap oakley from cheap oakley
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes [Read More]
Tracked on May 18, 2013 01:03 PM
» replica designer handbags from replica designer handbags
Data Discussions: EML and DEIMS - Mapping Attributes cheap designer handbags [Read More]
Tracked on May 19, 2013 04:00 AM