[seek-taxon] FW: [Tdwg-obs] What is an observation? (fwd)

[Robert K. Peet]

Following on our discussion in San Diego I contacted Bruce Stein at 
NatureServe about the TDWG Observations Group.

He sent me the information below

Note:
To join the TDWG observations listserv:
http://lists.tdwg.org/mailman/listinfo/tdwg-obs_lists.tdwg.org
To view the TDWG Observations listserv archive:
http://lists.tdwg.org/pipermail/tdwg-obs_lists.tdwg.org/

Not a lot going on yet, but the listserv is very new.

Jerry Cooper has a quite perceptive comment worth taking a look at.  Also 
note reference to the Open GIS standard.

Bruce also reported that NatureServe is actively developing an observation 
standard for their own use, this funded by a grant form teh Gordon and 
Betty Moore Foundation.  For more information on this he referred me to 
Lynn Kutner.  I will forward information on this shortly.

Bruce is keen for any standard to apply equally well to vegetation and 
individual organisms, to field observations and museum obervations.

Bob

  ====================================================================
  Robert K. Peet, Professor              Phone:  919-962-6942
  Department of Biology, CB#3280         Fax:    919-962-6930
  University of North Carolina           Cell:   919-368-4971
  Chapel Hill, NC  27599-3280  USA       Email:  peet at unc.edu

              http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/peet/
  ====================================================================

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:56:31 -0400
From: Bruce Stein <Bruce_Stein at natureserve.org>
To: peet at unc.edu
Cc: Lynn Kutner <Lynn_Kutner at natureserve.org>
Subject: FW: [Tdwg-obs] What is an observation?

Bob --

Here's some of the relevant links for the TDWG observational group.
I've also briefly filled Lynn Kutner in on our conversation and
desirability of coordinating with you and your EML work relative to our
NatureServe observation workgroup (to whom this email originally was
directed).

Bruce

Bruce A. Stein
Vice President for Programs
NatureServe
(703) 908-1830
bruce_stein at natureserve.org
www.natureserve.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Lynn Kutner
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 4:36 PM
To: Karen Cieminski; 'acox at mt.gov'; 'kwalker at mt.gov';
'john.fleckenstein at wadnr.gov'; Peter_Sorrill; Larry Morse; 'Pete Sorrill
(E-mail)'; Larry Master; Jennifer Nichols; Donna Reynolds; Rickie White;
Kelly Gravuer
Cc: Rob Solomon; Keith Carr; Don Faber-Langendoen; Douglas Sellers; Judy
Soule; Kristin Barker; Bruce Stein; Carol Fogelsong
Subject: FW: [Tdwg-obs] What is an observation?

Hi all -

I wanted to let you know that the TDWG observation subgroup is up and
running, and currently discussing a definition for "observation".

Bruce Stein and I are actively involved in this subgroup as co-sponsors.
If others in the NatureServe network would like to get involved as well,
your input is welcome.

Subgroup website:
http://www.avianknowledge.net/tdwg

Email list subscription:
http://lists.tdwg.org/mailman/listinfo/tdwg-obs_lists.tdwg.org

Email list archives:
http://lists.tdwg.org/pipermail/tdwg-obs_lists.tdwg.org/

TDWG website:
http://www.tdwg.org

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Lynn


-----Original Message-----
From: Tdwg-obs-bounces at lists.tdwg.org
[mailto:Tdwg-obs-bounces at lists.tdwg.org] On Behalf Of Steve Kelling
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 2:02 PM
To: Tdwg-obs at lists.tdwg.org
Subject: [Tdwg-obs] What is an observation?

Hello,

I appreciate all of the thoughtful comments regarding the question of
what
is an observation. My rational for starting at an observation and not a
monitoring event or some higher level was to make sure that we had a
clear
definition of the primary unit of observational data. It is this unit
that
can be (and is) integrated with existing natural history collections
information, and is the main determinant of why observational data
should
be included with current initiatives. Walter Berendsohn's, Hannu
Saarenmaa's, and the OGC Observations and Measurements white paper give
us
a good starting point. From these I suggest the following:


Definition of Observation: An observation is a collection event that
describes a phenomenon, and is bound to the spatiotemporal location
where
it was made. Furthermore, an observation describes an occurrence and can
be
linked to descriptions of other occurrences.


Once this definition is established, and agreed upon, then this subgroup

can assert what is unique about observational data. This pertains to the

second aspect of Hannu's suggestion, what Jerry Cooper refers to as the
latter or continuum option, and what Denis Lepage discusses in detail.
Specifically, we can now discuss the fundamental organization unit of
observational data: the collection event. In the description of the
collection event we begin to address issues of data quality, protocols,
extent, precision, accuracy, certainty, protocol methodology, negative
or
absence data, and other issues.


Regards,

Steve Kelling
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
607-254-2478 (work)
607-342-1029 (cell)




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