[Tdwg-obs] What is an observation?
Hello, I had several people respond to my query about what kinds of things we should discuss in this list. Overwhelmingly, the interest seemed focused on defining some of the key terms that we are bantering about. To that end I'd like to initiate the first discussion on this list by asking, what is an observation? What follows is some information that I gleaned from the Internet, discussions that I have had with others, and with the ENBI reports. I'd appreciate your comments, in our goal to create a good definintion of observation for our purposes.--Steve Princeton University's Wordnet (<http://wordnet.princeton.edu/>http://wordnet.princeton.edu/) defines an observation as the act of making and then recording a measurement. Basically, something is watched, and notes are taken about it. In the study of biology and astronomy careful observations made by trained observations and amateurs alike, is the foundation of information gathered for these disciplines. With regard to biodiversity informatics, particularly as to how observations relate to the existing infrastructure, the above definition is too general, because it encompasses all facets of biology. Consequently, we need to begin to qualify the definition of observation. First, we restrict our definition to only those observations made of organisms in the environment. Second, the location at which the observation was made is an integral component of the observation. Third, an observation is exclusive of museum voucher specimens. Finally, information collected during an observation includes additional attributes such as: protocol, measure of abundance, extent of occurrence, demographic, ecological associates, and environmental conditions. To discuss and ultimately added to the definition: Advantages of observational data. Disadvantages of observational data Observational data providers (amateurs/professionals) Detectability and data quality Location specificity Integration of observational data Definition of a collecting event and its significance others? Steve Kelling Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2478 (work) 607-342-1029 (cell)
How about this: An observation captures data about the occurrence of an organism in space and time and in relation to habitat and other organisms. Documenting the precision, accuracy, certainty, and methods of the measurements that have been made during an observation is essential for determining the fitness for use of the data that has been captured. An observation is an event that can be linked to other events. Indeed, I would like to emphasise the need of documenting what is called "quality". Hannu Steve Kelling wrote:
Hello,
I had several people respond to my query about what kinds of things we should discuss in this list. Overwhelmingly, the interest seemed focused on defining some of the key terms that we are bantering about. To that end I'd like to initiate the first discussion on this list by asking, what is an observation? What follows is some information that I gleaned from the Internet, discussions that I have had with others, and with the ENBI reports. I'd appreciate your comments, in our goal to create a good definintion of observation for our purposes.--Steve
Princeton University's Wordnet (<http://wordnet.princeton.edu/>http://wordnet.princeton.edu/) defines an observation as the act of making and then recording a measurement. Basically, something is watched, and notes are taken about it. In the study of biology and astronomy careful observations made by trained observations and amateurs alike, is the foundation of information gathered for these disciplines.
With regard to biodiversity informatics, particularly as to how observations relate to the existing infrastructure, the above definition is too general, because it encompasses all facets of biology. Consequently, we need to begin to qualify the definition of observation. First, we restrict our definition to only those observations made of organisms in the environment. Second, the location at which the observation was made is an integral component of the observation. Third, an observation is exclusive of museum voucher specimens. Finally, information collected during an observation includes additional attributes such as: protocol, measure of abundance, extent of occurrence, demographic, ecological associates, and environmental conditions.
To discuss and ultimately added to the definition:
Advantages of observational data. Disadvantages of observational data Observational data providers (amateurs/professionals) Detectability and data quality Location specificity Integration of observational data Definition of a collecting event and its significance others?
Steve Kelling Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2478 (work) 607-342-1029 (cell)
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-- Hannu Saarenmaa Deputy Director for Informatics Global Biodiversity Information Facility - GBIF Secretariat Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Tel +45-35321479 Fax +45-35321480 GSM +45-28751479 hsaarenmaa@gbif.org http://www.gbif.org/
What is an observation? The essential elements of perhaps any observation were suggested by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) in the Elephant's Child (1902): ("I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew); their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who"). Those elements answering Kipling's honest serving-men are the basic observation elements. "What", makes reference to the species (specimens, from latin specere: "to look at" or "to see"). "Where", represents the place where the samples are taken or observed and some essential geographical features like Latitude, Longitude and Altitude. "Who", is the observer involved in the data gathering process. "How", the method used to get the observation including accuracy, tools, quality control and assurance, precision and certainty. "When", the observation's time, and "Why" is the context and purpose of the collection or observation. Alvaro Espinel OAS-IABIN consultant
Two comments / suggestions - 1) Our definition of observation not be limited to only recording data (including images and sound) and allow for the possiblity of people taking physical samples that may or may not be incorporated into a natural history collection. 2) The universe for our observations also include ecological / natural communities in addition to organisms. There is quite a wealth of information being collected at this broader more "habitat" level. Thanks - Lynn Lynn Kutner NatureServe www.natureserve.org (303) 541-0360 lynn_kutner@natureserve.org ________________________________ From: Tdwg-obs-bounces@lists.tdwg.org on behalf of Hannu Saarenmaa Sent: Wed 10/19/2005 8:40 AM To: Tdwg-obs@lists.tdwg.org Subject: Re: [Tdwg-obs] What is an observation? How about this: An observation captures data about the occurrence of an organism in space and time and in relation to habitat and other organisms. Documenting the precision, accuracy, certainty, and methods of the measurements that have been made during an observation is essential for determining the fitness for use of the data that has been captured. An observation is an event that can be linked to other events. Indeed, I would like to emphasise the need of documenting what is called "quality". Hannu
participants (4)
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Alvaro Espinel -
Hannu Saarenmaa -
Lynn Kutner -
Steve Kelling