Dear all,
I am preparing to resolve outstanding issues with new terms that have been proposed for the Darwin Core following the procedure outlined in the Darwin Core Namespace Policy (http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/namespace/index.htm#classesofchanges), section 3.4. The list of terms under consideration include the following, the original proposals for which can be found in the Darwin Core Issue Tracker (http://code.google.com/p/darwincore/issues/list):
DigitalStillImage (type vocabulary) Individual (class) and individualRemarks dcterms:source alive/dead status yearOfPublication geo:lat and geo:lng georeferencedDate
The process for ratification calls for a 30-day public comment period. I will create separate threads explaining the current status for each of the terms or term combinations listed above so that the commentary can be tracked for each. Terms that pass the 30 days with consensus (which will be measured by a lack of dissenting opinion) will be entered into the Darwin Core vocabulary and I will make adjustments to the documentation, schemas, and canonical RDF representation of the standard. Terms that remain controversial will remain in the commentary stage until another semi-annual review can be undertaken. Questions or concerns about this process are welcome.
John