Describing the dimensionality of geospatial data in the earth sciences; recommendations for nomenclature

Complications exist when describing the dimensionality of geoscientific data sets. One difficulty is that there are a number of different, valid ways to consider dimensionality. Unlike traditional methods of field data capture, modern digital methods typically record the position of every sample poi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geosphere (Boulder, Colo.) Colo.), 2008-04, Vol.4 (2), p.354-359
Main Authors: Jones, Richard R, Wawrzyniec, Tim F, Holliman, Nicolas S, McCaffrey, Kenneth J. W, Imber, Jonathan, Holdsworth, Robert E
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
coordinates
digital data
digital terrain models
dimensions
fractals
geology
mapping
Miscellaneous and mathematical geology
nomenclature
sampling
spatial data
standardization
topology
visualization
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Summary:Complications exist when describing the dimensionality of geoscientific data sets. One difficulty is that there are a number of different, valid ways to consider dimensionality. Unlike traditional methods of field data capture, modern digital methods typically record the position of every sample point relative to a three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system, even for simple measurement strategies such as 1D line sampling. Critically, the best way to describe the dimensionality of a data set will depend on the context in which the data are presented. Terms such as "2 1/2 D" are generally inappropriate for nonspecialist audiences. Because ambiguity and inconsistency are already widespread, it is usually advisable to explain clearly the nature of each data set, the method used to capture the data, and particularly whether data acquisition was restricted to the outcrop surface or includes sampling of the subsurface.
ISSN:1553-040X
1553-040X
DOI:10.1130/GES00158.1