Searching Using Filters

Users can use the filters on the search page to find relevant records. There are several filters that the user can apply. Many of these filters allow the user to make multiple selections, and some, such as the Regions filter have sub-filters within them, allowing the user to specifically select certain locations. Filters can also be used in combination with one another, however, only terms which will return results will show as options after the first filter is applied.

When expanded, each filter has a brief explanation in italics underneath it, and when a filter is applied, the search results will automatically update.

List of available filters

The available filters in the TDD are:

Regions - Administrative area where data was collected,
Temporal Date Range - Temporal extent of the records in the search result,
Platform - Platform assist in data measurement
Instrument - Instruments used in data measurement
Parameter - observable property that is measured
GCMD - Global Change Master Directory - Science Keywords
Fields of Research - ANZSRC classification codes (https://www.arc.gov.au/manage-your-grant/classification-codes-rfcd-seo-and-anzsic-codes)
Australian Plant Name Index - Authoritative plant names and taxonomic information for Australian flora
Australian Fauna Directory - List of taxonomic and biological names for all animal species in Australia and its territories.
Horizontal Resolution - Spatial resolution classifiers
Temporal Resolution - Time resolution classifiers
License - Data licenses of the records from the search
Data Providers - Data Providing organisations
Authors - People responsible for data creation
Themes - TERN Themes for data classification

To expand a filter, click on the next to it. Then either type a term into the search box to find matching terms or select a term from the list.

Example of refining a search based on the Fields of Research filter

To remove any entry from a filter, either click the 'x' in the corner of it (in the Current Search section at the bottom of the page) or select “Clear Search”.

Example of filters applied to a search

Combining filters for specific searches

Filters can be used in combination with one another. However, once the first filter is applied, users will only be able to add further filters/terms which will refine results.

For example, in the below screenshot, users could further refine their search results using filters, with the exception of the Australian Plant Name Index, as no results contain both Acoustics and Acoustical Devices, Waves and a plant name. Options within other available filters will also be limited based to records which also satisfy the Acoustics and Acoustical Devices, Waves filter term.

Example of filtering functionality which allows the user to only add a second (or third etc) filter which will return results

Searching Using Filters

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