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How to enter parameter and sensor details and limitations

Owned by Jenny M (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 26 Apr 2022 by Anusuriya Devaraju (Unlicensed)
4 min read

The About tab consists of several sections, providing fields to describe data parameters, units and equipment, limitations, associated publications, the format of the data file and the lineage of the data set.

Data parameters are also known as variables or observed properties.

Instructions

The About tab is divided into several sections. Complete the following sections in the About tab:

How to add a data parameter

Click [ + Add data parameter ] to open the Add Parameter window from the About tab.

Complete the following fields in the Add Parameter window:

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Name

Start typing to filter the list of parameters then click to select an item in the list,

OR

Click the [Browse] button to open the Browse parameter names window, and either:

  • Click the arrows to expand or contract the tree then click to select an item
    or
    Type the parameter name under “Or define your own Name'

  • Click [Done] to close the window.

Mandatory.

If a parameter is not available in the list, you can create a new item at the bottom of the [Browse] window.

Name in dataset

Type the name of the field as stated in the data file

The column or field name.

Unit

Start typing to filter the list of units then click to select an item in the list,

OR

Click the [Custom] button to open the Add parameter unit window:

  • Type the unit of measure under “Define your own Unit'

  • Click [Done] to close the window.

Mandatory. If the unit is not available in the list, you can create a new item at the bottom of the [Custom] window.

 

Instrument

Start typing to filter the equipment list then click to select an item in the list,

OR

Click the [Browse] button to open the Browse parameter instruments window, and either:

  • Click the arrows to expand or contract the tree then click to select an item
    or
    Type the instrument name under “Or define your own Platform'

  • Click [Done] to close the window.

If the equipment item is not available in the list, you can create a new item at the bottom of the [Browse] window.

Note: If the same Instrument is used for all parameters in the data set, just enter the details in one row.

Serial Number

Type the serial number of the instrument used to measure the parameter.

 

Platform

Start typing to filter the list of platforms then click to select an item in the list,

OR

Click the [Browse] button to open the Browse parameter platforms window, and either:

  • Click the arrows to expand or contract the tree then click to select an item
    or
    Type the platform name under “Or define your own Platform'

  • Click [Done] to close the window.

If the platform is not available in the list, you can create a new item at the bottom of the [Browse] window.

Note: If the same Platform applies for all parameters in the data set, just enter the details in one row.

Click [Done] to store the input, or [Cancel] to ignore the input. The Add Parameter window closes.

  1. For each additional parameter, click the [ + Add data parameter ] button under ‘Data parameters’ and repeat from the beginning.

Click the [Save] button to store the changes to the record (top right above the tabs).

 

How to indicate the spatial resolution

Complete the following field in the About tab:

Field Label

Step

Notes

Field Label

Step

Notes

Horizontal resolution

Select to indicate the approximate horizontal spatial resolution of the data

 

 

How to add resource constraints

Click [ + Add use limitation ] to open the Add Use Limitation window from the About tab, and complete the following field:

Field Label

Step

Notes

Field Label

Step

Notes

 

Type the details into the field

Limitations could include:

a disclaimer

a statement on the recommended format of the citation

Click [Done] to store the input, or [Cancel] to ignore the input. The Add Use Limitation window closes.

 

Click [ + Add publication ] to open the Add Publication window from the About tab, and complete the following fields:

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Title

Type the title of the online resource

Mandatory.

For Journal Articles, use a subset of the citation format:

Surname (Year), Title

URL

Type the hyperlink to the online resource

Mandatory. The address of the Article or Resource on the web site

Click [Done] to store the input, or [Cancel] to ignore the input. The Add Publication window closes.

  1. For each additional resource, click the [ + Add publication ] button and repeat the steps above.

 

How to enter notes about the data

Only one entry should be added under Additional detail.

Click [ + Additional detail ] to open the Add Additional Detail window from the About tab, and complete the following field:

Field Label

Step

Notes

Field Label

Step

Notes

 

Type the details into the field

If the data set contains multiple files, consider entering details of the file naming convention here.

Click [Done] to store the input, or [Cancel] to ignore the input. The Add Additional Detail window closes.

 

How to enter details of the file format

Complete the following fields in the About tab:

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Field Labels

Steps

Notes

Data file format

Type the name of the file format

Examples: Microsoft Excel, csv, NetCDF, GeoTiff, etc

Data file format date/version

Type the version of the file format

Some formats have associated versions or dates, for example, Excel 95.

 

How to enter the lineage of the data

Complete the following field in the About tab:

Field Label

Step

Notes

Field Label

Step

Notes

Lineage

Type a brief summary of how the data was collected and processed to produce the data set.

Provide more detail information about methods in the How tab.

Click the [Save] button to store the changes to the record (top right above the tabs).

 

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