Level | Characterised by | Data formats | Metadata | Processing steps to reach level | Data quality status |
Level 0 (raw) | raw data from instrument, instrument units and system, only for experts. These data are often not accessible for standard users of an instrument and the scientist may have to rely on the instrument to supply ready level-1 data | raw-data (counts, bits, bytes, binary,...) | instrument - identifier time (absolute or relative) | none or proprietary software | only external sources available (logbook,...) |
Level 1 (physical values) | bio-, chemical, physical-values, data related to instrument, values in standard units, for use of specific scientific group related to instrument/dev ice | ASCII, or data specific physical, chemical or biological parameters | Time as it is delivered from the instrument. In case this is configurable follow level-2 (frictional days since 1970) position information variables (names, units) | instrument calibration, synchronisation between instruments (depth, gps) | corrupted data eliminated (i.e. data with missing bits, only partial numbers or tuples) |
Level 2 (bio-, chemical-, geo- physical value in space and time with error) | Bio-, geo-, physical-, chemical values, connected to space and time of measurement for use in scientific community of specific subject, correctable by version whenever faults were eliminated | ASCII, NetCDF or data specific (physical parameters for objects of interest, e.g.: reflectance calculated from radiance, irradiance measurements) | Time - preferable in (fractional) days since 1970. Position in preferable lat, lon (WGS84), depth Errors/measurements uncertainties | Producing geo-physical quantities for object of interest by combining several l1-variables (by binning, averaging over short distances or short time or other procedures) | Quality values and/or quality flags connected to data-values are derived. Spikes, bad data removed/replaced (flagged wheather done or not) |
Level 3 (data exchange: value in space-time with error in standard format) | Values located in standard formats (e.g. common described grids) with error/confidence level, for use in general scientific community - in general portals accessible, correctable by version | preferable in NetCDF for maplike, RDBMS for timeseries like data | Metadata in standard system, e.g. for COSYNA in CODM-NOKIS | Map projected on regular oriented grid. Time in (fractional) days since 1970 (preferred). If applicable on time interpolated grid. | Every measured value should have an attached error. The data quality flag is filled. Link to descriptive meda-data in standard system (e.g. for COSYNA in CODM-NOKIS) |
Level 4 (published) | Data published, kept in archives, preferable with DOIs, fixed dataset, cross-linked to eventual publication, correction of data results in new dataset, use by full scientific community | As needed by receiving receiving/publishing data centre (WDC/DOD) | As (3) plus mandatory metadata on data quality | Extended analysis performed to understand best possible the accuracy and limitations of the dataset in extended space and time dimensions (e.g. check for longterm trends and errors) | Data quality controlled, all checks passed. Reviewed data set, sent to an WDC/DOD data centre with a DOI |
Flag | Definition | Criteria | Usage |
0 | No quality control | no quality checks (QC) applied | On own risk, no checks done |
1 | Good data | all possible QC passed | To all what is known, this data is good |
2 | Probably good data | all first QC checks passed | To all what is known so far, and there are more checks waiting, but could not be performed at current time. These data are usable |
3 | Probably bad data | Some first QC not passed, but data potentially correctable | The data failed some checks but that may be recoverable in later, retrospective analysis |
4 | Bad data | no QC passed | Data should not be used but may be inspected |
9 | Missing data | data not available | - |
Value | defined in ISO 19115 | Logo |
copyright | yes | |
patent | yes | |
patentPending | yes | |
trademark | yes | |
license | yes | |
intellectualPropertyRights | yes | |
restricted | yes | |
otherRestrictions | yes | |
openAccess | no | |
onDemand | no | |
moratorium | no | |
not available | no |
Dataset type | Abbreviation | Logo |
Swath sonar / multibeam | MB | |
Singlebeam | SB |
Abbreviation | Content |
a | Amplitudes / Backscatter |
d | Depths |
s | Sidescan |
w | Water column |