Inspire harmonised – Biological Parameter

More information on soil at a given location is often obtained by observations. This layer contains observations of the biological parameters (e.g.: depth of sausage corridors, rooted depth and presence of shellfish,.....). There are two types of observations: single and multiple observations. In the first case, one parameter corresponds to one measurement value; in the second case, with multiple measuring points and values. A single or multiple observation is always linked to one soil site, one depth interval, one soil site or one soil sample. A soil site, soil site, depth interval or soil sample may have 0 or more observations. There are three different types of single observations: a distinction is made between observations of a numerical value (these are measurements), observations with a free text value (these are observations) and observations categorised by a drop-down list (these are encoded observations). Each of these single observations is characterised by one parameter and one measurement value (either numeric, free text or an item from a drop-down list). Multiple observations are series of measurements – in this case one parameter is described by multiple numerical measurement values. Observations linked to an depth interval or soil sample shall always apply to the full depth of this depth interval or sample. Observations linked to a soil site or a soil site may have 0, one or two depths respectively for observations independent of depth, observations at a certain depth or interval. Observations may, on an optional basis, be linked to an observation method, which describes the method by which the value was determined, for example by referring to the procedure or standard used.