Summary of O&M model and its various implementations (OMXML, OM-JSON, SOSA/SSN) with particular attention to Sampling model. Making the case that a x-disciplinary model for science observations is feasible (and has already been attempted). Presented at meeting of ICSU/CODATA Commission on Standards, The Royal Society, London, 2017-11-13

1. A common model for scientific observations and samples
Simon J D Cox
LAND AND WATER
13 November 2017

2. Outline
• Motivation for a common observation model
• Standard and variants
• Samples
• Adoption
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling2 |

3. Motivation for a common model
• Integrated analysis and modelling
• Discovery & data integration a
significant challenge
• Standard vocabulary
Many private contracts
one public agreement!
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling
Remote sensing
Sensor
Value
Parameter
Scene
Earth science
Algorithm, code,
simulator
Model, field
Variable
Volume, grid
Metrology
Instrument
Value
Measurand
Sample
Chemistry
Instrument,
analytical process
Analysis
Analyte
Sample
Environmental
monitoring
Gauge, sensor
Value, time-series
Parameter
Station
Observations &
Measurements
procedure
result
observed property
feature of interest
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4. Observations & Measurements
An Observation is an action
whose result is an estimate of the value of some property of the feature-of-interest
that applied at the stated phenomenon-time,
obtained using a specified procedure, completed at the recorded result-time
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling Cox, OGC Abstract Specification – Topic 20: Observations and Measurements 2.04 |
Observation
phenomenonTime
resultTime
validTime [0..1]
resultQuality [0..*]
parameter [0..*]
PropertyType
Feature
Process Any
+observedProperty
1
0..*
+featureOfInterest 1
0..*
+procedure1 +result

5. Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling
ISO 19156:2011 Geographic Information – Observations and measurements
5 |

6. Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling6 |

7. Key elements
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling7 |
– Observation = ‘Act of observation’
– many types of result: number, image, classification …
– result-time may be different to the phenomenon-time
– procedure, sensor, feature-of-interest
Scope
– In situ observations
– Remote sensing
– Ex-situ (laboratory) observations
– Numerical models/simulations
– Forecasts
– Interpretations, classifications
Any action whose result is an estimate of a property value
https://www.w3.org/TR/vocab-ssn/

8. Sampling
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling8 |

9. Sample: a cross-domain definition
A ‘sample’ is a thing or subset which is
intended to be representative of a
larger thing or set …
… created or selected for the purpose
of making observations to determine
the value of one or more properties,
traits or qualities of the larger thing
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling9
The essential property of a sample is the 'is-sample-
of' relationship with the larger thing.
https://goo.gl/KBvkgW

10. Types of sample
A material sample or specimen is
typically selected to allow ex-situ
observations
A statistical sample or subset is a
specified number of individuals from a
population
A spatio-temporal sample may have
the same dimension but a smaller
extent than the thing which it
represents,
or a lower topologic dimension than
the thing which it represents
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling10

11. Domain specialization
Register of standard
protocols and
procedures
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling11 |
Register of standard
instruments and sensors
Register of
standard
observable-
properties
Conceptual model of the
application-domain including the
object types (features)

12. Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling12 |
Domain model?
Characteristic properties
height
dbh
taxon
location
Feature type
VascularPlantOccurrence
Property values
= 91 m
= 1.5 m
= Eucalyptus regnans
= -42.72, 146.81
A feature type
is defined by a set of
characteristic properties
A feature instance
is defined by the
values of its properties

13. • USGS Water
• INSPIRE / EC Air Quality
• WMO weather
• SeaDataNet ocean observations
• ANZSoilML
• Geoscience Australia IGSN
• …
Cox | CODATA | Observations & sampling
O&M adoption
13 |

14. Land and Water
Simon Cox
Research Scientist
t +61 3 9545 2365
e simon.cox@csiro.au
w www.csiro.au
LAND AND WATER
Thank you