Activities and Disciplines

Data Standards

We have produced a set of Core fields for georeferencing collections, this is in conjunction with our core specimen database project . 

Georeferencing collections:

Production of spatial data (location data, e.g. where a species occurs) is a fundamental part of Kew’s activities. This data can range from place names in a specimen database, localities on labels, field notes, or the exact location of a plant using GPS (global positioning systems). To allow links to specimen databases whether this is just for dot maps or full-blown GIS analysis, the follow standard fields will allow you to get the maximum from your data and ease the transfer of data to a GIS.

These are the fields that will describe the geographic (spatial) position of a collection. Also I have included several fields that will help to identify where the locality is (georeferencing) and help in the checking of this position.

I have described the technical details of these fields and given a suggested structure for the developers of databases (DB's). Also there is a section for users of the DB, which gives more details and highlights some problem cases.

These fields follow closely the HISPID3 standard, but incorporate other useful fields and the USBGN standards for locality types.

Download the Document as pdf.