Difference between revisions of "Document domain characteristics"
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| − | + | Variables are symbols associated with values (numerical or string type) and are arguably the fundamental currency of science. These are the things we observe and measure, save in databases and predict with our computational models (and use to drive them). They are also the key players in the equations that govern our physics. They are the "exchange items" that are passed between connected resources (e.g. models and datasets). However, to automate the sharing of variables between resources, semantic mediation is necessary, since every resource has its own internal vocabulary. | |
| + | The attached Excel spreadsheet has a few examples of how to provide information on your model's internal variable names --- that is, the actual names, symbols or abbreviations you use in your model's source code. You can delete the example entries (but not the column headings) and then enter similar information for your model. For each variable name that your model uses internally, please go to this URL: [[http://csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/CSN_Searchable_List Searchable List of CSDMS Standard Names]], | ||
| + | then use your browser's search feature, along with the alphabetization, to search for a CSDMS Standard Variable Name that exactly matches that internal variable name. If found, enter it in the appropriate column in the spreadsheet. Otherwise, you can try to construct a standard name that conforms to the rules at: | ||
| + | [[http://csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/CSN_Basic_Rules Basic Rules of the CSDMS Standard Names]] | ||
| + | and then enter SUGGESTED in the Notes column of the spreadsheet. If you don't want to try to construct a name, you can enter NOT FOUND in the Notes column. Please note that internal variables such as counters, intermediates and others that you don't foresee sharing with another model do not need to be listed in this spreadsheet. Think of these variables as the "exchange items". This mapping from your model's internal variable names to standardized variable names is very similar to a List of Symbols you might include in a scientific publication. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the Units column, use standard units abbreviations followed by a positive or negative number to indicate a power, and spaces between as in "m s-1" for velocity units or "m3" for volume units. In the Variable Kind column, indicate whether the variable is an input variable, output variable, or a model configuration variable. The latter includes any variables that your model reads from its configuration file prior to each run. Note that a variable can be both a configuration variable and an output variable, or and input variable and an output variable. This simply means that your model, after acquiring the variable, can also share it as output. Use the slash character as in "config/output" in such cases. | ||
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Revision as of 00:51, 18 June 2015
What This Task Involves
Describing the physical variables used in software by using an ontology of standard names.
Training Materials
This training session was held on May 15, 2015:
- CSDMS Standard Names, includes slides and a paper
Suggested Readings
What To Do
Variables are symbols associated with values (numerical or string type) and are arguably the fundamental currency of science. These are the things we observe and measure, save in databases and predict with our computational models (and use to drive them). They are also the key players in the equations that govern our physics. They are the "exchange items" that are passed between connected resources (e.g. models and datasets). However, to automate the sharing of variables between resources, semantic mediation is necessary, since every resource has its own internal vocabulary.
The attached Excel spreadsheet has a few examples of how to provide information on your model's internal variable names --- that is, the actual names, symbols or abbreviations you use in your model's source code. You can delete the example entries (but not the column headings) and then enter similar information for your model. For each variable name that your model uses internally, please go to this URL: [Searchable List of CSDMS Standard Names], then use your browser's search feature, along with the alphabetization, to search for a CSDMS Standard Variable Name that exactly matches that internal variable name. If found, enter it in the appropriate column in the spreadsheet. Otherwise, you can try to construct a standard name that conforms to the rules at: [Basic Rules of the CSDMS Standard Names] and then enter SUGGESTED in the Notes column of the spreadsheet. If you don't want to try to construct a name, you can enter NOT FOUND in the Notes column. Please note that internal variables such as counters, intermediates and others that you don't foresee sharing with another model do not need to be listed in this spreadsheet. Think of these variables as the "exchange items". This mapping from your model's internal variable names to standardized variable names is very similar to a List of Symbols you might include in a scientific publication.
In the Units column, use standard units abbreviations followed by a positive or negative number to indicate a power, and spaces between as in "m s-1" for velocity units or "m3" for volume units. In the Variable Kind column, indicate whether the variable is an input variable, output variable, or a model configuration variable. The latter includes any variables that your model reads from its configuration file prior to each run. Note that a variable can be both a configuration variable and an output variable, or and input variable and an output variable. This simply means that your model, after acquiring the variable, can also share it as output. Use the slash character as in "config/output" in such cases.
