INSPIRE harmonized - Biological parameter

More information about the soil at a particular location is often obtained through observations. This layer contains observations of the biological parameters (e.g.: depth of the wormholes, rooting depth and presence of shell residues,.....). There are two types of observations: Single and multiple observations. In the first case, one parameter corresponds to one measured value; in the second case with multiple measurement points and values. A single or multiple observation is always linked to one soil location, one depth interval, one soil site or one soil sample. A soil location, soil site, depth interval or soil sample can 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 that are categorized via a list box (these are coded observations). Each of these simple observations is characterized 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 measurements. Observations that are linked to a depth interval or soil sample always apply to the full depth of this depth interval or sample. Observations linked to a soil location or a soil site can have 0, one or two depths for observations independent of depth, observations at a certain depth or in a certain interval, respectively. Observations can optionally 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 that was followed.