Create New Term Process - Darwin Core Hour Input Form 2/10/2017 17:19:19 about dwc-qa

[tucotuco]

There are many levels of possible solutions to the general question, "Is there a standard protocol for capturing information for which there is currently no standard term?"

dynamicProperties
If the concept is suitable for a single field for which there would be no more than one value per record, then the information can be captured in the Darwin Core dynamicProperties field (potentially with other information). The examples for dynamicProperties actually demonstrates how IUCN Status might be captured as (if it is the only dynamic property of the record:

{ "iucnStatus":"vulnerable" }

Though this is an easy solution, its limitations should be understood. In general, dynamicProperties is a good way to make sure that data that has no other place to go can accompany a Darwin Core record inside of a Darwin Core standard field. However, there should not be an expectation that consumers of dynamic property data will necessarily understand the data and how it might be used.

Darwin Core extension
If the concept is one that might apply multiple times with distinct values, especially in combination with other concepts, it is a good candidate to become part of a Darwin Core extension. An example of the the use of an IUCN status can be found in the GBIF Species Distribution extension with the term threatStatus. It is more work to create or amend an extension than it is to simply populate the dynamicProperties field, but the field will likely be mire readily understood, especially if the extension has been vetted well within gthe communities meant to use it.

New Darwin Core Term
The most robust and involved solution, if it is appropriate, it to create a new Darwin Core term. An updated process for doing this is currently in public review. When that has been ratified, a brief summary and links to the detailed process will be provided. Very briefly, a formal proposal with justification and complete term definition must be submitted for public commentary via the tdwg-content list, achieve a consensus within the Biodiversity Information Standards - TDWG membership, after which it may be refined, and finally submitted to the TDWG Executive committee for ratification. If ratified, the term would be added to the standard and tools would be expected to accommodate it as soon as reasonably possible.