Terminology
A summary of all the OSDP Metadata Fields along with their content types, occurrences, and descriptions can be found grouped by major category in the separate Field Glossary topic.
The remainder of this section provides an alphabetical list of other common terminology used on the OSDP site.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Add to Map Action | An action the user can request in the Search Result Set or the Metadata Page, to link the map viewer to an external mapping service attached to the record. |
| Content Collections | A specific type of Content Category assigned to a record, representing groups of like records assembled by participating partners. e.g., covering a region of interest, or grouping like datasets covering different periods of time. |
| Cumulative Effects | The changes in the environment caused by multiple interactions among human activities and natural processes, which accumulate across time and space. |
| Curated Collections | A subset of Content Collections, assembled by cumulative effects domain practitioners, often focused on a specific area of interest. |
| Datasets | A specific type of Content Category assigned to a record, representing records that group and provide access to related services and downloadable resources. |
| Development Activities | A specific type of Content Category assigned to a record, representing assessments from Federal regulatory bodies related to proponent’s initiatives, or major projects as tracked and managed by Provincial agencies. |
| Download Action | An action the user can request on the Metadata Page to download one or more files that are attached to the record. |
| Map Area Action | An action the user can request in the Search Result Set or the Metadata Page, to display a context-sensitive view of the record in the map viewer while also zooming to an area of interest. |
| Map Layer | A visual representation of a specific subject, served by an external map service and presentable within the map viewer. |
| Map Service | An external web service designed specifically to populate a visual representation in a map viewer following specific mapping standards. |
| Metadata | Metadata is information about information. In the OSDP context, the metadata fields maintained on each OSDP record describe the content that’s provided by the Contributor System. |
| Monitoring Stations | A specific type of Content Category assigned to a record, representing records related to tracking and monitoring at specific locations. e.g., air or water quality monitoring. |
| Multi-Device support | Multi-device support is an option in Advanced Search, that allows Saved Search Request to be backed up in the cloud and shared across multiple devices. |
| Non-Mappable | Records in which a Geographic Location has not been specified. Because they don’t include points or polygons expressed in terms of latitude/longitude, the record’s coverage can’t be represented on the map. |
| Publications | A specific type of Content Category assigned to a record, representing scientific publications. |
| Saved Search Request | A Search Request definition that has been saved for re-use, which can be recalled and executed on demand. |
| Search Mode |
The Search Page's Search tab displays one of 3 different search modes depending on the context selected.
|
| Time Slider | A tool in the map viewer for examining different periods represented in a time-enabled layer. |
| Time-enabled | Map layer that includes multiple visuals representing different periods of time. |
| View Action | An action the user can request on the Metadata Page to open an external web page resource that's been linked to the record. |