[OSGeo-Discuss] Re: [GRASS-dev] terminology issues in grass7

[Helena Mitasova]

I am wondering whether this should be discussed at osgeo level to  
make sure
that we have at least some consistency in terminology used in OSGeo  
software stack.

I checked some on-line GIS terminology and category is mostly used in  
a different
context so I am curious what are the current vector data layers as  
they are called in GRASS6
(with "category set" suggested as a better term) called in other  
packages such as QGIS (if they are supported)?
For GRASS7 release there is a unique opportunity to align the  
terminology
within OSGeo if there is an interest to do that although most efforts  
on terminology
and dictionary tend to die pretty quickly, but maybe we can least  
find some
common ground for vector data model,

Helena

http://www.lib.unc.edu/reference/gis/datafinder/glossary.html
http://www.opengeospatial.org/ogc/glossary/
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=knowledgebase.gisDictionary.gateway

On Apr 26, 2009, at 7:01 PM, Martin Landa wrote:

> Hi,
>
> 2008/8/11 Maciej Sieczka <tutey at o2.pl>:
>
> [...]
>
>> (A "table" is an object in the database that stores the given  
>> "layer"'s
>> attributes, and the "table" and "layer"'s geometrical features are
>> linked using "key column" in which the "categories" are stored inside
>> the "table".)
>>
>> Regarding Moritz's remark I indeed missed the fact that the vector  
>> map
>> having 0 or more "layers" does not directly imply it has the same  
>> number
>> of data "tables". Given that, "table link" to replace "layer" as I
>> suggested is bad. If we are to change the term, we should do it  
>> right.
>> How do you like "category set" then, "catset" in short? Together with
>> with replacing term vector "map" with vector "layer" it would yield:
>>
>> Each vector "feature" (line, point etc.) can have 0 or more  
>> "categories"
>> in a vector "layer". Each "category" belongs to only 1 "category  
>> set".
>> Each "category set" of a vector "layer" can be connected or not  
>> with a
>> single database "table". The "key column" in that "table" stores the
>> "categories" of "features" present in the given "category set".
>
> after some time I am going to re-open this topic... I have summarized
> the proposals on the wiki
>
> http://grass.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_7_Terminology#Vector_layer
>
>> From my point of view, I would suggest to use "category set" (catset)
> as replacement for 'layer'.
>
> Please feel free to put here your suggestions. It would be good to
> close this topic soon. Then I can start changing terminology in GRASS
> 7.
>
> Best regards, Martin
>
> -- 
> Martin Landa <landa.martin gmail.com> * http://gama.fsv.cvut.cz/~landa
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