[Platforms] Ship codes

[Roy Lowry]

Hi Mitch,

I'm well aware of the problem of ship codes that aren't ships waiting for us, including some in the UK list that are ferry routes.  My plan is to bite that particular bullet in the not too distant future.

I know what it's like overhauling heavily populated databases to correct past misadventures is like - hard work that takes a hell of a long time to complete and very expensive in terms of resources.  We are currently addressing many problems of this type in BODC to bring the standard of our metadata up to scratch.  Whether it's technically feasible or the investment is worthwhile to do something like fix problem codes in World Ocean database is something that your management need to look at, cost out and reach a decision.  

One cop-out I have used successfully is to implement dynamic code substitution over the top of legacy data based on physical files.  Basically, rather than accessing the field directly all applications access it through a function that switches bad codes for good on the fly. New 'bad codes' can be added at any time by extending the substitution database used by the function.

Susanne has thrown down the gauntlet asking what we should do about the three problem codes I've identified in the UK 'newbie' list.  I have ideas and could probably push them through to acceptance on this list, but in doing so would set precedents that could affect many others not on this list - which is currently restricted to BODC, USNODC and ICES.  

So, before doing anything this fundamental I suggest that we expand the membership of this list.  I tried doing this at the last SeaDataNet TTT meeting with the French and the Germans, but the promised nominations for members never arrived. Julie, how about getting the joint chairs of the ICES MDM to drum up support getting anybody who wants to be added to the list to e-mail me and I will add them?  I think getting somebody from DOD and SISMER is particularly important.  With more 'ears on' I'd be far more comfortable with the value of decisions made.

Cheers, Roy.

>>> francis Mitchell <Francis.Mitchell at noaa.gov> 11/14/2006 12:55 pm >>>

Sus and Roy, et. al.

  I have added the ship MBA Sepia  as per your request and made the 
editoral changes that Roy asked for; I am looking at the other requests 
that Roy made. A couple of general comments:

   1. Yes, several vessel names are indeed classes, such as multiple 
ships, chartered fishing vessel,  aircraft, helicopter, etc.
   2. Sometime, approximately until the late 1980's all profile data had 
the vessel code encoded within the data, which is not likely to be changed
   3. I don't know how much of the codes from the World Ocean Data base 
we can change, if any.

   Regards,

-Mitch-

Francis Mitchell
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