Existing relevant IUS field definitions

There are some field definitions already set up for cave informatics, such as

• The (global) cave serial numbering system
• Rock type (IUS entity 7 - Rock Type)
• References to items in the Articles database (IUS table ``atenlist'', entity AR: Article)
• Specimen (This would be IUS entity SM which has not yet been defined)

The full definitions can be seen on the IUS website at
http://rubens.its.unimelb.edu.au/ pgm/uis/index.html

For example, the IUS table ``atencode'' lists Rock Type in section 7 as per Table 1.

Table 1: IUS 1998 Field Definitions for 7: Rock Type (P. Matthews)

code	meaning
02	limestone
04	dune limestone
06	dolomite
08	marble
10	basalt
12	dolerite
14	granite
16	gypsum
18	ice
20	lava
22	mudstone
24	quartzite
26	sandstone
28	soil
30	tuff

These can be used or referred-to in the minerals database, using the same numbers. Rather than re-keying the data, it would be preferable that in the on-line version, this information could be obtained by querying the relevant on-line Karst Index database, if it exists for that country. Presently the only Karst Index database which can be queried in this manner is the ASF's one.

There are some other problems in that although the IUS Articles database is defined, I am not aware of any implementations of it. The latest published IUS speleological abstracts are in a database, but it is not publicly accessible (ie not Web-based) and it uses different field definitions. Hopefully they will become merged.