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Keywords, Earth Observation Parameters, and other semantic groups

The URR also uses a number of controlled vocabularies, which normally define the domain for a certain attribute. Most of these vocabularies are defined as subsets of the Lexicon and can be edited there. The vocabularies defined in the Lexicon include:

• Keywords: Keywords are defined in the Lexicon by identifying a term published there as a keyword. Entries in User Types and Applications can be linked explicitly to keywords.
• Earth observation parameter: Earth observation parameters are defined in the Lexicon by identifying a term in the Lexicon as such. Requirements can only be specified for Earth observation parameters, which first need to be entered in the Lexicon.
• Attributes: Attributes are special terms that indicate a derived quantity of an earth observation parameter. Attributes are defined in the Lexicon by identifying a term as such. An example is Concentration, which can be used, e.g., in connection with the Earth observation parameter Carbon dioxide to indicate that the concentration of CO₂ is required.
• Medium: Mediums are special terms that identify a specific medium in the earth system. Mediums are defined in the Lexicon by identifying a term as a medium. Some observations are only needed in a specific medium (e.g., soil moisture in soil, or CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere).
• Geographical Area: These areas can be used in the specification of a Requirements entry to constrain the geographical area for which the observations or data are needed.
• Units: Units of measurements are defined in the Lexicon by identifying a term published there. For units, it is assumed that the acronym given indicates the short notation for that unit, while the name is the full name of the unit. Earth observation parameter can be associated in the Lexicon with a unit.
• Acronyms: Acronyms are defined in the Lexicon. For each term published there, an acronym can be given.
• Glossary: Terms that define language used in the description of the URR.

The other vocabularies are pre-defined and can only be changed on request:

• Societal sectors: are used for User Types and Applications. The values are Academic, Commercial, Educational, Governmental, Private, Others.
• SBAs: are used for User Types and Applications. The values are the nine SBAs and a number of additional SB Fields are defined by GEO.
• Status of Entry: are used to denote the publication status of an entry. This vocabulary has the values 'Incomplete', 'Preliminary Draft', 'Final Draft', 'In Review', and 'Accepted'.