Sampling the World

Abstract

The world is infinitely complex.The contents of a spatial database represent a particular view of the world. The user sees the real world through the medium of the database. The measurements and samples contained in the database must present as complete and accurate a view of the world as possible. The contents of the database must be relevant in terms of: a)themes and characteristics, b)the time period covered, and c)the study area. This presentation looks at techniques for sampling the world, and associated issues of accuracy and standards.