digital data
Let an agent explain digital data as a concept, describe kinds, formats and datasets including geodata, relay standards and legal frameworks, and distinguish digital data from analogue information and from data in the broad sense.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain digital data as a concept, describe kinds, formats and datasets including geodata, relay standards and legal frameworks, and distinguish digital data from analogue information and from data in the broad sense.
Information represented in discrete form, typically as binary digits, that can be stored, processed and transmitted by computers, in contrast to analogue signals, including text, numbers, images, audio, video and structured datasets such as geographic point, line and area features, census and governmental geodata; digital data is measured in bytes, organised in formats and databases, and governed by standards and laws on quality, privacy, security and openness.
What it is for: Storing, processing and sharing information by computer.
It can be explain the concept and kinds; describe formats and datasets; relay standards and law; distinguish from analogue and broad senses.
Distinguishing features
Binary representation
Lossless copying
Formats and metadata
Governance by law and standards
What it looks like
Not a visible object; bits stored on media and shown as files, tables and maps.
Physical character
global data created: over 100 zettabytes per year - industry estimates
How it is recognised
Discrete information for computers
Text, numbers, media, structured datasets, geodata
Analogue signals are continuous; data in the broad sense includes non-digital records
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is represented as - the basic unit
is stored in - media and systems
is contrasted with - continuous information
In practice
Families and kinds
unstructured data such as text and media
structured data in databases and tables
geospatial data: point, line and area features
statistical and census data
governmental and open data
sensor and machine data
metadata
Identifiers
ISO/IEC 2382 vocabulary information technology terms
Standards and regulation
Data protection laws such as the GDPR
Open data and public sector information laws
Geospatial standards from OGC and ISO 19100 series
Data quality and archiving standards
Failure modes and hazards
Data loss and corruption
Privacy breaches
Format obsolescence
Poor quality and bias
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What digital data is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and representation.
Definition
Definition.
- What is digital data, and how is it represented and measured? definition
- Is the question about digital data, analogue information or data in general? boundary
Kinds
Kinds and formats.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What kinds of digital data and formats exist, including geospatial features? definition
- Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Manage Management.
Practice.
Storage
Storage and preservation.
Storage
Storage.
- How is digital data stored, backed up and preserved over time? provenance
- Which entry fits digital preservation? action
Quality
Quality and metadata.
Quality
Quality.
- How are data quality and metadata managed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Govern Law and openness.
Regulation.
Privacy
Privacy and security.
Privacy
Privacy.
- What laws govern personal data, and what security practices apply? provenance
- Is the question jurisdiction-specific, which needs local law? boundary
Open
Open and governmental data.
Open
Open.
- How do governments publish open data and geodata, and under what licences? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Context Economy and history.
Context.
Economy
Data economy.
Economy
Economy.
- How does digital data drive the economy and AI, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits data economy? action
History
History.
History
History.
- How did digital data develop from early computing to today? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of computing? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should geospatial data be a separate primary entry?
- How should standards be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming geodata feature types and a code; should they be split off?