geographical feature
Let an agent explain geographical features and their classification, identify and describe specific features with sources, support mapping, naming and data questions, and relate features to physical and human geography.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What geographical features are.
Concept
Concept and classification.
Concept
Concept.
- What counts as a geographical feature, and how are features classified by type in gazetteers and geographic information systems? definition
- Which entry fits a specific feature type? action
Specific
A specific feature.
Specific
Specific feature.
- What is this feature, where is it, and what is documented about it, according to gazetteers and surveys? provenance
- Which entry fits it? action
Map Mapping and naming.
Mapping
Mapping features.
Mapping
Mapping.
- How are features surveyed, mapped and represented in geographic data? provenance
- Which entry fits geographic information systems? action
Naming
Naming features.
Naming
Naming.
- How are geographical names standardised, and how are naming disputes handled, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Science Physical and human geography.
Physical
Natural features.
Physical
Physical.
- How do natural features form and change, according to geomorphology and hydrology? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific process? action
Human
Human-made features.
Human
Human.
- How are settlements, infrastructure and fields classified and studied as geographical features? provenance
- Which entry fits human geography? action
Learn Data and teaching.
Data
Feature databases.
Data
Data.
- Which gazetteers and databases catalogue geographical features, and how are they used? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can geographical features be taught with maps and field work? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.PLC
What it is Filled
Any component of the Earth surface or a planetary surface that can be identified, named and mapped, whether natural such as mountains, rivers, lakes, coastlines, islands, valleys and plains, or human-made such as settlements, roads, canals and fields, and including abstract features such as boundaries and regions; geographical features are catalogued in gazetteers and geographic information systems, named under toponymic rules, and classified by feature type.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain geographical features and their classification, identify and describe specific features with sources, support mapping, naming and data questions, and relate features to physical and human geography.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Mappable
- Named
- Typed
- Natural or anthropogenic
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Present one side of a naming dispute as settled.
- Present outdated mapping as current.
- Erase Indigenous or local names.
Only with a human decision
- Changing official names in published maps.
May
- Identify, name and map geographical features from authoritative sources.
- Report naming in official and local forms, noting disputes.
- Classify features consistently.
Moral aspects Filled
- Names carry identity and history.
- Inaccurate maps can endanger travellers.
Who is affected
- Local and Indigenous communities
- Map users
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns natural features as such; national naming authorities set official names.
Master systems
- National gazetteers
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q27096213 - registry parent class
related
- geographic entity - category
- peninsula - a landform feature
- spit - a coastal feature
- mineral deposit - a geological feature
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.geographical-feature
- Wikidata: Q618123 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q618123)
Direct properties required Filled
- Mapped surface area: km2 - For an areal feature, calculate its footprint from a stated boundary using an appropriate planetary reference surface and mapping method.
- Linear extent: km - For an extended feature, measure its length along a defined axis or mapped course at a stated map resolution.
- Elevation: m - For a surface feature, measure representative or extreme heights relative to a specified vertical datum.
Recognition required Filled
- Mappable and nameable surface component
- Natural or human-made
- A place is a location; a feature is a thing at a location
- Landforms, water bodies, settlements and other mapped elements.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain classification
- identify specific features
- support mapping and naming
- relate to geography
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Inconsistent feature classification
- Naming disputes
- Outdated or inaccurate mapping
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Gazetteer and feature type classifications
- Toponymic naming standards
- Geographic data standards
Context of use required Filled
- Identifiable components of a surface.
- landforms
- hydrographic features
- coastal and marine features
- human-made features such as settlements and infrastructure
- abstract features such as regions and boundaries
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q618123: geographical feature - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Geographical feature - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should each feature type be a separate entry?
- How should gazetteers be linked?
- How should naming disputes be attributed?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q618123/spec.json