sundial

Time-bearing feature

Record the particular shadow edge, point or light feature intended to intersect or relate to the scale.

1. Which component produces the indication, and exactly which part of its shadow or light pattern is read? definition
2. What instruction, drawing or observation establishes that this is the intended reading feature? provenance

Sundial status

Record whether the object is a supported functional design, an incomplete sundial or an object whose time-indicating role remains unverified.

1. What evidence connects its geometry and markings to a method for determining time within a day? provenance
2. Does it provide a time scale or reading procedure, or only decoration, a seasonal indication or a single solar-event marker? boundary

Design-critical geometry

Identify the relevant axes, points, surfaces and distances for this particular dial configuration.

1. Which reference points, angles and distances define the relationship between the indicating element and the receiving surface? measurement
2. Which drawing, construction record or geometric assessment supplies the expected relationships? provenance

Marking semantics

Associate readable markings with their documented time, date or setup roles without assuming all marks are hour lines.

1. Which marks indicate hours or subdivisions, and which indicate dates, setup positions or other quantities? definition
2. What reading interval can the surviving markings and observed indication width support? measurement

Installation compatibility

Record intended and actual location and orientation, including the reference used to measure direction.

1. For what location or latitude range was this dial designed, and where is it currently used? provenance
2. How do its measured orientation and inclination compare with the requirements of its design? measurement

Usable operating position

Record required movements or observer positions and distinguish designed limits from obstruction.

1. Must an element or the observer be positioned for the date, latitude or operating mode before a reading is taken? action
2. During which intended reading periods is direct sunlight blocked or the indication outside the usable surface? measurement

Reading to requested time

Record the dial's time convention and any documented corrections already incorporated into its design or reading instructions.

1. What time convention and hour-numbering system does this scale express? definition
2. Which date-dependent, longitude or civil-time adjustments are needed for the requested output, and which are already incorporated? action

Reading error and confidence

Record observed discrepancies and uncertainty without treating a single mismatch as proof of a defective dial.

1. What residuals are observed at recorded dates and times after the dial and reference are expressed in the same convention? measurement
2. What checks would distinguish alignment or geometry errors from setup mistakes, ambiguous shadows or conversion errors? action

Function-affecting change

Record deformation, movement, surface loss or marking loss and the specific reading consequence of each.

1. Are the indicating element and dial surface secure, and what displacement or deformation can be measured? measurement
2. Which missing or obscured markings prevent a reading or make more than one interpretation plausible? boundary

Justified adjustment or repair

Tie proposed interventions to documented design evidence, authority to act and preservation of significant geometry and markings.

1. Which adjustments, cleaning methods or replacements are supported by the construction evidence and applicable conservation constraints? action
2. What geometry records and repeat solar observations are required before and after intervention to verify the result? action

Kinds and varieties

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Identifiers and schemes

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Standards and regulation

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Real-world use

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Typical measurements

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Failure modes and hazards

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Regional variation

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart

Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.

1. Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of sundial this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance