Model for data codification in hierarchical classifications with application to the biodiversity domain

Abstract

The conception and treatment of complex classifications or typologies (as hierarchical tables), mainly of nature components, has for long constituted a major concern for researchers. Hence, several codification methods were developed in order to address and facilitate the management of such tables. Most of these methods uses alphanumeric codes, that remain specific to each case (type of entity), in the sense that their transposition to other cases is rarely feasible.This article proposes a new standardized codification method, applicable to various hierarchical schemas. Implemented in the development of a complex system of biodiversity data management, this method consists in creating for each table a fixed number of levels, coded using the same type of strings, based on ’numeric characters’.This method makes it possible to manage different tables with the same module and facilitates the automatic incrementation and updating of the code (=position). The new model has the advantage of offering possibilities to generate, update or delete a code, without disrupting the codes of the other elements, in addition to the gain in response time of the requests. It gives hope that in some cases (as geo-databases) to merge different tables whose merger was not previously obvious.

Keywords

• Codification
• Classification
• Biodiversity
• Models