> From: Subject Coordinates Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Colleen R. Cahill
> Sent: 30 June, 2006 07:15
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [SUBCOOR] The proposal passed MARBI!
>
> We now face some choices, primarly in what format we want the
> coordinates to appear in authority records. This can be
> either degrees, minutes, seconds or decimal degrees: both
> have advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few I have
> thought of and am hoping for your input:
>
> Degrees, minutes, seconds format
> Pro:
> -Format most often printed on maps
> -Familiar to most people
> -Easy to quality review
> -Format most often used in bib records
>
> Con:
> -Not format used by GIS search engines
>
> Decimal Degrees
> Pro:
> -Format used by GIS search engines
> -Can harvest data from GIS tools
>
> Con:
> -Not as easy to quality review
> -Not as familiar a format to the average person
Handheld GPS devices can output either format and output from
the GPS device may be used to create local authority records.
In addition, the conversion between decimal degrees and DMS
is trivial. If the catalog uses decimal degrees, it can be
easily converted to DMS for user friendly displays. This
point negates Con(2) under Decimal Degrees.
I'm not throwing my two cents either way, just providing a
few additional thoughts. So long as the data is in its own
subfield and it doesn't need to be parsed out of other textual
data, then either format can be used effectively.
