SSA v1.1 Erratum 4: Make coverage optional

Author: James Dempsey

Date last changed: 2023-12-04

Rationale

SSA 1.1 sec 4.2.5.10 states MANdatory coverage information (Char.SpatialAxis.Coverage.Location.Value + 2 others), but they are missing from the example in Appendix A. Theoretical services cannot provide coverage information so these columns should be made optional to support theoretical services.

Erratum Content

In section 4.2.5.10, add the following text at the end of the introductory sentence.

Where coverage information is available, such as in observational services, the columns Char.SpatialAxis.Coverage.Location.Value, Char.SpatialAxis.Coverage.Bounds.Extent, Char.TimeAxis.Coverage.Location.Value, Char.SpectralAxis.Coverage.Location.Value, and Char.SpectralAxis.Coverage.Bounds.Extent should be provided.

Impact Assessment

By loosening the requirements for positional description of the spectra, existing theory services will be able to be compliant. Clients will need to allow for the coverage fields to be missing. However, they already need to do that for established SSA theory services, of which there are at least five at this point; RegTAP query:

select count(ivoid)
from rr.res_detail
where detail_xpath='/capability/dataSource'
and detail_value like 'theor%'

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