Next generation miniSEED: combine loc id and channel codes into one field
Philip Crotwell
Spreadsheet is attached. But as reading in a spreadsheet is painful,
here is the idea:
Loc ids give namespace to channel codes, but were separate due to
constraints of seed. It would be more logical to combine the two into
a single field. Propose that this be 8 chars where it can be of the
form:
BIO, LLBIO, LLBIIO, LLLLBIO, or LLLLBIIO
where L is locid, B is band code, I is instrument code and O is
orientation code.
This preserves naming for older channels, with and without locids, and
provides bigger loc and instrument namespace. In addition, by using a
single wider field, the empty loc id problem goes away.
This allows channels current channels with empty loc id to be retained
as is. So BHZ is fine. Current channels with locid are retained, so
00.BHZ would be just 00BHZ. But for stations that need an expanded
namespace, we have 4 chars of locid and for new instruments we have an
extra ~600 instrument codes. Note that in order to differentiate
expanded locid from expanded instrument code, the loc id must be
either 0, 2 or 4 characters and the instrument code can be 1 or 2
characters.
My assumption is that neither the band code or orientation code is in
need of expansion.
Philip
PS for excel junkies out there, 2016-3-30 is apparently the same as 42459.0. :(