1. Data Access

The GEODESC Data Access application can be accessed via the LORE data portal at:

https://web.iodp.tamu.edu/LORE/

In the Select Report pane on the left, click on Descriptive Information. This enables the About this report button - click on it for a brief explanation:

• DESC Reports
  • Descriptive data were collected using the DESClogik application, and exported to Excel files, for Expedition 317-393 (2009 - August 2022).
• GEODESC descriptive data
  • Starting with Expedition 397 (October 2022), the GEODESC application has been used to collect descriptive data and to export tab delimited (*.txt) text files.' This includes the data files as well as the metadata files describing the template configurations.
• GEODESC catalogs
  • The catalogs have information used to construct data capture templates. The contents are accessible here.

Expand the Descriptive Information item and select one of the two GEODESC options:

• GEODESC descriptive data
• GEODESC catalogs

The Data Access application will open with the respective focus. You can then switch between the two options from within the application.

Note: Secondary data products derived from the final products, such as graphic core summaries (barrel sheets) and thin section reports, are not generally loaded to the LIMS database. They are published in the Proceedings.

2. Descriptive data

To download final product data files:

• Select one or more of:

  • Expedition(s) (you have the option Select all)

  • Site(s) (you have the option Select all)

  • Hole(s)

• Optionally filter the file records by one or more of:

  • Scale

  • Type

  • type any word into the Search field (click the Apply button or anywhere outside the field)

• Optionally de-select one of the file type check boxes:
  • Data files
    • Data files contain the observations made for a hole, using a template. They are created and stored automatically by the GEODESC Data Capture application whenever the observers upload the data in their project worksheet. See Descriptive data file in the GEODESC glossary for a description of the structure and content of the download file.
  • Metadata files

    • Metadata files contain the template configuration used to record observations in the data capture worksheets. They are created by the GEODESC Template Manager application whenever the template maker last saved a project template. See Descriptive metadata file in the GEODESC glossary for a description of the structure and content of the download file.

• Click the Download selected file(s) button.
• If you want a list of the file records returned by your filters, click the Download table button.

Data files and metadata files are exported as tab-delimited text files for longevity and ease of analysis and visualization. Multiple files are are downloaded as a Zip file.

3. Catalogs

3.1. Template catalog

The template catalog is an inventory of all data capture templates designed for immediate use, or to be modified during a project using the Template Manager application. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item Template catalog.

To download template catalog records:

• Optionally filter by scale, type and/or objective.
  • Without using filters, all catalog templates appear in the list.
• Click the Download catalog template(s) button. One file is generated per template.
  • The download file has four sections: file information, template settings, scope columns and observable columns. See glossary for details.
  • One file is generated per template.
• If you want to download a list of the templates returned by your filters, click the Download table button.
• To return to the catalog portal, click the Return button.

Files are downloaded as tab-delimited text files for longevity and ease of analysis and visualization. Multiple files are downloaded as a Zip file.

3.2. Observable catalog

The observable catalog is an inventory of all observables used in the catalog templates so they can be added to any template. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item Observable catalog.

To download observable catalog records:

• Optionally filter the catalog records
  • using a word search
  • selecting observable definition key words from the six dropdown lists.
• The filtered observables will be listed in the table.
• You can sort the table using the table column headers (three modes: A-Z, Z-A, back to original)
• Click the Download catalog observable(s) button.
  • The download file has 5 validation attribute and 11 display attribute columns in addition to the 8 observable definition columns and the last modified column shown in the table.
  • The observable records (rows) are sorted the way you sorted them. 
• To return to the catalog portal, click the Return button

Files are downloaded as tab-delimited text files for longevity and ease of analysis and visualization. 

3.3. Entry value catalog

The entry value catalog is an inventory of geological and general terms used to create entry validation lists, which are associated with observables of validation type list. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item Entry value catalog.

To download entry value records:

• Optionally filter the catalog
  • using a word search, or
  • using the group filter dropdown lists.
• Click the Download entry value(s) button.

To return to the catalog portal:

• Click the Return button

3.4. Taxonomic catalogs

The taxonomic catalogs are inventories of taxa records that are used to create micropaleontology data capture templates. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item Taxonomic catalogs.

You can download records from three types of taxonomic catalogs:

• Taxa catalog
• Synonym catalog
• Taxa starter lists
  • Starter lists contain expert-selected lists of taxa that serve as a reasonable starting point when configuring project templates for data collection. The taxa are a subset of the GEODESC taxonomic catalog and include only the information needed for data capture rather than all the additional information in the catalog.

To download taxonomic records:

• Select a microfossil group from the dropdown list.
• Optionally select the Synonym catalog and/or deselect the Taxa catalog.
• Click the Download button.

If instead of your custom-filtered catalog records you would like to download a starter list created by microfossil group experts:

• Click the Download starter list button.
  • This will open a window.
• Select a starter list.
• Click the Download button.

The starter list window also allows you to download an empty Excel file you can use to create your own taxa list. It has all the required columns defined, and instructions included, for you to use the Taxa File Checker application, which is a required quality control step before you can use the list to create a data capture template.

To return to the catalog portal:

• Click the Return button

3.5. Zone catalog

The zone catalog contains all relevant, published biostratigraphic zonal schemes. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item zone catalog. 

To download the datum catalog:

• Select a zone reference and/or a microfossil group from the two dropdown lists.
  • All filtered zones are listed.
• Click the Download button.

To return to the catalog portal:

• Click the Return button

3.6. Datum catalog

The datum catalog contains all relevant, published datums and time scales. For catalog details, see the GEODESC glossary item datum catalog. 

To download the datum catalog:

• Select a microfossil group from the dropdown list.
  • All relevant datums are listed, along with the associated ages, per published time scale.
• Click the Download button.

To return to the catalog portal:

• Click the Return button