Related projects

In progress

Cave survey software

XML notes

Glossary

<KML xml:lang="en-GB"><AREA..><CAVE..><SURVEY..><SERIES..><LEG../><STATION../></CAVE>..</SURVEY></AREA>..</KML>

Karst Markup Language is an as yet hypothetical XML vocabulary for the speleological community. It could be used to:

• interchange data on karst regions and the caves that they contain. A canonical form may be defined in English, but the tags can be translated to whatever language the user understands best.
• produce (in conjunction with XSL) output for
  • online publishing on the WWW
  • printed media via PDF, LaTeX etc
  • input to other tools in their specified formats
• it can be used store data instead of a database management system

As an XML language, KML lends itself to:

• structured editing via dedicated XML editing software. DTDs and XML schemas will be available for this, but are not essential.
• processing via platform-independent software incorporating XML parsers and XSL processors
• delivery via the Internet.

<KML xml:lang="es"><ZONA..><CUEVA..><TOPO..><TRAMO../><ESTATION../></CUEVA>..</TOPO></ZONA>..</KML>

Related projects links:

• CaveXML the site set up to expedite the UIS/IGU Cave and Karst Data Exchange Standards proposal Currently dormant but the time is ripe to revive it on a more practical basis...

  These sites seem defunct:

• CaveScript a site based around using Survex output as a basis for cave mapping. The output would be converted to an XML format, described using DTDs, with file converters in PERL.
• <? Cave Survey data in XML ?> another analysis of the XML elements required for cave surveying, with some discussion of DTDs.
• CaveXML, Format Converter another analysis of requirements, this time for an XML Schema for cave surveying; and a proposed tool to convert current survey file formats to XML.

In Progress Here:

• Cave Registers
  • OUCC en Los Picos de Cornion, N.Spain
  • Black Mountain, S.Wales
  • HMG Chinese Cave database
  • Complete and accurate list of British caves (correcting the guidebooks)

• Cave Surveys
  • 2D drawings(SVG)
  • 3D models(X3D/VRML)
  • file format conversions
• DTDs - a stopgap until XML schemas are pervasive
• XML Schemas - for assured, guided editing and processing
• XSLT stylesheets
• XML Editing environments - initially based on XEENA, VIZED?? now seems promising

<KML xml:lang="en-US-AU"><AREA..><MAP..><CAVE.><SURVEY..><SHOT../><STATION../></CAVE>..</MAP></AREA>..</KML>

Related projects

In progress

Cave survey software

XML notes

Glossary

KML Vocabulary

... in preparation (feel free to email me with additions, corrections and other suggestions):

Accents are omitted (although Unicode allows their use, along with non-Latin alphabets and pictographs)

Gender is indicated through colour:

• Pink feminine
• Blue masculine
• Black neutral/not applicable/unknown

Elements

Elements/Attributes

Ennumerable Values

Sources:

• My guesswork/dictionaries
• UIS Multilingual Caver's Dictionary
• Cave-survey dictionary
• XML sites by: Mike Lake, Devin Kouts, Richard Knapp
• Martin Sluka (Czech and Slovak)
• Marco Corvi (Italian)

Using Unicode.

Unicode allows the definition and interchange of just about any conceivable character for any language or use. However, in order to render that character your computer needs to have a font installed which can draw it.

To think of numbers: 3 may be represented as:

3 iii III ... 3 amongst others - all relate to the number three, trois, tres, drei, tiga, taelaetae, treeah. To unicode it is "digit three" #x0033 defined in it's C0 Codes and Basic Latin block.

If your browser, for example, is using English and the Arial font it will show 3, using Arabic and ......

The Character Agent from http://www.bjondi.com or the Unicode Character Map (gucharmap) are good ways of exploring what Unicode is and the degree of support you have installed for rendering it. Alternatively you can read the standard itself.