# BDQ Controlled Vocabulary List of Terms **Title**
BDQ Controlled Vocabulary List of Terms **Date version issued**
2026-06-03 **Date created**
2025-05-10 **Part of TDWG Standard**
**Preferred namespace abbreviation**
bdqval **This version**
**Latest version**
**Previous version**
**Abstract**
This document is a reference for the BDQ standard. It covers some terms used in Test Specifications, and especially values used as bdqffdq:Parameters. **Authors**
[Lee Belbin](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8900-6203) ([Blatant Fabrications](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q130304884)), [Arthur D. Chapman](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1700-6962) ([Australian Biodiversity Information Services](http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q100600913)), [Paul J. Morris](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3673-444X) ([Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University](http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1420782)), [John Wieczorek](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1144-0290) (Rauthiflor LLC) **Creator**
TDWG Biodiversity Data Quality Interest Group Task Group 2: Data Quality Tests and Assertions **Bibliographic citation**
TDWG Biodiversity Data Quality Interest Group Task Group 2: Data Quality Tests and Assertions. 2026. BDQ Controlled Vocabulary List of Terms. Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG). **Status**
Draft Standard for Review ## Table of Contents ## - [1 Introduction (non-normative)](#1-introduction-non-normative) - [1.1 Purpose (non-normative)](#11-purpose-non-normative) - [1.2 Audience (non-normative)](#12-audience-non-normative) - [1.3 Data Quality Vocabulary Terms (non-normative)](#13-data-quality-vocabulary-terms-non-normative) - [1.4 Associated Documents (non-normative)](#14-associated-documents-non-normative) - [1.5 Term List Distributions (non-normative)](#15-term-list-distributions-non-normative) - [1.6 Status of the Content of this Document (normative)](#16-status-of-the-content-of-this-document-normative) - [1.7 RFC 2119 key words (normative)](#17-rfc-2119-key-words-normative) - [1.8 Namespace abbreviations (non-normative)](#18-namespace-abbreviations-non-normative) - [1.9 Key to Vocabulary Terms (normative)](#19-key-to-vocabulary-terms-normative) - [2 Use of Terms (normative)](#2-use-of-terms-normative) - [3 Term index (non-normative)](#3-term-index-non-normative) - [3.1 Index By Term Name (non-normative)](#31-index-by-term-name-non-normative) - [3.2 Index By Label (non-normative)](#32-index-by-label-non-normative) - [4 Vocabulary (normative)](#4-vocabulary-normative) - [Glossary (non-normative)](#glossary-non-normative) - [References (non-normative)](#references-non-normative) - [Cite BDQ (non-normative)](#cite-bdq-non-normative) ## 1 Introduction (non-normative) ### 1.1 Purpose (non-normative) The purpose of this document is to provide the full term list for the `bdqval:` controlled vocabulary, which supports the specification and use of BDQ Tests. The `bdqval:` vocabulary includes concepts used throughout the BDQ standard to describe Test parameters, data structures, Information Elements, source authorities, and special value cases such as Empty and NotEmpty relevant to the execution and behavior of Tests. This term list defines the formal structure and meanings of these concepts and provides reference material for implementation and documentation purposes. ### 1.2 Audience (non-normative) This document is intended for technical users who need a precise understanding of the vocabulary elements used in BDQ Test `Specifications` and reports. It will be particularly useful for: - Implementers interpreting or extending BDQ Test logic - Standards developers and data quality modelers working with BDQ vocabularies - Analysts and system designers configuring parameterized data quality assessments - Curators needing to understand the conceptual basis for different Test evaluations Familiarity with RDF vocabularies and the Fitness For Use Framework is recommended for full comprehension, but the document is organized to be accessible for any reader needing detailed term definitions. ### 1.3 Data Quality Vocabulary Terms (non-normative) The `bdqval:` vocabulary includes three groups of concepts used across the BDQ standard: - **Test Parameters** (`bdqffdq:Parameter`) – concepts used to configure the behavior of Tests, including named parameters like `bdqval:sourceAuthority`. - **Information Elements** – used by `Multi Record` `Measure` Tests to refer to aggregated or referenced values. - **Empty/NotEmpty Concepts** – `bdqval:Empty` and `bdqval:NotEmpty`, which provide shared semantics for Tests dealing with missing or present values. These terms ensure consistent representation and enable structured interpretation of Test configurations and outcomes. ### 1.4 Associated Documents (non-normative) For the list and links to all associated documents see [The Biodiversity Data Quality (BDQ) Standard](../../../index.md). ### 1.5 Term List Distributions (non-normative) | Description | IRI | Download URL | | ----------- | --- | ----------- | | HTML file | http://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/ | https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tdwg/bdq/master/tg2/_review/docs/list/bdqval/index.md | | RDF/XML file | TBD | https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tdwg/bdq/master/tg2/_review/dist/bdqval.xml | ### 1.6 Status of the Content of this Document (normative) Sections may be either normative (defines what is required to comply with the standard) or non-normative (supports understanding but is not binding) and are marked as such. Any sentence or phrase beginning with "For example" or "e.g.", whether in a normative section or a non-normative section, is non-normative. Section [1.9 Key to Vocabulary Terms (normative)](#19-key-to-vocabulary-terms-normative) identifies which values in Section 4 are normative and which are non-normative. ### 1.7 RFC 2119 key words (normative) The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [BCP 14](https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/bcp14) [\[RFC 2119\]](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2119) and [\[RFC 8174\]](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc8174) when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here. ### 1.8 Namespace abbreviations (non-normative) The following namespace abbreviations are used in this document: | **Abbreviation** | **Namespace** | | ------------ | ------------- | | bdqffdq: | https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqffdq/terms/ | | bdqtest: | https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqtest/terms/ | | **bdqval:** | https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/ | | dcterms: | http://purl.org/dc/terms/ | | dwc: | http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/ | | oa: | http://www.w3.org/ns/oa# | | owl: | http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl# | | rdf: | http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# | | rdfs: | http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# | | skos: | http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# | | tdwgutility: | http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/attributes/ | ### 1.9 Key to Vocabulary Terms (normative) The terminology used to describe the terms in this vocabulary follows the TDWG [TDWG Standards Documentation Standard (SDS)](https://www.tdwg.org/standards/sds/) (SDS). Each term definition includes the original RDF definition, and may also provide a TDWG-specific interpretation from the SDS, as well as a definition tailored to this local context. | Label (Term) | Normative | Definition | Example | | ------------ | --------- | ---------- | ------- | | Term Name (rdf:value) | normative | Idiomatic property used for structured values. TDWG SDS: The term name is a controlled value that represents the class, property, or concept described by the term definition. | AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes | | Term IRI (dcterms:isVersionOf) | normative | A related resource of which the described resource is a version, edition, or adaptation. TDWG SDS: The HTTP IRI that uniquely identifies the current term. | [https://rs.tdwg.org/ bdqval/terms/version/ AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes](https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes) | | Modified (dcterms:issued) | normative | Date of formal issuance of the resource. TDWG SDS: The date in ISO 8601 Date format on which the most recent version of the term was issued. | 2026-04-23 | | Term Version IRI (rdf:about) | normative | The HTTP IRI that identifies the version of the term that is currently in force. | [https://rs.tdwg.org/ bdqval/terms/version/ AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes-2026-04-23](https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes-2026-04-23) | | Label (rdfs:label) | normative | A human-readable name for the subject. TDWG SDS: A a word or short phrase that serves as a human-readable name for the term. | AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes | | Definition (rdfs:comment) | normative | A description of the subject resource. TDWG SDS: The normative definition of the term, written in English. | An abstract InformationElement representing the set of outcomes (Response instances with their Response.status and Response.result values) produced by running a particular SingleRecord Test across the members of a MultiRecord in a single DataQualityReport. This Information Element is intended for use as a component of a bdqffdq:ActedUpon node for MultiRecord Measures that aggregate Response outcomes from other Tests. | | Comments (skos:note) | non-normative | A general note, for any purpose. | Used to indicate that a MultiRecord Measure is concerned with Response outcomes (report data) rather than raw source-data terms. Pair with bdqffdq:aggregatesResponsesFrom to identify which Test produced the aggregated Responses. | | Status (tdwgutility:status) | | Used to indicate if the term is recommended for use or if it is only of historical significance. | recommended | | Controlled Value () | normative | A string that is unique within a controlled vocabulary that identifies the concept in the context of a text-based metadata transfer system. The value MUST consist of Unicode characters. | AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes | | Type (rdf:type) | normative | The subject is an instance of a class. | bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement | ## 2 Use of Terms (normative) In an RDF context, a reference to a term in the `bdqval:` namespace MUST use the Term IRI (e.g., `https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/NotEmpty`) or Term Qualified name (e.g., `bdqval:NotEmpty`). In a non-RDF context in which resources may be used by software (e.g., a value in a spreadsheet or database table) the Controlled Value String (local name, e.g., `NotEmpty`) SHOULD be used. In a purely human context a label (e.g., `Not Empty`) MAY be used. ## 3 Term index (non-normative) ### 3.1 Index By Term Name (non-normative) (See also [3.2 Index By Label (non-normative)](#32-index-by-label-non-normative)) **Data** [bdqval:Empty](#bdqval_Empty) | [bdqval:NotEmpty](#bdqval_NotEmpty) **bdqffdq:Parameter** [bdqval:annotationAlertIf](#bdqval_annotationAlertIf) | [bdqval:annotationSystem](#bdqval_annotationSystem) | [bdqval:assumptionOnUnknownBiome](#bdqval_assumptionOnUnknownBiome) | [bdqval:defaultGeodeticDatum](#bdqval_defaultGeodeticDatum) | [bdqval:defaultOccurrenceStatus](#bdqval_defaultOccurrenceStatus) | [bdqval:earliestValidDate](#bdqval_earliestValidDate) | [bdqval:geospatialLand](#bdqval_geospatialLand) | [bdqval:includeEventDate](#bdqval_includeEventDate) | [bdqval:latestValidDate](#bdqval_latestValidDate) | [bdqval:maximumValidDepthInMeters](#bdqval_maximumValidDepthInMeters) | [bdqval:maximumValidElevationInMeters](#bdqval_maximumValidElevationInMeters) | [bdqval:minimumValidDepthInMeters](#bdqval_minimumValidDepthInMeters) | [bdqval:minimumValidElevationInMeters](#bdqval_minimumValidElevationInMeters) | [bdqval:sourceAuthority](#bdqval_sourceAuthority) | [bdqval:spatialBufferInMeters](#bdqval_spatialBufferInMeters) | [bdqval:taxonIsMarine](#bdqval_taxonIsMarine) **bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement** [bdqval:AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes](#bdqval_AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes) | [bdqval:AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord](#bdqval_AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord) | [bdqval:AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord](#bdqval_AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord) ### 3.2 Index By Label (non-normative) (See also [3.1 Index By Term Name (non-normative)](#31-index-by-term-name-non-normative)) **Data** [Empty](#bdqval_Empty) | [NotEmpty](#bdqval_NotEmpty) **bdqffdq:Parameter** [annotationAlertIf](#bdqval_annotationAlertIf) | [annotationSystem](#bdqval_annotationSystem) | [assumptionOnUnknownBiome](#bdqval_assumptionOnUnknownBiome) | [defaultGeodeticDatum](#bdqval_defaultGeodeticDatum) | [defaultOccurrenceStatus](#bdqval_defaultOccurrenceStatus) | [earliestValidDate](#bdqval_earliestValidDate) | [geospatialLand](#bdqval_geospatialLand) | [includeEventDate](#bdqval_includeEventDate) | [latestValidDate](#bdqval_latestValidDate) | [maximumValidDepthInMeters](#bdqval_maximumValidDepthInMeters) | [maximumValidElevationInMeters](#bdqval_maximumValidElevationInMeters) | [minimumValidDepthInMeters](#bdqval_minimumValidDepthInMeters) | [minimumValidElevationInMeters](#bdqval_minimumValidElevationInMeters) | [sourceAuthority](#bdqval_sourceAuthority) | [spatialBufferInMeters](#bdqval_spatialBufferInMeters) | [taxonIsMarine](#bdqval_taxonIsMarine) **bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement** [AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes](#bdqval_AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes) | [AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord](#bdqval_AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord) | [AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord](#bdqval_AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord) ## 4 Vocabulary (normative)

Term Name bdqval:AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes
Modified	2026-04-23
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes-2026-04-23
Label	AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes
Definition	An abstract InformationElement representing the set of outcomes (Response instances with their Response.status and Response.result values) produced by running a particular SingleRecord Test across the members of a MultiRecord in a single DataQualityReport. This Information Element is intended for use as a component of a bdqffdq:ActedUpon node for MultiRecord Measures that aggregate Response outcomes from other Tests.
Comments	Used to indicate that a MultiRecord Measure is concerned with Response outcomes (report data) rather than raw source-data terms. Pair with bdqffdq:aggregatesResponsesFrom to identify which Test produced the aggregated Responses.
Status	recommended
Controlled value	AggregatedTestResponseOutcomes
Type	bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement

Term Name bdqval:AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord-2026-04-22
Label	AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Definition	An Abstract Information Element composed of the outcomes of a list of bdqffdq:Amendment Tests from a single run on a bdqffdq:SingleRecord in a bdqffdq:DataQualityReport forming the input to another Test.
Comments	Used in Measure of Single Record Tests
Status	recommended
Controlled value	AllAmendmentTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Type	bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement

Term Name bdqval:AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord-2026-04-22
Label	AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Definition	An Abstract Information Element composed of the outcomes of a list of bdqffdq:Validation Tests from a single run on a bdqffdq:SingleRecord in a bdqffdq:DataQualityReport.
Comments	Used in Measure of Single Record Tests
Status	recommended
Controlled value	AllValidationTestsRunOnSingleRecord
Type	bdqffdq:AbstractInformationElement

Term Name bdqval:annotationAlertIf
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/annotationAlertIf
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/annotationAlertIf-2026-04-22
Label	annotationAlertIf
Definition	Optionally establishes if an annotation exists in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest within a bdqval:annotationSystem by describing the criteria for relating annotations in the system to records within the bdqval:ParameterizedTest, by default the presence of an oa:hasTarget with the bdqffdq:SingleRecord under evaluation as its object. 'PREFIX oa: SELECT ?annotation WHERE { ?annotation a oa:Annotation ; oa:hasTarget . }'
Comments	Used in Test "ANNOTATION_ISSUE_NOTEMPTY" (bdqtest:fecaa8a3-bbd8-4c5a-a424-13c37c4bb7b1).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	annotationAlertIf
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:annotationSystem
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/annotationSystem
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/annotationSystem-2026-04-22
Label	annotationSystem
Definition	Optionally establishes a system for annotations in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest, with the default being the W3C Annotations Data Model's "oa:Annotation"
Comments	Used in Test "ANNOTATION_ISSUE_NOTEMPTY" (bdqtest:fecaa8a3-bbd8-4c5a-a424-13c37c4bb7b1).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	annotationSystem
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:assumptionOnUnknownBiome
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/assumptionOnUnknownBiome
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/assumptionOnUnknownBiome-2026-04-22
Label	assumptionOnUnknownBiome
Definition	Used when a bdqval:taxonomyIsMarine sourceAuthority is unable to assert the marine or non-marine status of a taxon, the biome (either "marine" or "nonmarine") to assume, with the default being "noassumption".
Comments	See VALIDATION_COORDINATESTERRESTRIALMARINE_CONSISTENT (bdqtest:b9c184ce-a859-410c-9d12-71a338200380).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	assumptionOnUnknownBiome
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:defaultGeodeticDatum
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/defaultGeodeticDatum
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/defaultGeodeticDatum-2026-04-22
Label	defaultGeodeticDatum
Definition	Optionally establishes the default dwc:geodeticDatum in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default dwc:geodeticDatum is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments	See Test AMENDMENT_GEODETICDATUM_ASSUMEDDEFAULT (bdqtest:7498ca76-c4d4-42e2-8103-acacccbdffa7).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	defaultGeodeticDatum
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:defaultOccurrenceStatus
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/defaultOccurrenceStatus
Modified	2026-04-27
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/defaultOccurrenceStatus-2026-04-27
Label	defaultOccurrenceStatus
Definition	A provided default value for dwc:occurrenceStatus that is used when a required dwc:occurrenceStatus is bdqval:Empty.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	defaultOccurrenceStatus
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:earliestValidDate
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/earliestValidDate
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/earliestValidDate-2026-04-22
Label	earliestValidDate
Definition	Optionally establishes the earliest date in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default date is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	earliestValidDate
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:Empty
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/Empty
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/Empty-2026-04-22
Label	Empty
Definition	An evaluation of a value, which in the context of the evaluation, returns false if the value contains any characters or values other than those in the range U+0000 to U+0020, otherwise returns true.
Comments	See also: bdqval:NotEmpty. In the BDQ standard, bdqval:Empty is used to evaluate bdqffdq:InformationElements within a Test specification, it therefore means empty if the dataset being evaluated does not contain the term matching the Information Element, or if the dataset contains that term but the value for that term is empty. The phrasing 'in the context of the evauation' is to allow the Test implementations to be independent of, and agnostic about the data structures presented to a framework for executing the Tests and the framework within which the Tests are run. The term bdqval:Empty is defined to be more broadly usable than just with bdqtest:. Note: A bdqffdq:InformationElement containing invalid characters (e.g., letters in an Information Element that would be expected to contain integers) or values (including string serializations of the NULL value) are bdqval:NotEmpty and their invalidity must be separately detected. The definition of bdqval:Empty is not applicable to a discussion of what value to include in a controlled vocabulary to indicate that no meaningful value is present, so no suggestion is made that bdqval:Empty should be used as a data value to represent some form of 'Null', 'unknown', 'not recorded', etc. Choices there would fall into the semantics for some set of controlled vocabularies. The relevance to such a discussion is that the definition of bdqval:Empty would treat an empty string as an empty value, with no semantics attached as to why the value is empty
Status	recommended
Controlled value	Empty
Type	skos:Concept

Term Name bdqval:geospatialLand
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/geospatialLand
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/geospatialLand-2026-04-22
Label	geospatialLand
Definition	A bdqval:sourceAuthority consisting of polygons that have been derived from a union of Natural Earth vectors for Land and for Minor Islands at 1:10,000,000 resolution.
Comments	See VALIDATION_COORDINATESTERRESTRIALMARINE_CONSISTENT (bdqtest:b9c184ce-a859-410c-9d12-71a338200380)
Status	recommended
Controlled value	geospatialLand
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:includeEventDate
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/includeEventDate
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/includeEventDate-2026-04-22
Label	includeEventDate
Definition	Allows dwc:eventDate to be excluded in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. The default is to include the dwc:eventDate in the Test, but it may be excluded to allow a dwc:dateIdentified to be prior to the dwc:eventDate.
Comments	Used in Test "VALIDATION_DATEIDENTIFIED_INRANGE" (bdqtest:dc8aae4b-134f-4d75-8a71-c4186239178e).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	includeEventDate
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:latestValidDate
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/latestValidDate
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/latestValidDate-2026-04-22
Label	latestValidDate
Definition	Optionally establishes the latest date in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default date is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	latestValidDate
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:maximumValidDepthInMeters
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/maximumValidDepthInMeters
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/maximumValidDepthInMeters-2026-04-22
Label	maximumValidDepthInMeters
Definition	Optionally establishes the maximum depth in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default depth is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	maximumValidDepthInMeters
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:maximumValidElevationInMeters
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/maximumValidElevationInMeters
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/maximumValidElevationInMeters-2026-04-22
Label	maximumValidElevationInMeters
Definition	Optionally establishes the highest elevation in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default elevation is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	maximumValidElevationInMeters
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:minimumValidDepthInMeters
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/minimumValidDepthInMeters
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/minimumValidDepthInMeters-2026-04-22
Label	minimumValidDepthInMeters
Definition	Optionally establishes the minimum depth in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default depth is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	minimumValidDepthInMeters
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:minimumValidElevationInMeters
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/minimumValidElevationInMeters
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/minimumValidElevationInMeters-2026-04-22
Label	minimumValidElevationInMeters
Definition	Optionally establishes the lowest elevation in a bdqval:ParameterizedTest. A default elevation is supplied in cases where a bdqval:Parameter is not set at the time the Test is run.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	minimumValidElevationInMeters
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:NotEmpty
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/NotEmpty
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/NotEmpty-2026-04-22
Label	NotEmpty
Definition	An evaluation of a value, which in the context of the evaluation, returns true if the value contains any characters or values other than those in the range U+0000 to U+0020, otherwise returns false.
Comments	See also: bdqval:Empty. In the BDQ standard, bdqval:NotEmpty is used to evaluate bdqffdq:InformationElements within a Test specification. Common string serializations of null such as '\N', 'NA', 'NaN', and NULL are treated as bdqval:NotEmpty. If '\N' is present in a dataset, Tests are expected to explicitly treat that value as bdqval:NotEmpty, and then try to evaluate it against whatever other criteria may apply. The term bdqval:NotEmpty is defined to be more broadly usable than the scope of BDQ Tests.
Status	recommended
Controlled value	NotEmpty
Type	skos:Concept

Term Name bdqval:sourceAuthority
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/sourceAuthority
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/sourceAuthority-2026-04-22
Label	sourceAuthority
Definition	An authority using the "bdqval" namespace that provides a reference for values required for a Test evaluation. Where the Test is a bdqval:ParameterizedTest a bdqval:defaultSourceAuthority ("bdqval:sourceAuthority default = xxx") is specified.
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	sourceAuthority
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:spatialBufferInMeters
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/spatialBufferInMeters
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/spatialBufferInMeters-2026-04-22
Label	spatialBufferInMeters
Definition	A buffer, in meters, from a polygon (geopolitical boundary, coastline, etc.).
Comments
Status	recommended
Controlled value	spatialBufferInMeters
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

Term Name bdqval:taxonIsMarine
Term IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/taxonIsMarine
Modified	2026-04-22
Term version IRI	https://rs.tdwg.org/bdqval/terms/version/taxonIsMarine-2026-04-22
Label	taxonIsMarine
Definition	A bdqval:sourceAuthority that uses dwc:scientificName to determine the "marine" or "non-marine" status of a dwc:Taxon using the "Environment" term obtained from the World Register of Marine Species (WORMS) database.
Comments	See VALIDATION_COORDINATESTERRESTRIALMARINE_CONSISTENT (bdqtest:b9c184ce-a859-410c-9d12-71a338200380).
Status	recommended
Controlled value	taxonIsMarine
Type	bdqffdq:Parameter, owl:NamedIndividual

## Glossary (non-normative) A glossary of acronyms and terms additional to those in the various namespaces can be found in the [Glossary (non-normative)](../../../index.md#6-glossary-non-normative) section of the Biodiversity Data Quality (BDQ) landing page. ## References (non-normative) The references for the BDQ standard can be found in the [References (non-normative)](../../../index.md#7-references-non-normative) section of the Biodiversity Data Quality (BDQ) landing page. ## Cite BDQ (non-normative) **To cite BDQ in general, use the peer-reviewed article:** Chapman AD, Belbin L, Zermoglio PF, Wieczorek J, Morris PJ, Nicholls M, Rees ER, Veiga AK, Thompson A, Saraiva AM, James SA, Gendreau C, Benson A, Schigel D (2020). Developing Standards for Improved Data Quality and for Selecting Fit for Use Biodiversity Data. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 4: e50889. https://doi.org/10.3897/biss.4.50889 **To cite this document specifically, use the following:** TDWG Biodiversity Data Quality Interest Group Task Group 2: Data Quality Tests and Assertions. 2026. BDQ Controlled Vocabulary List of Terms. Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG). **Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG)** This content made open by Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) is licensed under a [Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY) License.](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)