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DOCUMENT ENTRY PATH
PROCESSING PATH
DOCUMENT SEARCH PATH
DOCUMENT ORDERING PATH == == == == = =
DOCUMENT DELIVERY PATH
Fig 2: Current ERSAP Information Flow
requirements will be delivered to the user
either via ordinary mail or fac-simile services.
This process is illustrated in Fig. 2: "Current
ERSAP Information Flow".
3. FUTURE PROSPECTS
7.1 The ERSAP Thesaurus
According to the dictionary, a thesaurus is a
store of words, or synonyms or antonyms, which
can be used as categorised index terms for use
in information retrieval. Thesauri are tools
used in terminology to translate the user's
language into an artificial, but agreed upon,
more restrictive controlled language. It is a
hierarchical succession in a scientific
representation (domain representative) with
nomative character. This secures an unequivocal
access even if the information is unknown. Some
databases to-day incorporate thesauri structure
which allow to branch from selection lists. They
typically follow the hierarchical ISO-NORM
approach. In addition, modern thesauri, similar
to hypertext (hypertext programmes allow to
branch directly within applications from one
term to other terms, images, graphics, or
annotations), allow direct hierarchy-independent
links. The links between terms are presented in
a network structure. Electronic thesauri search
may consist of means like, matching of synonyms,
acronyms, and homonyms, lemmatisation, and other
methods which ease and simplify utilisation.
Multilingual thesauri are essential, so that
researching documents in various languages do
351
not depend on specific knowledge and use of a
prevailing language. Whenever possible, indexers
and users should have the opportunity of working
in their mother tongue or, at least, in a
familiar language. In the same way, multilingual
thesauri might also be considered as playing an
important part in improving control of
literature and subjects being investigated.
It is intended to develop an ERSAP bilingual
French and English thesaurus which will be later
on translated into the official languages of the
European Communities.
The aim is:
= to create a master list of
"descriptors" to be used for indexing
and searching remote sensing,
photogrammetry, and related subjects
in English
= to provide the translation of each
"descriptor" initially in French,
ultimately in all European Communities
languages.
To this effect, an ad-hoc working group will be
created composed of experts in the field of
remote sensing and related applications, in the
thesauri design and national language expertise.
The group will examine and select in a single
list all descriptors used in national or
international information systems relevant to
remote sensing, photogrammetry, and related
applications research. Systems like INFOterra,.
the International Environmental Information
System of the United Nations Environment