Data Validation

The Data Validation feature is designed to perform very basic validation of the analytical results and metadata. More sophisticated data validation routines should be implemented as database views and stored procedures that can be customised for specific requirements.

The validation routines can be executed individually or as a group.

The "Priority 1 Sample Depth Overlaps" routine will search for depth overlaps between sample intervals that have been assigned a priority of 1. Errors of this nature could be caused by actual depth range overlaps, or by more than one priority 1 sample occupying the same depth range.

The "Undefined Unit Conversions (Reported to Preferred)" routine finds missing unit conversion definitions. These definitions are required when the units of measurement as reported in the SIF file are different from the preferred units for the analyte, as specified in the metadata reference tables. For example, if the preferred units for copper is specified as percent, but the readings in the SIF file were reported in ppm, then a conversion from ppm to percent must be defined in the appropriate metadata reference table. See xxx for more details.

The "Undefined Unit Conversions (Reported to Certified)" routine finds missing unit conversion definitions that are specific to results reported for reference samples (standards). These definitions are required when the units of measurement as reported in the SIF file are different from the units for the certified value of the analyte, as specified in the reference data for certified materials. For example, if the units of the certified value (nominal value) for copper is given in percent, but the readings in the SIF file were reported in ppm, then a conversion from ppm to percent must be defined in the appropriate metadata reference table. See xxx for more details.

The "Mismatched Reference Material Codes" routine applies specifically to reference samples (standards). When a field standard is submitted to the laboratory for analysis, the reference material code of the standard is recorded in the sample submission details. Manual editing of the reference material code in either location could lead to a descrepancy between the code stored in the sample list and the code stored with the submission details.

The "Missing or Invalid Standard Deviations" routine finds cases where the standard deviation value is missing from the reference data associated with certified reference materials. Reference samples that cannot be linked to a standard deviation value will not be included in the Shewhart quality control charts.

The validation result in the example shown above indicates that two priority 1 samples are overlapping at a depth of 320.65 in drillhole WV019. (Due to the nature of the error, the issue is reported twice.) Examination of this particular issue shows that the depth overlap is due to a simple transpositioning error in the start depth value of the lower interval.