Geographic names quality control with ElasticSearch queries

Introduction


  • This page provides information on how to use ElasticSearch queries to perform routine quality control of geographic names.

  • Editors and contributors can use search results as a "checklist" of records with specific errors or omissions to be corrected. 

  • Users should log into the Archives Catalogue before performing quality control queries. Unauthenticated users cannot see draft archival descriptions. 

Quality control of geographic headings


  1. Geographic headings must include the data elements outlined on the geographic place access points page:

    1. Geographic headings should be derived from LCSH. "Use for" terms are optional and should be used as required.

    2. Geographic headings must contain a broader term to help group the heading into the appropriate location in the taxonomy.

    3. Geographic headings must contain coordinates to help plot the heading on the map layer featured on the homepage of the Archives Catalogue.

    4. Geographic heading must contain a source note to indicate the source of the coordinates.

  2. The manager of the Archives Catalogue and/or project manager of an archival description project will review the geographic headings taxonomy on a regular basis and use errors or inconsistencies as opportunities to provide focused training for staff persons responsible for data entry.

Expert search for geographic headings


Note: These expert search queries are provided to support quality control tasks but can also be useful to support researchers with advanced search requirements. If these queries are used in a multi-lingual AtoM environment, replace "en" with the two-letter ISO code for the language in question.

Search queryDescriptionExample
places.slug

Use the slug for a geographic place to search for archival descriptions associated with the geographic place.

places.slug:aberdeen-n-s

will produce the same search results as those found by viewing corresponding place page: https://findingaids-stage.library.dal.ca/aberdeen-n-s

places.i18n.en.name

In the basic search bar:

Searches for archival descriptions that are associated with a specific geographic heading. Place name must be in quotations regardless of whether spaces exist.

In the Geographic places search bar:

Searches for geographic places. Place name must be in quotations regardless of whether spaces exist.


places.i18n.en."Aberdeen (N.S.)"

will produce the same search results as those found by viewing corresponding place page: https://findingaids-stage.library.dal.ca/aberdeen-n-s

places.useFor.i18n.en.name

places.useFor.i18n.en.note

places.useFor.i18n.en.dates

places.scopeNotes.i18n.en.content