CIDOC Guidelines for Museum Object Information: Measurement Information Group

This page is part of the International Guidelines for Museum Object Information: The CIDOC Information Categories: a description of the Information Categories that can be used when developing records about the objects in museum collections. For an outline of the Information Groups and Categories in the Guidelines, turn to the introductory list.

Measurement Information Group

Purpose:

Object Measurement information supports Security, Accountability, and Access in that it may be the only way of establishing whether or not an object is really that which is described in the documentation. It can be of particular research importance for natural science collections. Measurements can also indicate how easy it is to access and move an object.

Information categories:

Dimension
Measurement
Measurement unit
Measured part

Examples:

Dimension: height
Measurement: 23
Measurement unit: cm
Measured part: figure excluding mount

Notes:

• This Information Group can be repeated to record as many measurements as necessary.
• Measurements can include linear measurements as well as trade sizes, weight and volume, e.g., the weight of a specimen may be given as 103.6g.
• Measurements may change after conservation treatment, or as a result of use, in which case the up to date measurements should be recorded.
• It is advisable to always measure similar objects in the collections in the same way so as to ensure consistency of measurement.

Dimension

Definition:

The aspect of an object being measured.

Examples:

height
width
depth
weight
volume
circumference

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology.

Move to beginning of Measurement

Measurement

Alternate names:

Numeric value
Dimension value

Definition:

The numeric value of the Measurement of a dimension.

Examples:

23
14.5

Move to beginning of Measurement

Measurement unit

Definition:

The unit of measurement used when measuring a dimension.

Examples:

cm
metres
inches
g

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology

Move to beginning of Measurement

Measured part

Alternate names:

Dimension qualification
Measurement remarks

Definition:

The part of the object being measured.

Examples:

Plate area
Excluding frame
Wing fully extended

Move to beginning of Measurement

Move to outline of the Information Groups and Categories or the next section of the Guidelines, Object Association

file: guidemea.htm; author: CIDOC; updated June 1995