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Linking units

This page introduces some of the units of measure that you can use to describe your data. It assumes that you have a rough understanding of what linked data is and where you might want to make use of it.

If you already know which unit you want to reuse but want to find out how to use it, see the guide on reusing units.

QUDT

QUDT's Units Vocabulary is the preferred system of units recommended for use with csvcubed.

Below we list a summary of some of the key units you may wish to use. Note that the units listed in this document are not exhaustive; if the unit that you want to represent has not been listed below then please refer to QUDT's Units Vocabulary to see if a suitable unit has already been published. If not, you may wish to define a new unit.

Currencies

e.g. average household income in a given region.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Pound Sterling http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/PoundSterling Currency
Euro http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/Euro Currency
US Dollar http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/USDollar Currency

Lengths

e.g. distance from population centres to the nearest train station.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Metre http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/M Length
Yard http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/YD Length
Mile http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/MI Length

Areas

e.g. Area of green space in a given locality.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Square inch http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/IN2 Area
Square metre http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/M2 Area
Acre http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/AC Area
Hectare http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/HA Area

Volumes

e.g. volume of potholes on roads in a given area.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Litre http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/L Volume
Cubic metre http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/M3 Volume
Pint (UK) http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/PINT_UK Volume
Teaspoon http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/TSP Volume
Tablespoon http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/TBSP Volume
Barrels (UK Petroleum) http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/BBL_UK_PET Volume

Time Periods

e.g. how long it takes an athlete to complete a 100m sprint.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Seconds http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/SEC Time
Minutes http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/MIN Time
Hours http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/HR Time
Days http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/DAY Time
Years http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/YR Time

Counts & rates

e.g. the number of people observed sleeping rough in town centres on a given night.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Number (count) http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/NUM Dimensionless
Per day http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/PER-DAY Frequency
Number per hour http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/NUM-PER-HR Frequency
Hz http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/HZ Frequency

Energies

e.g. electrical energy consumption of households on a given day.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
kWh http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/KiloW-HR Energy
Kilocalorie http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/KiloCAL Energy

Temperatures

e.g. daily observed maximum/minimum air temperatures.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Degrees Celcius http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/DEG_C Temperature
Degrees Kelvin http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/K Temperature

Weights

e.g. weights of new-born babies.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Kilogramme http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/KiloGM Mass
Metric Tonne http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/TON_Metric Mass
Imperial Ton (UK) http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/TON_UK Mass
Stone http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/Stone_UK Mass

Ranks and ordinals

e.g. the ranks/final positions of participants in a competition.

Occasionally you may want to record the ranks or ordinals. Ranks do not have a unit and so you should express this with the UNITLESS unit.

Unit Identifier Quantity Kind
Unitless http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/UNITLESS Dimensionless