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DescribeSensor Parameters Description

This page illustrates a list of HTTP/GET and HTTP/POST input parameters and output description for the DescribeSensor operation of CO-OPS/SOS.

DescribeSensor Request

The input parameters for DescribeSensor operation include:

Input Name   Description HTTP/GET Example HTTP/POST Example
service Required Service name (SOS) service=SOS 
<sos:DescribeSensor
  xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/sos/1.0"
  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
  xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengis.net/sos/1.0
     http://schemas.opengis.net/sos/1.0.0/sosAll.xsd"
  service="SOS"
  version="1.0.0"
  outputFormat="text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"">
   ...
</sos:DescribeSensor>
request Required Operation name request=DescribeSensor
version Required Service version version=1.0.0
outputFormat Required Response format (MIME type) for DescribeSensor. Valid value is
  • text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"
 outputFormat=
text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"
procedure Required Used to query DescribeSensor for networks, stations, or sensors (instruments). Network Example:
procedure=
urn:ioos:network:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:WaterLevelActive
Station Example:
procedure=
urn:ioos:station:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:cb1301
Sensor Example:
procedure=
urn:ioos:sensor:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:8454000:A1
Network Example:
<sos:procedure>
  urn:ioos:network:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:WaterLevelActive
</sos:procedure>
Station Example:
<sos:procedure>
  urn:ioos:station:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:cb1301
</sos:procedure>
Sensor Example:
<sos:procedure>
  urn:ioos:sensor:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:8454000:A1
</sos:procedure>

The following URL examples illustrate a DescribeSensor HTTP/GET request: 

Describe Sensor (Network)
https://opendap.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/ioos-dif-sos/SOS?service=SOS&request=DescribeSensor&version=1.0.0&outputFormat=text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"&procedure=urn:ioos:network:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:WaterLevelActive
Describe Sensor (Station)
https://opendap.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/ioos-dif-sos/SOS?service=SOS&request=DescribeSensor&version=1.0.0&outputFormat=text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"&procedure=urn:ioos:station:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:8454000
Describe Sensor (Sensor)
https://opendap.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/ioos-dif-sos/SOS?service=SOS&request=DescribeSensor&version=1.0.0&outputFormat=text/xml;subtype="sensorML/1.0.1/profiles/ioos_sos/1.0"&procedure=urn:ioos:sensor:NOAA.NOS.CO-OPS:8454000:A1

XML Samples for a DescribeSensor HTTP/POST request could be found here:

Describe Sensor (Network)      Sample Request
Describe Sensor (Station)      Sample Request
Describe Sensor (Sensor)       Sample Request


DescribeSensor Response

The response to a DescribeSensor request is a Sensor Model Language (SensorML) document shown in your browser. This document describes the sensor system. [OGC 06-009r6, p. 26]

  • DescribeSensor response for a network - contains the description, search keywords, identifiers, classifiers, temporal validity, relevant contacts about this specific network, and a list of stations of this network including station ID, station name, identification, documentation, location
  • DescribeSensor response for a station - contains the description, search keywords, identifiers, classifiers, temporal validity, relevant contacts about this specific station, and list of observed properties at station including relevant component (sensor) information
  • DescribeSensor response for a sensor - contains the sensor identification, and location information.

Samples of SOS DescribeSensor response can be found here:

Describe Sensor (Network)      Response XML
Describe Sensor (Station)      Response XML
Describe Sensor (Sensor)       Response XML

 
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