.lsd file format

Data Model

Numeric data in .lsd files are specified in a somewhat unusual way.

Usually, a numeric value is given as a number and some error measure, which, in many cases, is assumed to be the standard deviation of a gaussian distribution.

In LOCSMITH, numerical values are considered as intervals: a value always consists of a lower boundary and an upper boundary. The "true" value is not known but between these boundaries.

Therefore, numerical values in .lsd files are defined by at least two numbers, which represent the lower and upper bound. Optionally, a third value may be given which specifies the "mean" or "likely to be true" value.

The interpretation of three values given in a keyword line is simple: the smalles value is the lower boundary, the highest value is the upper boundary, and a possible third value is the "likely to be true" value.

Exception: The coordinates of sesimic stations are given by single values, since experience shows that the coordinates of stations are known very precisely.


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