COD terminology

Administrative feature

Geographic polygonal location belonging to an administrative level within the administrative structure. Administrative level 0, the country or territory, always contains exactly one administrative feature. Each administrative feature can contain one or more features at any deeper administrative level. Each administrative level feature has an administrative type, which may not be common throughout the administrative level. “California” is an administrative level 1 feature in the USA.

Administrative hierarchy

The set of administrative levels in an administrative structure. In generic terms this can be described as a range of administrative levels (such as levels 0 to 3). Particular administrative structures may have an administrative hierarchy of administrative types, but types need not be unique within administrative levels.

Administrative level

Individual numbered level or layer of a country’s administrative hierarchy. Administrative level 0 is the country or territory. CODs may represent one or more administrative levels. A COD-AB and its associated COD-PS may not represent the same set of levels. Because the names of administrative type vary so much between countries and territories, and because a particular country and administrative level may contain features of more than one administrative type, the generic term ‘administrative level’ is preferred in COD management. Administrative levels may be abbreviated ADM1, ADM2, etc.

Administrative structure

The heart of any COD is its adherence to and echoing of the accepted administrative structure of the country or territory. The administrative structure of a country or territory consists of the administrative features comprising each administrative level within an administrative hierarchy.

Administrative type

Classification of each administrative feature, sometimes but not always common to all features in one administrative level of an administrative structure. In the USA, for example, administrative level 1 consists of three administrative types: states, territories, and a federal district. Use of administrative types can lead to ambiguities and should be replaced by use of administrative levels.

Country-Specific COD

Gazetteer

Spreadsheet or .csv file containing one or more tables of the administrative features in one administrative level of an administrative structure. The minimum content is a features names column and its associated P-codes, as well as the names and P-codes of all higher administrative levels. Most gazetteer tables include administrative feature areas in square kilometres. Gazetteers are provided as resources with each COD-AB, COD-PS, and COD-EM HDX dataset.

(HDX) Location

Country or territory associated with an HDX dataset or COD. Most CODs represent a country but some Caribbean CODs (such as Sint Maarten) represent part of a country.

P-code

Unique alphanumeric place identifier associated with an administrative feature in a COD.