Attributes used in the NMBGMR Geologic Data Model are a mixture of defined vocabularies in coded value domains, range domains, and user-entered terms. Coded value domains (CVDs) make data entry much easier because they provide dropdown selection lists during attribution and help avoid spelling errors. Range Domains allow numeric values only within a defined range e.g. 0-90 degress for dips. Coded value domains can either be fixed such that no other values are permitted or open where attributes can be added as necessary. For the most part, coded value domains will not use numeric codes to represent text attributes. Instead, English terms will be used as codes to represent longer attribute values. It is expected that attributes will be added to to CVDs as need arises.
Addtional attributes for any feature class can be extended by using a generic table structure and either a one-to-many relationship class or standard database join.