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Executable File
OE-0005: Survey
Status: Draft Version: 0.2.0-draft Depends on: OE-0004 (Observation) Phase: The Bedrock Phase
Overview
A survey is a structured assessment of the current state of engineering understanding on a specific topic.
Definition
A survey captures what is known, what is unknown, and what is contested within a specific engineering domain. A survey aggregates observations (OE-0004), identifies patterns, and flags gaps. It produces an organized view of the current state of understanding that serves as input to the formation of understanding (OE-0006).
Structure
A survey document must contain:
- Scope — The specific topic or domain being assessed
- Observations Collected — The direct and corroborated observations relevant to the topic
- Patterns Identified — Recurring relationships or principles observed across the collected observations
- Gaps Flagged — Areas where observations are missing, insufficient, or contested
- Relationship to Prior Surveys — How this survey builds on or differs from prior assessments
Relationship to Observation
Surveys depend on observations (OE-0004) as their primary input. A survey without observations is speculation. A survey built on verified observations is engineering context.
Relationship to Understanding
A survey is not understanding itself. It is the organized input from which understanding is formed. Understanding (OE-0006) is the contextualized model that a practitioner constructs by engaging with a survey's findings.
Single Responsibility
This document defines the structure and role of surveys. It does not define understanding (see OE-0006). It references it.
Applicable Laws
This document is governed by all Engineering Laws defined in laws/engineering-laws.md.