Stratigraphic Layer Designation

While layerNumber gives a layer its order, the designation gives it a human-readable name — for example "Stratum II", "Level 3", or "Plowzone". It is required on every layer, so each one carries an explicit label. Field crews and analysts use the designation to refer to a layer in notes, profiles, and reports without having to cite its number. A clear, consistent designation scheme across a project makes stratigraphic descriptions easy to follow and compare between units.