Meaning of In situ (What is, Concept and Definition)

What is In situ:

In situ is a locution of Latin origin that means 'in place', 'in the site ',' on the ground '.

It is usually used to refer to something that is observed, that is found or that is executed in the place where it is or where it originated.

Thus, for example, in criminalistics an investigation in situ would be the one that is carried out at the scene of the crime, while in administration a audit in situ would be the one that takes place in the institution or agency that will be audited.

In situ and ex situ

In situ and ex situ are antonyms concepts. In situ means 'in place', while ex situ means 'out of place'.In the scientific field, for example, you can apply these concepts to differentiate method two or techniques whose observations are made in the place where the object of study is located, in its natural conditions ( in situ ), or outside of it ( ex situ ), usually in a laboratory with artificial conditions and a controlled environment.

In situ in Medicine

In Medicine, in situ means literally 'in its own place'.In this sense, for example, when talking about a carcinoma in situ , this means that it is a cancer that has not metastasized and which, therefore, has not invaded nearby tissues.

In situ in Paleontology

Within the field of paleontology, the expression in situ is used to indicate the position of a fossil that is in a stratigraphic position, that is, in the sedimentary rock of a terrain.In this sense, it opposes the location ex situ , according to which the fossil is rather displaced from its original location.

In situ in Civil Engineering

In the field of civil engineering, it is said that an operation or work is in situ when It takes place at the construction site itself.

See also Civil engineering.

Conservation in situ

Applied to the ecology , the conservation in situ , which literally means 'conservation on the site itself', is a concept that refers to protection, defense and safeguarding, within the natural habitat itself , of a species-be it animal or vegetable-that is under threat of extinction.