Kardashev scale
From Hidden Frontier
The Kardashev Scale
The Kardashev scale is a method of classifying how technologically advanced a civilization is. It is named after its developer, Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev, who created it in 1964. It has three categories: Type I, II, and III, which is determined by the amount of usable energy a civilization has at its disposal and its degree of space colonization. In simplest terms, a Type I civilization has achieved mastery of the resources of its home planet, Type II of its home solar system, and Type III of its galaxy.
In-Series References
It was noted in "Enemy Unknown, Part 3" that both the Grey and the Iconians represented Type III civilizations, being capable of surviving the destruction of their home star system. The United Federation of Planets was described as a Type II civilization in the same discussion.
