MetadataMetadata

Data about dataData about data

Useful links...Useful links...

http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/metadata/education.hthttp://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/metadata/education.htmlml

http://dusk2.geo.orst.edu/gis/lec06.html#nsdihttp://dusk2.geo.orst.edu/gis/lec06.html#nsdi http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata.htmlhttp://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata.html http://www.fgdc.gov/nsdi/nsdi.htmlhttp://www.fgdc.gov/nsdi/nsdi.html

http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/links/http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/links/metalinks.htmlmetalinks.html

The players/the termsThe players/the terms

The Federal Geographic Data The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is a 19 member Committee (FGDC) is a 19 member interagency committee composed of interagency committee composed of representatives from the Executive representatives from the Executive Office of the President, Cabinet-level Office of the President, Cabinet-level and independent agencies. They are and independent agencies. They are establishing the National Spatial establishing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)Data Infrastructure (NSDI)

““Metadata is simply documentation Metadata is simply documentation for a digital geospatial dataset. It is a for a digital geospatial dataset. It is a text document that describes the text document that describes the who, what, when, where, why and who, what, when, where, why and how questions about the data, so how questions about the data, so that a potential data user can decide that a potential data user can decide whether or not the data is whether or not the data is appropriate for his/her use”appropriate for his/her use”

Metadata is more ....Metadata is more ....

Which websites can you trust?Which websites can you trust? What ‘true story’ that comes in your email What ‘true story’ that comes in your email

is really factual?is really factual? Does it matter if a statement comes from Does it matter if a statement comes from

the journal the journal SCEINCESCEINCE or from the or from the National National EnquirerEnquirer??

Trust and validity are part of metadata (as Trust and validity are part of metadata (as well as the factual information of scale, well as the factual information of scale, projection, date etc.) projection, date etc.)

Metadata is a key component of the geospatial data set. It carries critical information as to the dataset purpose, location, content, and lineage.

Geospatial software increasingly relies on metadata to ingest, display, and manage data.

Metadata instills data accountability and limits data liability.

The timely capture of metadata is fundamental to the quality of the data set as a whole.

Arc Catalog automatically reads the metadata file associated with a given data set.

If Metadata is not present, Arc Catalog creates a blank document... Which can be filled in...

The ‘look’ of the metadata presentation can be changed by changing the stylesheet

So Why is creating metadata a problem?Survey Results:

major obstacles to metadata production

metadata standards are too complex and difficult to implement

http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/metamaker/nbiimker.html

metadata production requires time and other resources

there are few immediate and tangible benefits and few incentives to produce metadata.

http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/education/education/

InstitutionalizeMeta_URISA2001.pdfInstitutionalizeMeta_URISA2001.pdf TABLE 2. INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS OF METADATAReduced Data Management WorkloadMetadata contain information that can be used to quickly locate and

retrieve data resources by specific criteria including: keywords, time period, contacts, data type, entities and attributes, etc.

Fewer Inquiries as to Data Availability and ContentMost of the information required by data consumers to locate,

evaluate, access, and ingest available data resources is contained within the metadata. As a result, data developers/managers are faced with fewer and more specific data inquiries.

Document Personal ContributionsThe initial metadata record produced for a given data set establishes

the core content that will persist, with updates, for the life of the data set. This provides data developers an opportunity to document their efforts and contributions and serves as a tangible performance indicator that may be incorporated into organizational and individual evaluations.

Besides... It’s the LAWBesides... It’s the LAW

NSDI National Spatial Data NSDI National Spatial Data Infrastructure Infrastructure

Executive Order 12906Executive Order 12906

Published in the April 13, 1994, edition Published in the April 13, 1994, edition of the of the Federal RegisterFederal Register, Volume 59, , Volume 59, Number 71, pp. 17671-17674. Number 71, pp. 17671-17674.

““Thou Shalt have Metadata”Thou Shalt have Metadata”

http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/metadata/metapaper.html#importancehttp://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/metadata/metapaper.html#importance

““...metadata training has been conducted ...metadata training has been conducted in workshops unrelated to standard in workshops unrelated to standard curriculum. Workshop material often curriculum. Workshop material often focuses on exhaustive coverage of focuses on exhaustive coverage of metadata content and use of software for metadata content and use of software for creating metadata within a short, creating metadata within a short, concentrated time period ranging from concentrated time period ranging from less than a day to a couple days. Learning less than a day to a couple days. Learning about metadata through this approach is about metadata through this approach is tedious and likely to be soon forgottentedious and likely to be soon forgotten as as not all elements of metadata are used all not all elements of metadata are used all the time...” the time...”

An example...and conclusionsAn example...and conclusions Learn to create metadata Learn to create metadata along withalong with the the

spatial data sets you create!spatial data sets you create! Like eating spinach, its good for youLike eating spinach, its good for you Metadata builds characterMetadata builds character If you neglect metadata your hair will fall If you neglect metadata your hair will fall

out and your teeth will go bad and your out and your teeth will go bad and your CD’s will all get scratchesCD’s will all get scratches

Really, it is a good idea and good practice Really, it is a good idea and good practice to record metadata even if its just a to record metadata even if its just a README file you store with the data... It README file you store with the data... It can save a lot of work and frustration in can save a lot of work and frustration in the future.the future.