Metadata workshop, June 2003

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The Workshop

Workshop Timetable

• introduction to the Go-Geo! project

• metadata overview

• Go-Geo! portal ‘hands on’ session and evaluation

Aims of the Workshop

• inform potential users and data providers about the project and to seek feedback on the design and functionality of the Go-Geo! portal

• provide a brief overview of Go-Geo! metadata activities

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Project Context

• increasing amounts of geo-spatial datasets are being created and with demand growing there is a need to promote the re-use of data.

The problem is:

• how to find out what geo-spatial datasets already exist within (and outside) UK academia as the existence of many datasets often is not publicised;

• having discovered a dataset, how to ascertain its quality and fitness for use;

• how to access it;

• how to use it.

A solution…….

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The Go-Geo! Portal (1)

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The Go-Geo! Portal is a:

• 5/99 JISC-funded project, being undertaken by EDINA and the UK Data Archive.

The Go-Geo! Portal will be:

• a resource discovery tool that tells users what geo-spatial datasets exist;

• a service that provides access to other related information resources which can either be local to the portal, or found by searching the JISC Information Environment and other online information services .

The Go-Geo! Portal (2)

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Project Aims and Objectives

• the aim of the project is to develop a demonstrator geo-spatial portal suitable for extension to full service.

The Go-Geo! Portal demonstrator should provide:

• simple query interfaces;

– search by subject, date, resource type and geographic location

• support for both controlled and uncontrolled vocabulary searching;

• support for the Z39.50 Protocol for searching and record retrieval;

• output of metadata in various forms using XML as the transfer format.

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Go-Geo! Portal Content

The content of Go-Geo! comprises:

• related resources, tied together by location, which include;

— software, learning resources, courses and training, etc.

— information about studies and projects, articles, reports, personal contacts, mailing-lists

— guidance for creating geo-spatial data

• metadata describing geo-spatial datasets or “geographically referenced” datasets.

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• Metadata represent an ordered summary of information details that describe something, in this case, a geo-spatial dataset. These details include:– What, Where, When, Who and Why of the dataset, plus the

means to access and use it.

• Metadata reveal information that is not apparent when looking at dataset files in a directory.

Metadata (1)

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The details of a dataset are embedded in the metadata file and often address the following questions:– What is the purpose of the dataset? 

– Where did the dataset originate? 

– What attribute information does it contain? 

– What processes or algorithms were employed to create it? 

– What spatial reference system does the dataset use? 

– What is the granularity of the dataset? 

– When was the dataset created?

– What time period does the dataset content cover?

– What geographic area or extent does it cover? 

– Whom do I contact for more information or access to the dataset? 

– How do I obtain the dataset? 

– What are the access and use restrictions and how much will it cost? 

– Who is responsible for creating the metadata record for the dataset?

Metadata (2)

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The Go-Geo! Metadata• amended and finalised the FE/HE Metadata Application

Profile of the National Geographic Data Framework Discovery Metadata Guidelines

• reviewed the GEMET, NASA, HASSET and UNESCO thesauri and selected the UNESCO thesaurus for the controlled keyword vocabulary

• created a comprehensive 150 page metadata guidelines document complete with examples and explanations relevant to seven academic disciplines

• converted 70 metadata records to the FE/HE metadata profile format for use on the Go-Geo! portal demonstrator. These include 25 from ADS, HDS and MIMAS and 45 from the EDINA Data centre

• made cross-comparisons between the FE/HE Profile and the ISO 19115 Standard and FGDC’s Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM)

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FE/HE Metadata Application Profile• Contains 70 elements categorised under the following

eight primary headings:– Citation;

– Identification Information;

– Dataset Capture Period;

– Time Period of Content;

– Spatial Extent of Dataset;

– Custodian;

– Distributor;

– Metadata Creator.

There are 27 mandatory elements. These include 12 elements for contact details. The remaining 15 elements require only short answers or selections from lists. The one exception is the Description element. This element is comparable to an abstract and requires a general overview statement.

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Example of a Go-Geo! Metadata Record

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Future Metadata Initiatives

• starting in autumn 2003, organise and hold workshops during the academic year to introduce FE/HE metadata application profile and guidelines to academics and students across the UK

• in addition, offer training at the workshops, which hopefully will include a tool for creating compliant metadata

• explain further the benefits of metadata to encourage metadata creation

• encourage relevant journals to list metadata titles and authors

• hopefully provide support for metadata creation through quality assessments and template creation

• address and resolve issues surrounding data licensing, especially derived datasets

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Future Go-Geo! Portal Demonstrator Activities

• trial access to the Go-Geo! portal demonstrator available until the July 30th to allow for further feedback and evaluation

• longer trials of the Go-Geo! portal demonstrator will begin in autumn 2003

• access to the demonstrator (password protected) and the evaluation questionnaire can be found at:

http://www.gogeo.ac.uk/TrialEvaluation.htm

Further information on the Go-Geo! project can be found at:

http://www.gogeo.ac.uk

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