Creating Geospatial Metadata for the Long-term

1
Creating Geospatial Metadata for the Long-term

• Lynda Wayne
• Federal Geographic Data Committee
• Geospatial One-Stop
• GeoMaxim

2
Metadata again?

• Metadata has long been promoted by the Federal
  Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), state GIS
  coordinators, and project managers as a means to
• preserve organizational data investments
• instill data accountability and liability
• facilitate data sharing.

3
The Times They are a Changin

• International metadata standard
• ISO ANSI
• transitional process
• guidance documents and presentations
• tools under development
• stay the course (CSDGM)
• all shall be well

4
The Times They are a Changin

• Geospatial One-Stop
• one of 19 federal e-gov initiatives
• Portal to
• NSDI Clearinghouse
• other metadata servers
• web map applications
• geospatial research and related information

5
Metadata official language for the geospatial
community

• data discovery and clearinghouse operations
• data exchange and use
• data management
• ESRI ArcCatalog
• Intergraph SMMS
• quality metadata is operational metadata

6
GIS Internal Metadata

• GIS tools enable data management via metadata
• search for existing, in-house data products
• track updates, relates and other operations
• auto populate dataset properties
• preview data geography and dbase
• build templates for fixed descriptive info
• maintain multilevel metadata
• metadata is the fuel for data management

7
Go Beyond the Minimum

• CSDGM mandatory elements are those common to all
  data types and organizations not most critical
• value of metadata is to capture that which is
  unique
• time spent early, saves time spent later

8
Create Templates

• Boilerplate your metadata
• identify all pertinent fields
• provide content for fixed fields such as
• Use_Constraints
• Contacts
• Process Methodologies
• Distribution Methods and Liability
• create organization, theme, and project templates

9
Links to Services and Data

• Online_Linkage is a repeatable field
• provide multiple links to
• data download
• data clearinghouse
• webmapping applications and services
• enable users to locate data and related services

10
ISO Topic Categories as Keywords

• select one or more categories to aid in data
  search and discovery (see handout)
• boundaries oceans health
• transportation economy society
• elevation farming location
• biota structure
• geoscientificInformation environment
• utilitiesCommunication inlandWaters
• planningCadastre intelligenceMilitary
• imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
• climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere

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ISO Topic Categories as Keywords

• aids translation to ISO metadata
• data can sort into geodata.gov channels

12
Document Planned Data Acquisitions

• promotes data development partnering
• required of federal agencies
• 1 million current
• 500,000 next fiscal year
• geodata.gov
• Status provided as a data search element
• calls for partnerships can be featured within
  Channels

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Publish or Perishgeodata.gov

• Metadata Harvest
• Register node/service at geodata.gov
• metadata will be regularly harvested updated
• harvest counselor program
• Metadata Upload
• register and upload at geodata.gov
• Metadata Online Creation
• online tool at geodata.gov for bare metadata
  creation

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Visit geodata.gov

• search for geospatial data and applications
• access, compile download data from different
  sources
• seek out data development partnerships
• create and upload metadata
• join a thematic Channel Community
• http//www.geodata.gov

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Better Content Better Performance

• Robust and accurate metadata enables new
  functionality
• entity attribute descriptions yield feature-level
  metadata
• accurate dates facilitate data currency reviews
• detailed source tracking supports cost benefit
  analysis
• detailed process descriptions enable repeatable
  methodologies
• valid accuracy statements enable fitness for use
  assessments
• metadata management is a GIS best practice

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Quality Content

• large data sets require a metadata strategy
• consider Originator as responsible party
• a Title is not a filename
• the Abstract summarizes the metadata
• USE Supplemental_Information
• make Use_Constraints meaningful
• consider Entity/Attribute Detailed_Description as
  an opportunity to document your dbase
• see handout Metadata Quick Guide

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More Information

• www.geodata.gov
• www.fgdc.gov/metadata
• Sharon Shin, FGDC Metadata Coordinator
• sharon_shin_at_fgdc.gov
• Lynda Wayne, NSDI Implementation Liaison
• Lwayne_at_fgdc.gov

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Question?

• What is your next step in implementing or
  enhancing metadata creation within your
  organization?