Metadata

General

Metadata is information about data.

Metadata is a critical and integral component of data. It should never be treated as seperate.

Example of metadata:

Digital metadata formats:

Metadata helps us understand what the data we're consuming is, about, describes, etc. It's similar to comments in code.

Helps users understand data
- Provides consistent terminology
- Determine fitness
Enables discovery
- Makes data searchable
- Provides info to clearinghouses (markets)
- Provides flexibility in search
- Key in sharing spatial data
- Documentation
Limits liability
Reduces workload, questions about data
Cuts costs (enables automation)

Why create metadata?

Becoming more common as a requirement
- Federal mandate
- Community / industry pressure
Becoming easier to create
- ESRI vendor assistance

Why doesn't everyone create metadata?

Complex & time-consuming to make, difficult to read.
Becomes easier the more you do it, and takes less time
- Users should know how to interpret metadata
- Helps us become more familiar with the dataset

Key Canadian Standards

Federal:
- Dublin Core
  - 15 elements (web focus, industry support
- FGDC CSDGM (minimal)
  - Middleweight (~30-300 elements); production rules
- FGDC CSDGM (Biological Data Profile [NBII])
  - Heavyweight (over 400 elements); data focus
International
- Federal Geographic Data Committee Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC CSDGM) (old)
- Now governed by ISO Technical Committee 211

Generally answers: who, what, where why, when, & how

Data Dictionaries

Related to metadata

A catalog of all data held in a database, or a listing of items giving data names and structures
Sometimes referred to as a Data Dictionary/Directory (DD/D)
Pulls all of your metadata together for your entire project

Quality Assurance and Control

QA/QC is something that needs to be integrated into all aspects of GIS database development

Ensure that everything is accurate, complete, logically consistent, and valid (see slides)