How to Create an Essential Metadata Record Using an Online Tool aka ‘ Now You Have No Excuse For Not Creating Metadata!’

Becky McKinley, GISP Hammond Sanitary District, NW Indiana GIS Forum Cele Morris I.U. Northwest Data Center

Northwest Indiana GIS Forum Meeting Since 1997 Regional Attendance Goals 1. GIS Training & Technology Transfer 2. Catalog Regional Spatial Data 3. Networking through regular meetings

Indiana and Metadata Indiana Geographic Information Council Standards & Recommendations Committee FGDC Metadata Standard Indiana Metadata Profile

Project background Northwest Indiana GIS Forum Indiana Geological Survey US-EPA Region 5 Electronic Format for Indiana Metadata Profile

Indiana Metadata Profile Document for each dataset: Background/basic information Dataset Specifics Distribution information Spatial reference Metadata information

Background/basic information Title Who created it? What kind of data is it (map, table, image etc.)? When was it created? Where was it published? Why was it created? NOTE: use the Abstract paragraph to summarize the dataset and include anything you feel important but not covered by the other metadata fields.

Dataset Specifics What time period does it cover? How often is it updated? What is its spatial extent (bounding coordinates?)? What themewords would be used to describe it?

Distribution information Who distributes it? Is it offline only, downloadable etc? Are there access constraints (data dissemination policy etc.?)? Who do I contact to get it? What formats are available? Is there a fee?

Spatial reference Source scale Vertical/Horizontal positional accuracy Vertical/Horizontal datum Map projection

Metadata information Who created it? When?

Web Access To The On-line Metadata Compilation Tool:

Online Metadata Tool Homepage

Looking for Info on Metadata?

Lots of Helpful Resources Available Here

Print Out Instructions Prior to First Use

Go to the Tool

Good Things Come to Those that Wait

Follow Along with the Instructions as you Complete the Form!

Entering Data Elements

Spatial Extent Tool

Choose the Extent by County….

Generates Decimal Degree Coordinates and Place Keywords Automatically!!

Choose a Theme or Themes

Choose Additional Keywords to Describe Your Data

Add Place and Theme Keywords Together

Include a Little More Information – Then Preview

Is There Anything You Forgot ?

Save the Text File to Your Hard Drive

Don’t Forget to Publish ! /

Browse By Content Type

Choose A Theme

Add Specific Search Terms

Thanks to the Indiana Geological Survey