Metadata Understanding the Value and Importance of Proper Data Documentation James Wilson James Madison University John McGee, Ph.D. Adapted from: The Virginia Metadata Creators Workshop Funded through the FGDC Dan Widner & Lyle Hornbaker Virginia Geographic Information Network

Acknowledgements This material from the Virginia Metadata Workshop was funded through a Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) 2006 CAP grant. We shamelessly borrowed, modified, and incorporated existing metadata training material from the FGDC, the USGS, and the NOAA Coastal Services Center.

Help me to educate YOU! Remember, this is an INTERACTIVE workshop…PLEASE feel free to ask questions, provide comments, give suggestions, and offer real world experiences along the way (don’t wait until the end!!!)

Metadata Presentation Overview This presentation is just the first presentation in a day long workshop. The idea is to provide you with a “taste” of metadata. This overall metadata workshop is designed for individuals who are new to metadata. Developing metadata is a task that employers associated with entry level GIS technicians We’ll spend more time on Metadata next summer!

Workshop Topics Section 1: What is Metadata (this is what this presentation is about...) Section 2: The Value of Metadata and Tips for Institutionalizing Metadata Section 3: Metadata Standards Section 4: Metadata Clearinghouses Section 5: Writing Metadata

What is Metadata?

Metadata How many times have you received data from someone, and had questions about it? – Attribution – Projection / coordinate system – Scale – Accuracy – Completeness – Origin

Setting the Stage Geospatial Refers to any data set tied to a location on the Earth’s surface. The term “geospatial” refers to GIS, GPS, and remote sensing products and services. Metadata When referring to metadata, we assume the metadata is well-written and fully developed.

Simply put, metadata is information about your data. What is Metadata? Note: Metadata is not your actual spatial data…however, it serves as a reference for your spatial data

This is the metadata for this. What’s Missing? John Cole

This is the metadata for this. What’s missing?

This is the metadata for this. While the card-catalog entry is a form of metadata, it does not address topics such as quality, accuracy, or scale. Well-written geospatial metadata describes these and many more aspects of the data. Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of herbs ISBN: x (pbk.) : $17.95 ISBN: : $24.95 Title: Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of herbs / Claire Kowalchik & William H. Hylton, editors ; writers, Anna Carr... [et al.]. Publication info: Emmaus, Pa. : Rodale Press, c1987. Physical descrip: vi, 545 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. General Note: Includes index. Subject term: Herbs. Subject term: Herbs--Utilization. Subject term: Herb gardening. Subject term: Herbs--History. Subject term: Herbals. Added author: Kowalchik, Claire. Added author: Hylton, William H. Added author: Carr, Anna, Added author: Rodale Press. Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of herbs ISBN: x (pbk.) : $17.95 ISBN: : $24.95 Title: Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of herbs / Claire Kowalchik & William H. Hylton, editors ; writers, Anna Carr... [et al.]. Publication info: Emmaus, Pa. : Rodale Press, c1987. Physical descrip: vi, 545 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. General Note: Includes index. Subject term: Herbs. Subject term: Herbs--Utilization. Subject term: Herb gardening. Subject term: Herbs--History. Subject term: Herbals. Added author: Kowalchik, Claire. Added author: Hylton, William H. Added author: Carr, Anna, Added author: Rodale Press. What’s missing?

This is the metadata for this.

Metadata is not “the spatial data”, but it is a vital component of the spatial data… What is NOT metadata…

Metadata is not “sexy” But remember that there are many critical things in life that are not “sexy” (i.e. seat belts, life jackets, fire escapes, parachutes, archived data, etc.)

Metadata is not “ BIG data” (that would be megadata…!) What is NOT metadata…

Properly documented data provides vital information to interested parties. A Component of Data

Metadata is that component of data which describes it. Water line data base A Component of Data Metadata Wdth – diameter of pipe in inches Mat – material of pipe Method – Method of data capture Date1 – Installation date of conduit Date2 – Date that spatial data capture was made

Metadata describes… CONTENT CONDITION QUALITY Characteristics of the data Characteristics of the data A Component of Data

Metadata can describe a variety of data. Title Scale Source Content Location Publication Access Title Scale Source Content Location Publication Access MetadataMetadata A Component of Data GIS files Imagery Geospatial Databases GPS data Biological data In situ data GIS files Imagery Geospatial Databases GPS data Biological data In situ data Data set

A Component of Data Because metadata provides vital information about a dataset, it should never be viewed or treated as a separate entity. Metadata Non-spatial or attributes Spatial Take Home Message Metadata is a critical and integral component of any complete data set. Metadata is a critical and integral component of any complete data set.

Summary… You can share metadata with others, without sharing your spatial data assets… Metadata can save you time (whether you are on the “giving end” or the “receiving end”). Metadata has always been important, HOWEVER, metadata is increasingly vital as we share more data instantaneously (server-based solutions, etc.)

Exercise Getting to Know Metadata Check your notebook! Choose a metadata file... Review the file and answer some basic (but important) questions! Gain some initial familiarity with a real metadata file…