Metadata Understanding the Value and Importance of Proper Data Documentation Exercise 2 Reading a Metadata File Exercise 3 Using the Workbook Exercise 1 The Hunt for Good Metadata Exercise 4 Time to Write! Exercises

Metadata Exercises Exercise 1 – The Hunt for Good Metadata For this exercise, we will be using the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Geospatial Data Clearinghouse to search for data of interest. The Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is a collection of over 275 metadata servers (called nodes) that house metadata describing data, primarily for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), image processing systems, and other modeling software. These data collections can be searched through a single interface based on their metadata. To access the clearinghouse, go to This is the main page for the FGDC. On the left side of the page, click on the clearinghouse link. This takes you to the clearinghouse web page. Clicking on the top link in the center of the page, "Search for Geospatial Data", will allow access to the search system. You should see a picture of the globe showing six gateways. Choose one of these gateways (they all lead to the same collections of metadata). On the next page, you will be presented with four options: Use the NSDI Search Wizard to "smart select" servers and data Search Clearinghouse sites using map interface with place names Search Clearinghouse sites using place names Check status of participating Clearinghouse collection servers The top 3 are search options. The first option allows you to search for metadata by topic area. The NSDI Search Wizard bins the metadata nodes into 21 topic areas based on the 'flavor' of metadata each node houses. The next two search interfaces are fairly similar; the main difference is that the second option allows the user to define a geographic bounding box of the area of interest on a map. The last option allows the user to check on the operational status of the individual clearinghouse nodes. Take a few minutes to examine each of these 4 options. As you are experimenting with the search interfaces, observe how well each different interface works. Test each for speed in returning results, and think about how intuitive each option is for constructing a search query. When you have finished exploring these different search interfaces, choose one and begin a search for data that you are interested in. You may have a particular need related to a current project you are involved with. If you are not currently working on a project that requires you to find data, then search for data that is of interest to you.

Metadata Exercises Exercise 2 – Reading a Metadata File In this exercise, we will use a metadata file that you found from the clearinghouse search system exercise. Your record may or may not provide all the information asked for here. What you should focus on while working through this exercise is whether or not the record you have chosen provides an adequate level of information to be of use to a user. What's the title of the data set? What are the bounding coordinates? What is the presentation form of the geospatial data? Why was this data set created? Find and list three place keywords. Who created the data set? How complete is the data? How reliable are the data? What problems remain in the data set? What spatial reference method is used to represent the data? List three data set attributes and the definition of each. How can someone get a copy of the data? Who distributes it? What sources were used to develop this data set?

Metadata Exercises Exercise 3 – Using the Graphical Production Rules with the Workbook In this exercise, we will interpret a metadata file that you've found using the clearinghouse search system in exercise 1. Use the graphical representation of the production rules to locate the answers to the following questions. Write down the section name and number, and element name and number where the answers to these questions are found in the metadata. Where is the definition for the data element West Bounding Coordinate? Where is the definition for the compound element Description ? What data elements make up the compound element Description? What is the domain for the data element Process Date? What is the domain for the data element Address Type? Name one compound element from Section 2 that can be repeated. Name one data element from Section 8 that can be repeated. Is the data element Abstract mandatory? Is the data element Ellipsoid Name mandatory? What is the short name for the compound element Direct Spatial Reference Method? What is the data type for the data element Abscissa Resolution? Section Element NameNumberNameNumber