Metadata Understanding the Value and Importance of Proper Data Documentation Based Heavily on the Virginia Metadata Workshop created by: John McGee The Virginia Geospatial Extension Program Virginia Tech Faculty Development Institute February 25, 2010

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

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

The Value of Metadata Primary internal value Critical data asset protection (Data insurance policy)‏ “Inheritance” Cataloging Sharing Limiting liability “Properly documenting a data set is the key to preserving its usefulness through time.” An aid to data management Discovery Assessment Access Use

The Value of Metadata Primary external value Discovery Assessment Access Use Using metadata within your organization adds value to your data to users outside of your organization…

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.

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, archived data, etc.)‏

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

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

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.)‏

Working with Metadata in ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog Metadata Tool ArcGIS has a metadata editor built into the ArcCatalog application This tool allow you to create metadata for various data files ArcCatalog will automatically generate a metadata file for you when you click on the metadata tab

ArcCatalog ArcCatalog will create metadata for you before you've ever entered a word into a metadata editor. Every time you view metadata, ArcCatalog will update these elements for you.

Editing Metadata in ArcCatalog ArcCatalog uses dialogue boxes. Some boxes are “flagged” to help you comply with the FGDC standard.

Editing Metadata in ArcCatalog Data Quality Information Data Quality Information Spatial Data Organization Information Spatial Data Organization Information Spatial Reference Information Spatial Reference Information Entity and Attribute Information Entity and Attribute Information Distribution Information Distribution Information Identification Information Identification Information Metadata Reference Information Metadata Reference Information 7

Tips and Vocabulary… Elements that ArcCatalog updates automatically do not display in the metadata editors. In ArcCatalog, elements that you can edit are called documentation, while elements that update automatically are called properties.

Examples of Documentation and Property Elements Documentation -Title -Abstract -Contact info. Properties -Bounding coords. -Projection -Name and type of attributes

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog When you click on the “metadata” tab, the metadata toolbar becomes active Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog Edit Metadata This button brings up the MD interface. If this is the first time that you opened the editor with the associated data file, then the properties of that dta file, such as bounding coordinates, projection, etc., will be populated. Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog Metadata Properties This button brings up the “Metadata Properties” dialog box which has two tabs: Enclosures and Options. The Enclosure tab gives you the option of attaching files (word docs., jpegs) within the MD file. The options tab allows you to turn off automatic updates of the MD. Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog Create/Update MD This button allows you to create new metadata for a data file, or to update the metadata for a data file that has not been changed. Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog Import Metadata You can import existing metadata into ArcCatalog. Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata Entry in ArcCatalog Export Metadata Once your record is complete you can export the metadata in various formats, including several varieties of the FGDC CSDGM as well as html and xml. These exported files can be uploaded to a metadata clearinghouse, or disseminated to other potential data users. Edit metadata Metadata Properties Create/Update Metadata Import Metadata Export Metadata

Metadata is stored as Xml. ArcCatalog provides various stylesheets for viewing and exporting in various formats

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