WHAT IS METADATA? Modified from a presentation prepared by:

What is metadata? Metadata is that component of data which describes it Components of Data Chlor (chlorophyll a concentration) measured in : g/l Latitudes and longitudes were measured using...

This is the metadata for this

Author(s) Boullosa, Carmen. Title(s) They're cows, we're pigs / by Carmen Boullosa Place New York : Grove Press, Physical Descr viii, 180 p ; 22 cm. Subject(s) Pirates Caribbean Area Fiction. Format Fiction

This is the metadata for this Identification_Information Citation Citation_Information Originator: NOAA Coastal Services Center Publication_Date: Title: Hurricane Storm Surge Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map Publication_Information Publication_Place: Charleston, SC Publisher: NOAA Coastal Services Center Larger_Work_Citation Citation_Information

Why do we need standards? Standards are created to Save time Save money Ensure quality Ensure completeness

The importance of metadata Poor documentation often leads to loss of critical information Who’s mom? Where was this taken? How old is this photo?

The importance of metadata standards in libraries Author(s) Boullosa, Carmen. Title(s) They're cows, we're pigs / by Carmen Boullosa Place New York : Grove Press, Physical Descr viii, 180 p ; 22 cm. Subject(s) Pirates Caribbean Area Fiction. Format Fiction Libraries have been using metadata for many years to describe, manage, and help locate publications and other items

To ensure all relevant information is documented Why a metadata standard for geospatial data?

Why should you (or your staff) write good metadata? Your data is meaningless without it So you won’t FORGET how you collected and processed YOUR OWN DATA So information won’t be lost when an employee leaves So the data can be used again in the future

Any data with a spatial component including: Maps Charts In situ data (data collected at a specific site or station) What is geospatial data? 1990 Census Miami New Orleans Portland

Why other people should share their metadata with you So you can find their data So you don’t have to go out and collect it yourself So you can tell if you want their data So you can tell how to use their data

It enables individuals using data produced by anybody else (is that population data set related to 1960 or 2000?) It prevents individuals from stealing your data (all sources are acknowledged) It makes your data visible so others can see what you’re doing It encourages others to share their data Benefits of sharing metadata

Uses of metadata in information systems As input to analysis tools SST data from NOAA Buoy data from NBDC Map from USGS