Metadata Understanding the Value and Importance of Proper Data Documentation Michael Moeller Metadata Specialist NOAA Coastal Services Center

What is Metadata?

Simply put, metadata is information about your data. What is Metadata?

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 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. 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.

This is the metadata for this. What’s Missing? Emily and Madison

Entity Attributes A Common, Everyday Example

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 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 This is the metadata for this.

Metadata as a Component of Data

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

Metadata is that component of data which describes it. Environmental Sensitivity Index Data Metadata RARNUM - unique combination of species, concentration, and seasonality CONC (concentration) = Density species is found at location Season_ID = seasonality code linked to the seasonal table Element - Biology group A Component of Data

It’s data about a data set. Title Scale Source Content Location Publication Access Title Scale Source Content Location Publication Access MetadataMetadata GIS files Imagery Geospatial databases GPS data GIS files Imagery Geospatial databases GPS data Data set A Component of Data

Metadata describes… CONTENT CONDITION QUALITY Characteristics of the data Characteristics of the data 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 A Component of Data Metadata is a critical and integral component of any complete data set. Metadata is a critical and integral component of any complete data set.

The FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM)

Establishing a Standard The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) was organized in 1990 under the Office of Management and Budget to promote the coordinated use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data on a national basis. The FGDC was tasked with creating a metadata standard to meet these objectives. The FGDC

"... each agency shall document all new geospatial data it collects or produces, either directly or indirectly, using the standard under development by the FGDC, and make that standardized documentation electronically accessible to the Clearinghouse network." The Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) Executive Order 12906, 1994 Establishing a Standard

This “Content Standard” serves as a uniform summary description of the data set. Establishing a Standard

Who Who collected the data? Who processed the data? Who wrote the metadata? Who to contact for questions? Who to contact to order? Who owns the data? Where Where were the data collected? Where were the data processed? Where are the data located? What What are the data about? What project were they collected under? What are the constraints on their use? What is the quality? What are appropriate uses? What parameters were measured? What format are the data in? When When were the data collected? When were the data processed? How How were the data collected? How were the data processed? How do I access the data? How do I order the data? How much do the data cost? How was the quality assessed? Why Why were the data collected? Metadata written using the Content Standard answers these important questions: Establishing a Standard

Metadata as a Data Discovery Tool

The FGDC metadata clearinghouse is a decentralized system of Internet servers you can use to search for available geospatial data. Discovering Data Through Metadata Client FGDC Gateway Servers housing metadata

The descriptive information that fuels the FGDC clearinghouse is metadata, which is collected in a standard format to facilitate query and consistent presentation across the multiple participating sites. Discovering Data Through Metadata

A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse The FGDC has six gateways to its clearinghouse system, with access to over 250 spatial data servers. Go to Click on “Clearinghouse” Then on “Search for Geospatial Data”

Searches can be performed by using the NSDI Search Wizard, or by using a map interface with place names, or by place names alone. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

The new NSDI “Smart Select” Search Wizard bins servers by the types of metadata they house. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Searches can be performed using a map interface that allows the user to define an area of interest. An area of interest can be defined by dragging an area of interest box on the map interface. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

The selected area defines the bounding coordinates that will be used in the search. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

You can search all the servers listed, or you can select only those that interest you. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Select individual servers of interest to your search. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Search criteria can be further refined by time period of content and keywords. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

The status of each selected node is displayed as the search is conducted. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

When the search is complete, the status window lets you know if you were successful in discovering metadata that matched your search criteria. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Select a server to see what metadata is available. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Metadata discovered by the search is shown by title. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Metadata record returned in HTML format. Links take you to each of the seven main sections of the record. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

The Coastal Information Directory (CID) at the NOAA Coastal Services Center is similar to the FGDC gateway interface, but the CID searches only those spatial data servers that house metadata of a coastal nature. A Brief Look at the FGDC Clearinghouse

Writing Metadata

It’s not THAT bad! First records are the hardest. Not all fields may need to be filled in. Tools are available. Training classes can be taken. Can often be produced automatically. Can (and should) be reviewed for updates.

Before you begin writing, get organized. Writing Metadata

Document your data as you go. Writing Metadata

Write so others can understand. Writing Metadata

Always review your document. Writing Metadata

Items required Sense of Humor! Chocolate FGDC Workbook Metadata entry tool Coffee

Write simply but completely. Document for a general audience. Be consistent in style and terminology. Keep your readers in mind. Writing Metadata

Define all acronyms. Avoid using jargon. Clearly state data limitations. Writing Metadata Keep your readers in mind.

Write a complete title that includes: What Where When Scale Who Writing Metadata

The title is critical in helping others find your data. Which is better? Greater Yellowstone Rivers from 1:126,700 Forest Visitor Maps ( ) Writing Metadata

Be specific. Quantify when you can. Vague: We checked our work and it looks complete. Specific: We checked our work using 3 separate sets of check plots reviewed by 2 different people. We determined our work to be 95% complete based on these visual inspections. Writing Metadata

Select your key words wisely. Use unambiguous words. Use descriptive words. Fully qualify geographic locations. Writing Metadata

Have someone else read it. If you’re the only reviewer, put it away and read it again later. Check for clarity and omissions. Review your final product. Writing Metadata

Can a novice understand what you wrote? Are your data properly documented for posterity? When you review your work, ask: Writing Metadata

Does the documentation present all the information needed to use or reuse the data? Are any pieces missing? When you review your work, ask: Writing Metadata

Write so that others will understand. Writing Metadata

Finally... Remember, metadata is an integral component of your data, and can provide many benefits at various levels within an organization by making the metadata process more streamlined and efficient.

Michael Moeller

Writing metadata