Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange SDMX Metadata Common Vocabulary Status of project and issues ( ) Marco Pellegrino Eurostat Denis Ward OECD

1 Overview SDMX Metadata Common Vocabulary  Background  Objectives and benefits of MCV  Status of the project  Expected benefits and use

2 Terminology problems...

3  No universally accepted metadata framework  Semantics is important to interoperation - registries contain related and sometimes overlapping information - data must be kept updated and synchronized with a minimum effort  Common understanding on meaning of: - general concepts (metadata, quality,…) - basic “atomic” metadata components Starting point

4 Components of International Standards BUSINESS MODELS SEMANTICS (content) SYNTAX (e.g. XML)

5 Metadata Common Vocabulary  Ultimate goal of project: to develop a common understanding of standard metadata items focusing on descriptions of statistical concepts and methodologies used by statisticians in the collection, processing and dissemination of statistical data.  Immediate objective: to develop a Metadata glossary of those standard components, consistent with existing international standards and with terminology being used within SDMX organizations, other international / national agencies and related projects.

6 Main references for standardisation ISO/IEC 11179, part 4 (Formulation of data definitions) Recommendations for constructing definitions for data and metadata ISO/IEC 11179, parts 1 and 3 (Metadata registry) Definition of main metadata items Quality glossaries UN and UN/ECE-CES methodological documents and glossaries (on metadata modelling, classifications, data editing,…) SDMX documents (Gesmes/TS users guide, ISO framework) Definitions of main items for data-metadata exchange

7 Tentative classification of MCV terms (draft 3rd public release, April 2005)

8 Metadata Standard Components Metadata elements describing different elements of statistical production cycle Administrative, Sources Concepts, coverage, definitions StandardsMethodology (collection, compilation,...) Quality assessment Unambiguous accepted definition of metadata elements located in a glossary comprising the Metadata Common Vocabulary

9 Fields of MCV glossary Title (mandatory) Definition (mandatory) Context for the definition (optional, but widely used) Definition source (mandatory) Links to related terms within the glossary (optional) URL to more detailed information (optional)

10 Reference Metadata

11 Accuracy

12 Expected benefits and use The use of MCV terminology would: support standardisation and consistency of metadata compiled within each institute, when associated to SDMX standards and “key family” descriptions Facilitate comparisons across geographical entities Facilitate mapping of different metadata systems, as it can be used independently from any specific metadata model

13 For more info: SDMX: OECD: CODED: CIRCA: Metadata Common Vocabulary

14 Thanks for your attention Marco Pellegrino Eurostat Denis Ward OECD