1. 5th Session of the Task Team on WIGOS Metadata
Item
5th Session of the Task Team on WIGOS Metadata
(5-7 December 2016, Geneva, Switzerland)
WIGOS PO, 11 January 2017

2. Objectives of TT-WMD-5
i) Consider feedback from user communities, in particular the specific requirements for description of remote-sensing observations ii) Review the status of OSCAR/Surface, as well as the plans for delivering training to Members by WMO Regions and/or languages iii) Review and/or complete a number of code tables iv) Review the progress on guidance material for the application of the WMDS and for the use of OSCAR/Surface v) Consider the current version of the formal WMDS data exchange model, to facilitating machine-to-machine transfer of metadata vi) Consider the ToRs of the new established ICG-WIGOS task team on the development of the WMDS and OSCAR and develop a draft work plan to be submitted to ICG-WIGOS-6

3. Conclusions and actions/recommendations
1) On the WIGOS Metadata Standard 2) On the WMDS Code tables 3) On the further development of the Guide to WIGOS 4) On the further development of the WIGOS Metadata Representation 5) On the status and operation of OSCAR/Surface and further development 6) On the training on WMDS and OSCAR/Surface Annex) on the Benefits of WMDS and user cases of OSCAR/Surface

4. Conclusions and recommendations on WMDS
i) The WMDS is at a mature state, but needs further development:
- additional metadata elements, e.g. a grouping element for sets of stations;
ii) The implementation of WMDS is not complete: phases II ( ) and III ( ) are still to come (according to Manual on WIGOS, appendix 2.4 );
iii) The various Technical Commissions should be represented in the new TT;
iv) Both aspects, WMDS maintenance and implementation, should be captured in the ToR of the new Task Team;
v) Other conclusions:
- WIGOS MD is not primarily intended to describe single observations,
- Metadata elements related to data quality for space based observations will be reviewed by CGMS Task Force on Metadata Implementation (CGMS-TFMDI);
- The WMDS does not provide access points to observational data – this needs to be articulated with WIS using the WIGOS ID as the common element with WIS Metadata;
- in addition, OSCAR/Surface and the WMD schema used for encoding WIGOS metadata both maintain access points for observational data.
- recommends the Communications & Outreach Strategy to consider the need to avoid parallel efforts on MD standards, especially within the research community

5. Conclusions and actions on the Code tables
i) CBS-16 approved to move the WMDS code tables to Manual on Codes
ii) There is work in progress to be continued on the code tables:
- ex: review/complete definitions and codes in table “Variables” (>750 entries);
- updates to the code tables to be submitted using CBS Fast Track Procedure;
- need for clarification on governance of the WMDS Code tables (ICG-WIGOS);
- changes to the tables should be circulated for feedback/review by various communities before submission to CBS;
Actions proposed:
a) WMO Secretariat: to update the code tables with the changes proposed during TT-WMD-5, before the end of 2016 (DONE);
b) Current TT-WMD Members: to bring the updated code tables to their communities for feedback by the end of February 2017.

6. Conclusions and actions on the further development of the Guide to WIGOS
i) Further development is needed for the Guide to WIGOS, particularly on metadata for Cryospheric, Hydrological and Aircraft Observations;
ii) Guidance is needed for the implementation phases II and III
- There is a need for clarification on the further contribution to the Guide regarding the mandate of the WIGOS Editorial Board;
- It is proposed that the same sub-group of TT-WMD should discuss and work on this topic via WebEx in early February 2017;
iii) There is a need to identify individual experts to contribute to the guide, for example, for surface-based remote sensing observing systems

7. Conclusions and actions on the further development of WIGOS MD Representation
i) There is the need to update the WIGOS Metadata Representation (WMDR) with the outcomes of discussion at TT-WMD-5:
- Agreed changes to the data model/schema:
> dropped the concept of data segments, in favor of “deployment”, which is more closely related to the equipment used in observations
> "Reporting” feature class, to be hierarchically under “deployment",
ii) It is proposed that the same sub-group of TT-WMD should work on WMDR (D. Lowe, J. Klausen and T. Pröscholdt), to produce the next candidate release to be shared with interested parties before the end of 2016

8. Status and operation of OSCAR/Surface and further development
i) The catalogue of radiosondes is recommended to migrate into OSCAR
- There is a need to investigate how
ii) It was agreed that the M-2-M API should support the upload of MD records in full (all elements), as well as in part (user selected elements)
iii) ICG-WIGOS to be aware of the lack of nominations from more than 50% of Members for NFP for OSCAR/Surface
iv) Information on WMDS compliance by Members (“traffic lights” in OSCAR/Surface):
- TT-WMD noted the value of sharing compliance assessment, but,
- acknowledged that the computation and communication of the assessment results would need to be carefully handled;
- ICGE-WIGOS should make a decision on whether and how to share the results of compliance by Members openly

9. Further conclusions
TT-WMD-5 Supports the training plan for OSCAR/Surface for 2017 that was endorsed by CBS-16, and recognizes the need for proper resources, particularly to develop training material, especially for e-learning modules. The TT-WMD-5 had identified the benefits of WMDS and the user cases of OSCAR/Surface, described in Annex.

10. Thank you
Merci