Metadata for Managers

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(No Transcript)
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Metadata for Managers Anne Ball NOAA Coastal S
ervices Center
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Outline

• What is metadata?
• Why do we need a metadata standard?
• The FGDC metadata standard
• How to get started
• Sharing metadata
• The FGDC Clearinghouse
• The future

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What is metadata?
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What is metadata?
Metadata is that component of data which
describes it
Chlor (chlorophyll a concentration)
measured in g/l Latitudes and longitudes were
measured using ...
Components of Data
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This is the metadata for this
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This is the metadata for this
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This is the metadata for this
Author(s) Boullosa, Carmen.
Title(s) They're cows, we're pigs
/ by Carmen Boullos
a Place New York Grove Pres
s, 1997. Physical Descr viii, 180 p 22 cm.
Subject(s) Pirates Caribbean Area Fic
tion. Format Fiction
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This is the metadata for this
Identification_Information Citation Citati
on_Information Originator NOAA Coastal Ser
vices Center Publication_Date 19971131
Title Hurricane Storm Surge
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form Map
Publication_Information Publication
_Place Charleston, SC Publisher NOAA Co
astal Services Center Larger_Work_Citation
Citation_Information
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Why do we need a metadata standard?
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Why do we need standards?

• Standards are created to
• Save time
• Save money
• Ensure quality
• Ensure completeness

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The importance of metadata
Poor documentation often leads to loss of
critical information
Whos mom? Where was this taken? How old is this
photo?
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The importance of metadata standards in libraries
Libraries have been using metadata for many years
to describe, manage, and help locate publications
and other items
Author(s) Boullosa, Carmen.
Title(s) They're cows, we're pigs
/ by Carmen Boullos
a Place New York Grove Pres
s, 1997. Physical Descr viii, 180 p 22 cm.
Subject(s) Pirates Caribbean Area Fic
tion. Format Fiction
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Why a metadata standard for geospatial data?

• To ensure all relevant information is documented

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Why should you (or your staff) write good
metadata?

• Your data is meaningless without it
• So you wont FORGET how you collected and
  processed YOUR OWN DATA
  
• So information wont be lost when an employee
  leaves
  
• So the data can be used again in the future

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The FGDC Metadata Standard
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FGDC Metadata
Federal Geographic Data Committee

• Federal agencies and organizations receiving
  federal funds must document all geospatial data
  using the FGDC metadata format
  
• Executive Order 12906, 1995

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What is geospatial data?
1990 Census Miami 19.0 27.5 10.5
New Orleans 16.3 21.3 11.4 Portland
7.4 10.0 5.8

• Any data with a spatial component including
• Maps
• Charts
• In situ data (data collected at a specific site
  or station)

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What goes into FGDC metadata?

• Who collected and who distributes the data?
• What is the subject, processing, projection of
  the data?
  
• When was the data collected?
• Where was the data was collected?
• Why was the data collected (what is the
  purpose)?
  
• How was the data collected? How should it be
  used?
  
• How much does it cost?

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FGDC Sections
Required sections
3 Supporting Sections Citation (reference) Time
Period
Contact
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Links to on-line data or system
Other_Citation_Details Online_Linkage http//ww
w.csc.noaa.gov/hurricane_tracks.gif
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How to get started writing FGDC compliant metadata
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Its not so bad!

• First records are the hardest
• Not all fields must be filled in
• Tools are available
• Training classes can be taken
• Can often be produced automatically
• Can (and should) be reviewed for updates

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Step 1 Gather supplies

• Items required
• FGDC Greenbook
• Pencil or pen
• Highlighter
• Flags or paperclips
• Chocolate
• Coffee

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Step 2 Use a tool

• For all kinds of data Word processing template
  from FGDC
  
• For biological data NBII MetaMaker
• For GIS (ArcView) data CSC Metadata Collector
• Many other tools are available through FGDC Web
  page

Identification_Information Citation Originator
Publication_Date Title Publication_Informat
ion Publication_Place Publisher Description
Abstract
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Step 3 Do it!

• Plan to spend a fair amount of time on your first
  record
  
• Drink lots of coffee, eat lots of chocolate
• Dont worry. After the first one, it goes much
  faster!

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Sharing metadata
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Why other people should share their metadata with
you

• So you can find their data
• So you dont 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

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Why you should share your data
(or at least your metadata)

• Its the right thing to do
• Its part of the scientific process
• It makes your data visible so others (your boss,
  your congressman) can see what youre doing
  
• It encourages others to share (so you can get
  their data, too!)

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What are the problems?
Data providers are often required to participate
in multiple data projects
Project X
Project Z
Project Y
Agency
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Standards for Information Systems

• Information retrieval standard
• Z39.50 protocol (American National Standard)
• Defines protocol for computer-to-computer
  information retrieval
  

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The FGDC Clearinghouse
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Why you should set up an FGDC
Clearinghouse node

• You have full control over your metadata
• Your metadata is visible to the world (that
  means, your boss, your congressman, your fellow
  geographers and scientists)
  
• Its easy to do
• Requirements
• UNIX or NT server on the Internet
• Free software

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Make your metadata available through the FGDC
Clearinghouse
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The Future Building Data Communities
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Possibilities for data communities

• Build data communities by
• grouping Clearinghouse nodes by common interests
• building custom interfaces

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Data Communities
Coastal Information Directory
So Florida Ecosystem Proj
Minnesota DNR
Coastal Services Center
Natl Climatic Data Center
ESRI ArcData Online Server
Montana State Library
FGDC Clearinghouse
Natl Snow and Ice
Hong Kong Geo.Data
NOAAServer
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Uses of metadata in information systems
As input to analysis tools
Map from USGS
SST data from NOAA
Buoy data from NBDC
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Examples

• Sample data location systems
• FGDC Clearinghouse www.fgdc.gov)
• NOAAServer www.esdim.noaa.gov/NOAAServer
• Coastal Information Directory www.csc.noaa.gov/C
  ID
  
• Navys Master Environmental Library www-mel.nrlmry
  .navy.mil
  
• National Environmental Data Index www.nedi.gov

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Examples

• Data analysis systems
• National Association of Marine Laboratories
  (NAML) LabNet
  
• (in development)

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Benefits

• User can select community
• User can select best interface for their needs
• Data provider can belong to many communities
• Data provider can provide best interface to their
  data

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www.fgdc.gov
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• Conclusion
• Check out the FGDC Web page
• Investigate opportunities to participate
• create and share FGDC compliant metadata
• help further standards development
• encouraging others to participate