5. Metadata

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Lecture 16 GIS Database Creation and
Maintenance (IV)
Topics
5. Metadata 6. Summary of Database Creation 7.
Data Standards 8. NSDI
Readings on the topics
Chapter 11 in the text, pp.245-250 http//www.fgdc
.gov/metadata/metadata.html (Metadata)
Other readings
http//mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/sdts/
(SDTS) http//www.fgdc.gov/ (FGDC and
NSDI) http//water.usgs.gov/nsdi (Example of
clearing house)
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Outlines

• 5. Metadata (Guest Lecture)
• What ??? (conceptual)
• the label on your Spam.
• the scrawls on your cubicle walls
• your little black book.
• data about data , the map legend collar
• qualifying information giving the content,
  condition, usefulness, accessibility and other
  characteristics of a discrete grouping of
  features with associated attributes.
• Context information without which something is
  less discernible and less usable / useful

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Metadata What (in GIS context)

• What ??? (institutional)
• contract spec.s
• in-house methods, data dictionary
• source data (with its metadata)
• data context project/application spec.s
• standards standard procedures
• agency policies and contact information

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Traditional Metadata
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The Content Standard for Digital (CSDGM)
Geospatial Metadata

• What ??? (practical)
• standard-compliant formatted metadata
• developed/improved/updated over time
• applicable to all spatial data collections
• extensible through profiles and standards
  evolution
• mandatory at some levels of government
• Go see some http//sco.wisc.edu/wisclinc/

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FGDC Standard 7 Main Sections 3 Minor Sections
1 Identification Information 2 Data Quality
Information 3 Spatial Data Information 4
Spatial Reference Information 5 Entity
Attribute Information 6 Data Distribution
Information 7 Metadata Reference Info. 8
Citation Information 9 Time period Information 10
Contact Information
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Mandatory Elements
(The Major Sections Figure)

• Citation
• Description (Abstract and Purpose)
• Time Period of Content (Time Period and
  Currentness Reference)
• Status (Progress and Maintenance)
• Spatial Domain
• Keywords

• Access Constraints
• Use Constraints
• Metadata Date
• Metadata Contact
• Metadata Standard Name
• Metadata Standard Version

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6. Summary of Database Creation
6.1 Database Creation Guidelines 1)
Define the scope of the database 2)
Determine data model (spatial and aspatial) to
use 3) Identify data sources and collect
source data 4) Perform data conversion
(digitise or import) 5) Perform coordinate
transformation 6) Edit data 7)
Verify data (a) If spatial data are
complete (b) If spatial data are in
the right location (c) If spatial
data are linked to the proper attribute data
(d) If attribute data are complete and
update 8) Create metadata
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6.2 Building a raster database (The Raster
Database Building Diagram) 6.3 Building a vector
database (The Vector Database Building
Diagram)
7. Data Exchange and Data Standards
7.1 Forms of data exchanges 7.1.1 Direct
translation (Direct Translation
Diagram) Factorial increase of
programs with a linear increase of
systems 7.1.2 Neutral exchange format
(Neutral Format Diagram)
Agreement on a common format (data standard)
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7.2 Transfer Standards (Data Standards)
7.2.1 Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS)
(a subcommittee of ANSI,
American National Standard Institute)
(http//memeweb.er.usgs.gov/sdts) 7.2.2
Neutral Transfer Format (U,K,)
8. National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)
8.1 NSDI Consists of policies, standards,
procedures for organizations to
cooperatively produce and share geographic data
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
(http//www.fgdc.org) 8.2 Geospatial Data
Clearing Houses Pathways developed by
individual organizations to facilitate
the search for geographic data USGS
clearing house (http//water.usgs.gov/nsdi)
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Questions
1. Why do we need metadata? What are the basic
aspects that metadata must cover? Who should
create and maintain metadata? 2. Describe the
procedures involved in creating a raster database
from various sources? How is that different from
the construction of a vector database? 3. Who is
FGDC? What is its main task? 4. Why do we need
data standards?