PNAMP Metadata Workgroup Meeting

June 30, 2009

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: USGSOregonWaterScienceCenter, 2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR (map)

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Distribution: Cedric Cooney, David Tetta, Bruce Schmidt, Jen Carlino, Stan Frazier, Russell Scranton, Vivian Hutchison, Sean Quigley, Steve Rentmeester, PNAMP Data Management Leadership Team

Time / Agenda Topic / Outcome
1:00 p /
  1. Overview of metadata guidance task
/ Information
1:10 p /
  1. Process and timeline for task completion
/ Discussion
1:20 p /
  1. Identify target audienceof recommendation
/ Discussion
2:20 p / 4. Recommendation outline and message / Discussion, Complete Outline (see notes below)
2:30 p / 5. Guidance document next steps / Decision by group
2:40 p / 6. Other tasks the workgroup would like to follow up on / Decision by group
3:00 p / Adjourn

Preparatory Notes:

Executive Summary

Simply stated, metadata is “data about data”. Metadata describes the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data. Most commonly, it is used to enhance searching and discovery of data sets and to facilitate understanding about the meaning and proper use of data sets. Additionally, metadata can be used to automate workflows within organizations. Organizations are encouraged to create metadata for the purpose of protecting investments in data generation and to enhance to quality, usability, and value of data produced by the organization. Organizations are strongly encouraged to begin metadata documentation during the earliest stages of a workflow and to use and maintain metadata at every stage of the workflow. Metadata creation should be viewed as integral to an organizations workflow and metadata as integral to datasets. This guidance document describes what metadata is, how metadata is used, and the benefits of creating and maintaining metadata. We describe four distinct metadata standards (Dublin Core, FGDC, FGDC with Biologic Extension, and Ecological Metadata Language), the level of detail associated with each standard, and the benefits associated with increasingly detailed metadata. Finally, in recognition of limit resources available for metadata creation, we recommend varying levels of metadata detail for historic datasets, current and future datasets, datasets of limited significance to regional analysis, and datasets that inform regionally defined high-level indicators.

Matrix for Metadata Scale and Appropriateness

Region-wide / Pilot basins
Low Priority / High Priority / Low Priority / High Priority
Historic / Low Detail / Moderate Detail / Low Detail / Moderate Detail
Current and Future / Moderate Detail / Moderate/High Detail / Moderate Detail / High
Detail

Recommendation Outline and Message (agenda item #4)

I. What is metadata

a. Description

b. Types of metadata

i. identification

ii. data quality

iii. spatial data organization

iv. spatial reference

v. entity and attribute

vi. distribution

vii. metadata reference

II. Why use metadata?

a. Types of uses

i. search and discovery

ii. interpretation and use

iii. automation

b. Organizational benefit

i. protect investment

ii. improve workflow efficiency

iii. limits liability

iv. organizational stature

III. Standards

a. Dublin Core

b. FGDC / ISO Draft Standard

c. FGDC with Biologic Extension

d. Ecologic Metadata Language

VI. Allocation of limited resources for metadata creation

a. allocation criteria

b. recommendations

V. Tools

a. Metavist 2005

b. EPA Metadata Editor

c. MERMAid

d. ESRI’s ArcCatalog

e. Protocol Manager

f. Morpho

Information and Links to Metadata Standards

ISO draft standard

FGDC standard

User-friendly workbook

Biological Extension

Metadata Quick Guide

Interoperability Levels for Dublin Core

Dublin Core User Guide

Dublin Core Metadata Elements