2008 EPA and Partners Metadata Training Program: 2008 CAP Project Geospatial Metadata: Introduction Module 2: FGDC CSDGM Metadata Compliancy

2008

EPA and Partners Metadata Training Program: 2008 CAP Project

Geospatial Metadata: IntroductionModule 2: FGDC CSDGM Metadata Compliancy

2


Training Structure

Agenda

What is metadata compliancy?

Why metadata compliancy?

Mandatory elements

Testing compliancy

Common errors and usual suspects

Ways to resolve and/or avoid errors

Materials

Sample records & data

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Learning Objectives

After completing this module the student can:

Describe what FGDC ‘compliancy’ is and what is required for ‘compliancy’

Identify which sections of the FGDC CSDGM are required for minimum compliancy and what constitutes ‘compliancy’

Describe why compliancy is important

Describe how to test if your metadata is compliant

List some commonly found compliancy errors

Describe some ways to troubleshoot and resolve compliancy errors

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FGDC Metadata Compliancy

What is Metadata Compliancy?

FGDC-established requirements for metadata

Sections and elements classified as mandatory, mandatory if applicable, and optional

To be considered FGDC-compliant a metadata record must:

• Include all mandatory sections - “Minimum compliancy” requires sections 1 and 7 (identification information &

metadata reference information)

• Include all mandatory elements within each section- Some compound elements have nested requirements.

• Use the correct format (e.g., dates [YYYYMMDD]) and information (e.g., update frequency) where applicable - Many elements are free text, but some have restricted domains (code lists of

acceptable values).- Some elements have suggested domains, but are free text

• Contain the correct number of elements- Some elements can repeat (e.g., attributes); some cannot (e.g., abstract)

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Why Metadata Compliancy?

Federal agencies are required to have FGDC-compliant records

Ensure that important information is present

Ensure compatibility• date/number formats • restricted domains

Improve consistency

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FGDC CSDGM Mandatory Elements (shown in red)

Section 1: Identification Information (8 mandatory elements)• citation, description, time period, status, spatial domain, keywords, access constraints,

use constraints

Section 2: Data Quality Information (3 mandatory elements*)• logical consistency report, completeness report, lineage

Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (technically 0 mandatory elements*)• Indirect or direct spatial reference

Section 4: Spatial Reference Information (technically 0 mandatory elements*)• Horizontal and/or vertical coordinate system definition

Section 5: Entity and Attribute Information (1 mandatory element*)• Detailed description or overview description, or both

Section 6: Distribution Information (2 mandatory elements*)• Distributor, Distribution Liability

Section 7: Metadata Reference Information (4 mandatory elements)• Metadata Date, Metadata Contact, Metadata Standard Version, Metadata Standard Name

* mandatory when section is used

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How can I tell if my metadata are compliant?Compliancy is usually tested using metaparser (mp):

http://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/validation/ - online version http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/ - additional information

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How can I tell if my metadata are compliant? (cont.) The graphical image map (http://www.fgdc.gov/csdgmgraphical/index.html)

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How can I tell if my metadata are compliant? (cont.)

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Metadata Compliancy & Validation Demonstration

basic_compliancy_test.xml


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Some common metadata errors and their potential culprits

Missing elements, especially with compound elements• Attributes Section: often the largest error section• ESRI’s FGDC Synchronizer may be the cause• Inserting new elements may have a ‘domino effect’

Misplaced elements• Lineage can be misplaced from editing in ArcToolbox

- E.g., adding a new field• Processing steps when importing in ArcCatalog

- Date and time errors

Unknown Extension Errors (“Warnings”)• ESRI metadata profile

Bad Values• Dates: YYYYMMDD• Numbers: Abcissa resolution default• Restricted Domains: progress element is a common error

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What are Synchronizers? Synchronization is the process by which properties of a

data set are read from the data set and written into its metadata.

• Bounding coordinates• Spatial Reference information• Attributes• Others…..

ESRI uses synchronizers to insert information into your metadata.

There are different types available using ESRI software:• FGDC Synchronizer • ISO Synchronizer• Geography Network

You can tell which elements are synchronized when you look at the XML for the record (e.g., <eastbc Sync="TRUE">)

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How can I fix/avoid these errors?Turn synchronizers off

Benefit: ensures that elements are not inserted in your record unknowingly

Drawback: some people want certain information to be inserted (e.g., bounding coordinates)

Set working synchronizers

Uncheck ‘enable automatic update of metadata’ when using a template

Use additional tools and templates discussed in upcoming sections

Use ESRI’s ‘Sample Metadata Toolbox’ Remove ESRI elements Remove empty elements Many others….

Use a good text or xml editor

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Metadata Compliancy & Validation Demonstration 2

synchronizer.shp


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Some additional notes for metadata sanityPrioritize your errors

Some errors may be more critical than others

Think beyond FGDC Compliancy (is there anything else?)

It is important but is not the only aspect of high-quality metadata

A perfectly compliant record may be useless if it suffers from

• Not enough content• Inaccurate content• Out of date content• Spelling errors• Incorrect online linkage

Check your record for these issues as well as compliancy!

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FGDC Metadata Compliancy Resources

Some Key Resources for Smooth Sailing through Metadata Compliancy

Metaparser http://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/validation/ http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/

FGDC CSDGM Graphical Image Map http://www.fgdc.gov/csdgmgraphical/index.html

Metadata Toolbox Help Information http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.geoprocessing.filteredGateway&G

PID=13

ESRI’s EDN site (for additional custom tools) http://edn.esri.com

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FGDC CSDGM Compliancy Quiz

What does it mean if your metadata is compliant?A. It contains all mandatory sections

B. It contains all mandatory elements within a section

C. It has the correct number of elements

D. All of the above

What are the 2 minimally required sections?A. Identification information and metadata reference information

B. Entities and Attributes

C. Identification Information and data quality information

D. Spatial reference information and distribution information

What is a reason for developing compliant metadata?A. Improve sharing

B. Improve consistency

C. Make sure that your metadata has all the information it needs

D. All of the above

Documents

2008 EPA and Partners Metadata Training Program: 2008 CAP Project Geospatial Metadata: Introduction Module 2: FGDC CSDGM Metadata Compliancy