METIS: 20 Years of Progress

Daniel W. GillmanUS Bureau of Labor Statistics

The BLS Mission

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the public, Congress, Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor.

Outline Background History through themes

Meetings and participation Planning Technology Terminology Formalism Implementation

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Background 1983 - 1989

UN Development Program (UNDP) Regional Statistical Computing Project

(SCP) 4 joint groups identified

Originally Limited to NSOs in ECE

Changes over time Under direction of CES Include ISOs All UN countries

Meetings & Participation

Year Month City Type NSOs ISOs Obs 1991 Nov Geneva F - - - 1992 Sept Geneva F - - - 1993 Nov Geneva F 17 4 1 1994 Nov Geneva F 19 4 1 1996 Oct Berlin F 24 6 3 1998 Feb Geneva F 20 10 2 1999 Sept Geneva F 27 8 1 2000 Nov Was F 18 10 0 2002 Mar Lux F 28 6 2 2004 Feb Geneva F 28 11 1 2006 Apr Geneva F 38 12 2 2007 Jul Vienna I 23 5 1 2008 Apr Lux F 33 8 1 2009 Mar Lisbon I 31 4 0 2010 Mar Geneva F 39 13 3

Planning Future planning committee 1998 – Steering Group formed 2004 – Beginning of CMF CMF

Guide to future work Tightly focused Interim meetings

Technology Effects on METIS

Internet– Before 1996• Paper, FAX

– 1998• METIS web site

– Web 2.0• Wiki for CMF development

Technology Effects on Metadata Systems

Computing power– Dramatic increases

Data– 1990• Data on large tapes

– Advent of CD• Much easier dissemination

– Internet• FTP, HTTP• Other

Technology Effects on Metadata Systems

Metadata– For tapes and CDs• Focus on data sets, single survey

• But, theory – broad approach

– Internet• Connectivity

• Connection speeds increase

• Ability to download

Technology Effects on Metadata Systems

Metadata– « Active » metadata – Interoperability– Standards• SDMX, DDI, etc

– Semantic Web• Linked data

Terminology Focus throughout history of METIS

METIS Terminology Common Metadata Vocabulary (MCV)

– SDMX Multi-lingual metadata systems

– Thesauri– Taxonomies– Standards• ISO 704, ISO 2499, ISO 5788, ISO/IEC 13250• Increased formalism

Formalism Early years

Mathematical formalism Mid to late 1990s

Models– CLASET– CMR– Neuchâtel– Nordic Model

XML

Formalism Early 2000s

Standards and Models– MetaNet– Neuchâtel variables– ISO/IEC 11179– SDMX– DDI– Others

Formalism Late 2000s

CMF– All 4 parts

Concept management Semantic Web

Implementation Early focus

Data set Survey

Mid 90s to Mid 2000s Expansion to statistical office

Now Integrated offices US example

Conclusion

Bo Sundgren Retired – Sept 2009 Huge influence

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Contact Information

Daniel Gillmangillman.daniel@bls.gov