Metadata for the Archives

at BESSIG Blast

Sept 19, 2012

What is Metadata?

Provides a common set of terminology and definitions

A framework for describing resources and processes

Enables computer based interoperability

ISO standards (19115, 19115-2) toto

What is Metadata?

Metadata at the Archives

Not just for discovery

Supports long term understanding

Living documents that need care and feeding

Data experts provide standard metadata as early as possible in the data life cycle

Data stewards maintain records and update annually

Transition to ISO

Metadata standards evolve -> metadata records should evolve and take advantage of new capabilities

Each data manager/steward is responsible for transitioning their metadata records to ISO

Programmatic transform takes care of ~90% encourage stewards to use this as an

opportunity to also improve content

Why ISO?

• Aggregation - identify related projects and programs

• Identifiers - lotso' ways to provide ids• Repeatable responsible parties• Descriptive online resources• Services• Integrates GML• Scope of content is flexible• Strong technical support via XML• Duh – it’s international

Tools: Enterprise Metadata System

Tools

Docucomp Supports reusable components for editing and

managing metadata Web Accessible Folders (WAFs)

Reports on metadata quality Views Publication mechanism

Geoportal Supports discovery of NGDC geophysical resources Federated search with other data centers

Wiki Resources/Guidance NGDC Metadata Wiki

Go-to-guide for NGDC metadata management

NOAA Environmental Data Management Wiki Go-to-guide for ISO metadata Examples Recommended practices

More Metadata Resources Metadata Templates

ISO templates for ECS data types

Training NCDDC’s online webinar Upon request

Metadata Experts

XML Editor

XML Editor with CSS

Rubrics Evaluation Tool

WAF Tools

Metadata Views

WAF Tools

Metadata Completeness

Reports: URL Checker, Validation, Consistency Checker

WAF Tools

Consistency Checker

Metadata Shared with Discovery Portals

Opportunities

Meta”date” once – document many times

Standard metadata supports interoperability and sharing

ISO provides new capabilities for documenting our datasets (see upcoming slide)

Challenges

Robust content versus expertise time

Integrated metadata portals seem to not work as metadata providers hope

“I don’t have the tools I need” to create metadata

Training new tools, standards and best practices

“standards don’t help me or my users”

OpportuniChallenges

Integrate/re-use metadata with Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)

Integrate/re-use metadata with Ontologies

Hierarchical relationships across disparate yet related or similar metadata

Metadata for Services

Ontologies and ISO Metadata

<gmd:keyword> <gmx:Anchor

xlink:href="http://vocab.ndg.nerc.ac.uk/term/C161/0/55" xlink:actuate="onRequest"> Bering Sea </gmx:Anchor> </gmd:keyword>

Service Metadata

Data Stewardship