Oregon Spatial Data Library Partnership Metadata Training

1. Oregon Spatial Data Library Partnership Metadata Training OU Knight Library Eugene, Oregon December 3, 2009 Kuuipo Walsh Institute for Natural Resources http://inr.oregonstate.edu/

2. What are metadata? • “data about data” • “information about data” • The “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “how” • Information contained in the library card catalog system • Title, author, publication date, number of pages, keywords for a search system, etc. • Critical component of a complete data set • No data set should be considered complete without fully-developed, well-written metadata.

3. When should you create metadata? • When you want to share data sets with others • When you want to publicize data sets • When you want others to be able to decide whether or not they want to use the data set • When you want to preserve a data sets’ usefulness through time • For data sets that represent a large commitment in terms of effort and cost, this is particularly important • When you want to provide access to datasets through search engines or portals • “Data discovery, assessment, access, use, and management”

4. How do I create metadata? FGDC CSDGM Standard • Build a template • Adopt all mandatory fields from the standard you choose • Adopt all ‘mandatory if applicable fields’ that are pertinent • Identify ‘optional fields’ of interest • Create a pilot record from a draft template for review and revision • Don’t create you own version of a standard • Read the Introduction to Oregon Metadata Standard at http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/docs/Metadata_Opportunity.pdf • Check out the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Web site ISO 19115 Standard Dublin Core Standard www.fgdc.gov

5. FGDC metadata standard: overview Seven Major Metadata Sections: • Section 1 – Identification Information* • Section 2 – Data Quality Information • Section 3 – Spatial Data Organization Information • Section 4 – Spatial Reference Information • Section 5 – Entity and Attribute Information • Section 6 – Distribution Information • Section 7 – Metadata Reference Information* Three supporting Sections • Section 8 – Citation Information* • Section 9 – Time Period Information* • Section 10 – Contact Information* * Minimum required metadata

6. FGDC Graphic Representation • A tool to visually describe the structure of the metadata standard • Uses color and relationships to show information: http://www.fgdc.gov/csdgmgraphical/index.html

7. What is Mandatory? What is Not? Yellow Mandatory: must be provided Green Mandatory if applicable: must be provided if the data set exhibits the defined characteristics Blue Optional

8. Oregon Metadata Standard Identification Information Citation Citation Information Originator: Publication Date: Title: Description Abstract: Purpose: Time Period of Content Time Period Information Single Date/Time (or Multiple Dates or Range of Dates) Calendar Date: Currentness Reference: Status Progress: Maintenance and Update Frequency: Spatial Domain Bounding Coordinates West Bounding Coordinate: East Bounding Coordinate: North Bounding Coordinate: South Bounding Coordinate:

9. What is Mandatory? What is Not? Keywords Theme Theme Keyword: Access Constraints: Use Constraints: Metadata Reference Information Metadata Date: Metadata Contact Contact Information Contact Organization Primary (or Contact Organization Primary) Contact Organization: Contact Address Address Type: Address: City: State or Province: Postal Code: Contact Voice Telephone: Metadata Standard Name: Metadata Standard Version:

10. How do you write good metadata? • Document for a general audience • Be consistent in style and terminology • Write simply but completely • Have someone else review your file • Define technical terms and acronyms • Don’t use jargon

11. Good metadata: The Title • Critical in helping readers find your data • Includes: what, where, when, who • If data are officially published, in the title include: • Series name • Issue number • Name of publisher • Location of publisher • Examples: • Ace Basin, South Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve Digital Line Boundary • Greater Yellowstone Rivers from 1:128,700 Forest Visitor Maps (1961-1983)

12. Good metadata: Select keywords wisely • Use unambiguous words • Use descriptive words • Fully qualify geographic locations • Identify keyword thesaurus • The Oregon Metadata Keyword Thesaurus identifies keywords, some Oregon specific, that may be used and cited for metadata. • http://gis.oregon.gov/thesaurus

13. Good metadata: Review your final product • Have someone else read it • If you’re the only reviewer, put it away and read it again later • Check for clarity and omissions • Can a novice understand what you wrote? • Does the documentation present all the information needed to use or reuse the data • Are any of the pieces missing?

14. More Metadata Training & Info • FGDC metadata trainer directory • http://www.fgdc.gov/participation/individual/trainers/ • FGDC metadata training calendar • http://www.fgdc.gov/calendar/month • FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Workbook • http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/documents/workbook_0501_bmk.pdf • USGS Formal metadata: information and software tools • http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/

15. References: • Madden, M. 2009. Manual of Geographic Information Systems. Bethesda: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. • NatureServe. 2005. Metadata Workshop April 14, 2005. Blaine: National Biological Information Infrastructure. • Oregon Metadata Keyword Thesaurus at:http://gis.oregon.gov/thesaurus. Accessed December 2, 2009. • Introduction to Oregon Metadata Standard at: • http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/EISPD/GEO/standards/standards.shtml • Accessed December 2, 2009.

16. For more information, you can contact the Oregon Explorer project team • Marc Rempel, OSU Libraries marc.rempel@oregonstate.edu • Kuuipo Walsh, OSU Institute for Natural Resources kuuipo.walsh@oregonstate.edu