Curriculum Lesson:

Learning Objectives:

After completing the module the successful learner is able to:

What is Metadata?

• use analogies to explain the functions of metadata 
• list the most common metadata presentation formats
• describe how metadata gives context to geospatial data resources
• explain how metadata serves as a building block for spatial data infrastructures

Value of Metadata

• explain the geospatial data distribution value of metadata
• explain the geospatial data management value of metadata
• explain the geospatial project management value of metadata resources
• make a business case for metadata implementation

National Spatial Data Infrastructure

• list the key components of a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI)
• explain government’s role in infrastructure 
• development
• discuss key National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) 
• elements and the manner in which the elements 
• support development of the NSDI

Framework or National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) Data Themes and Standards

• explain the concept of Framework or NGDA 
• list the Framework or NGDA themes
• describe the value of implementing framework data content standards
• discuss the purpose of framework standards to facilitate data sharing not as full content implementation discuss how framework data information is documented in metadata

Quality Metadata

• differentiate between minimally compliant and operational metadata 
• outline the benefits of quality metadata to the data developer and data consumer

• Essential Metadata document review

• develop an organizational metadata profile based upon a boilerplate of essential metadata

• Metadata Quick Guide document review

• write a complete Title and Abstract
• identify one use for Supplemental_Information
• determine when to provide an Entity_&_Attribute Overview_Description vs. a Detailed_Description

Geospatial Metadata Standards

• discuss the benefits of implementing standards
• list three currently endorsed geospatial metadata standards
• access information about geospatial metadata standards

• NSDI Standards

• Identify key organizations that affect the development of NSDI standards
• explain functional relationships among standards organizations
• access federal policies that affect geospatial standards development
• identify the communities to which FGDC standards shall or may apply
• access standards and information about standards organizations 
• participate in voluntary consensus standards bodies

• Selecting a Standard

• identify the ISO metadata implementation ‘use case’ that best applies to their organization
• consider the key factors (data type, ISO capabilities, implementation resources) for their organization
• determine the geospatial metadata standard the best suits the organization

ISO Geospatial Metadata

• discuss efforts to transition from CSDGM to ISO metadata
• explain what is meant by the ISO ‘suite’ of geospatial metadata standards
• differentiate among ISO metadata standards

• What’s New with ISO Metadata?

• discuss the value of UML to illustrate the relationships among metadata classes and elements
• outline the benefits of role codes
• identify new sections, elements and domains
• explore the use of hierarchical metadata

• ISO Metadata Standard Overview

• identify and describe the content of the primary ISO metadata classes
• locate domains and best practices for specific elements using the ISO data dictionary
• determine when an element is mandatory, optional or conditional 
• identify the appropriate affiliate standard(s) to use to document specific data content

• ISO Metadata Organization, Structure and Presentation

• interpret ISO UML diagrams using a reference document
• locate specific metadata content within the XML metadata record
• apply a stylesheet (XSL) to an XML metadata record

• Transforming the CSDGM Metadata Record to ISO

• transform a CSDGM XML metadata record to ISO XML using an application or XSL transform
• review and edit the transformed record for compliance
• utilize XML attributes to make non-conformant content compliant in the ISO record

• ISO Metadata Transition: Strategies and Workflows

• select an ISO transition strategy appropriate for their organization
• outline key workflow steps to initiate and integrate the use of ISO metadata

CSDGM Standard

• describe the general content of the CSDGM 
• differentiate between a Section, Compound Element, and Data Element
• apply specific data type format requirements

• Graphic Representation

• determine the conditionality of any element
• determine the repeatability of an element

• Sections of the CSDGM

• describe the content of the primary sections of the CSDGM
• describe the content of three of the five supporting sections

• Using the Greenbook

• locate the definition of any element
• determine the format/domain requirements of any element
• utilize FAQs and example metadata

• Detailed Review

• locate the appropriate element to document specific information about a data resource
• write a compliant metadata record for a data resource
• apply the CSDGM to their own data management needs
• describe how using ‘template’ approach can simplify and expedite metadata creation

Metadata Tools

• list the types of functions that metadata tools support (creation, validation, transformation, presentation, publication, etc.)
• contrast the benefits of metadata tools that are internal to the data development and management software; stand-alone applications; and generic XML editors

• document metadata for a given data resource using a form or exercise

Hands-on Metadata Creation via software application

• locate the software for access or purchase
• explore and generally operate the software
• create a basic metadata record using the software

• Template or Select Sections

• complete the same template of subset of elements for their own data resources

• Full record

• complete a full metadata record for their own data resources

Metadata Validation

• process a metadata record within a metadata validation application
• interpret the error report
• review and correct errors in the metadata record

Metadata Publication

• access and explore existing metadata portals and clearinghouses including geo.data.gov

• geo.data.gov

• publish metadata via geo.data.gov
• participate in data communities and forums

• Other Metadata Portal / Clearinghouse

• publish metadata via an internal or external metadata portal, clearinghouse or other distribution site

Optional Modules

Making Metadata Part of the Process

• present the business case for metadata to their administration
• create an organizational metadata template (pertinent fields and some core content)
• implement at least two changes in their data development workflow that incorporates metadata creation
• draft a metadata creation and management guideline document

Feature-level Metadata

• extract features from an existing geospatial database and generate metadata for each

Creating Functional Templates

• create an organizational, theme, or project specific metadata template by extracting all pertinent metadata fields from the CSDGM and identifying those fields that will require standardized language

Metadata Quality Assessment and Metrics

• select and apply a method for quantifying and documenting the quality of a metadata record or collection