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Metadata

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of GIS

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Synonyms

Geospatial metadata; Geographic metadata

Definition

A metadata record is a file of information, which captures the basic characteristics of a data or information resource. It represents the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the resource. Metadata is known as “data about data” [1]. It describes the content, quality, conditions, location, author, and other characteristics of data. Geospatial metadata is metadata that describes data or objects with geographic attributes, such as a geographic extent or a fixed location on the Earth. This geographic attribute may be a location such as latitude and longitude, a street address, or a geographic position relative to other objects. Geospatial metadata are used to document geographic digital resources such as Geographic Information System (GIS) files, raster and vector alike, and other geospatial databases [2]. Metadata makes spatial information more useful to all types of users by making it easier to document and locate data...

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Recommended Reading

  1. Wilson, R.:What is metadata? TNGIC Metadata Outreach Trainers and Power Point Modules. http://www.tnmetadata.org/training.html (2004)

  2. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Geospatial Metadata. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata (2006)

  3. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Business Case for Metadata. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-business-case (2005)

  4. Metadata Education Project, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center. http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/metadata/education.html (2006)

  5. United States Geologic Survey, Content Metadata Standards for Marine Science: A Case Study, USGS Open-File Report 2004-1002. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1002/html/evol.html

  6. Danko, D.: Senior Consultant, GIS Standards, Environmental Systems Research Institute, ISO Metadata Workshop

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  7. Federal Geographic Data Committee: The Federal Geographic Data Committee. http://www.fgdc.gov (2006)

  8. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata. http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/metadata/base-metadata/index_html (2006)

  9. International Organization for Standardization. http://www.isotc211.org/ (2007)

  10. Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.: “About OGC”. http://www.opengeospatial.org/ogc (2007)

  11. Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standard (DIGEST), Version 1.2, https://www.dgiwg.org/digest, Digital Geographic Information Working Group, January (1994)

  12. Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, Interactive Numeric & Spatial Information Data Engine. http://inside.uidaho.edu/whatsnew/whatsnew.htm (2006)

  13. United States Geologic Survey, Formal metadata: information and software. http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/ (2006)

  14. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Workbook. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2000)

  15. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Geospatial Metadata Quick guide. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2005)

  16. Federal Geographic Data Committee: Geospatial Metadata Factsheet. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2005)

  17. Federal Geographic Data Committee and the National Metadata Cadre: Top Ten Metadata Errors. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2006)

  18. Wayne, L., Federal Geographic Data Committee: Institutionalize Metadata Before It Institutionalizes You. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2005)

  19. Wayne, L.: Metadata In Action: expanding the utility of geospatial metadata. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata- publications-list(2005)

  20. Geospatial One-Stop: Creating and Publishing in Support of Geospatial One-Stop and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/metadata-publications-list (2004)

  21. Kang-tsung Chang: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, 4th edn., 101 (2008)

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  22. Wilson, R.: Tennessee Geographic Information Council, Introduction to Metadata (2004)

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  23. Metadata Reference Guide for Federal Geographic Data Committee Metadata, Metadata Advisory Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries. http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/metadata/standards/fgdc.html (2004)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis, Gainesville State College, Gainesville, GA, USA

    Christopher J. Semerjian

Authors
  1. Christopher J. Semerjian
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Shashi Shekhar (McKnight Distinguished University Professor) (McKnight Distinguished University Professor)

  2. Management Science and Information Systems Department, Rutgers Business School Newark and New Brunswick Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA

    Hui Xiong (Assistant Professor) (Assistant Professor)

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag

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Semerjian, C. (2008). Metadata. In: Shekhar, S., Xiong, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of GIS. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35973-1_779

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