4.7 Metadata Guidelines
| The ANZLIC metadata guidelines are used to describe the groundwater data transaction |
Metadata provides a description of a dataset, is a key element of appropriate data management by the custodian, and also allows potential data users to assess the suitability of the dataset to their needs. The ANZLIC metadata guidelines (ANZLIC, 1996) are to be used to describe features of the groundwater data transaction such as the data custodian, how often the data is updated, its currency, available digital formats, conditions of use and contact details.
A working group of the Australian and New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) has published national guidelines for how characteristics of data are described, so that community access to information is maximised. A hierarchical ‘page’ concept is used where general information is recorded at the highest level (Page 0), with additional information recorded at lower levels (Page 1, Page 2). The Page 0 consists of core metadata elements summarised in Table 4.4. Many of these elements are based on pre-defined selection lists to ensure uniformity and to allow the capability to exchange metadata, as the Page 0 metadata should be freely available to all users. Lower level pages (Page 1, Page 2, etc) are used by data custodians to further describe specific aspects of the dataset.
A Microsoft Access® data entry tool has been developed by ANZLIC to support the collection of metadata, based on these guidelines. Each of the eight categories of core metadata elements (dataset, description, currency, status, access, contact information, metadata date and additional metadata) is stored in separate relational tables. The common public-domain database tool also facilitates the interchange of metadata, with ANZLIC recommending that ascii files generated from the tables be a transfer mechanism. The other mechanism is a report file using a standard template and the SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) convention.
Table 4.4 Core Elements of ANZLIC metadata
|
Category |
Element |
Comment |
|
Dataset |
Title |
The ordinary name of the dataset |
| Custodian | The organisation responsible for the dataset | |
| Jurisdiction | The state or country of the Custodian | |
|
Description |
Abstract |
A short description of the contents of the dataset |
|
Search Word(s) |
Words likely to be used by a non-expert to look for the dataset |
|
|
Geographic Extent Name(s) |
A picklist of pre-defined geographic extents such as map sheets, local government areas, catchments, that reasonably indicate the spatial coverage of the dataset |
|
|
OR Geographic Extent Polygon(s) |
An alternate way of describing geographic extent if no pre-defined area is satisfactory |
|
|
Data Currency |
Beginning date |
Earliest date of data in the dataset |
|
Ending date |
Last date of information in the dataset |
|
|
Dataset Status |
Progress |
The status of the process of creation of the dataset |
|
Maintenance and Update Frequency |
Frequency of changes or additions made to the dataset |
|
|
Access |
Stored Data Format |
The format or formats in which the dataset is stored by the custodian |
|
Available Format Type |
The formats in which the dataset is available, showing at least, whether the dataset is available in digital or nondigital form |
|
|
Access Constraint |
Any restrictions or legal prerequisites applying to the use of the dataset, eg. licence |
|
|
Data Quality |
Lineage |
A brief history of the source and processing steps used to produce the dataset |
|
Positional Accuracy |
A brief assessment of the closeness of the location of spatial objects in the dataset in relation to their true position on the Earth |
|
|
Attribute Accuracy |
A brief assessment of the reliability assigned to features in the dataset in relation to their real world values |
|
|
Logical Consistency |
A brief assessment of the logical relationships between items in the dataset |
|
|
Completeness |
A brief assessment of the completeness of coverage, classification and verification |
|
|
Contact Information |
Contact Organisation |
Ordinary name of the organisation from which the dataset may be obtained |
|
Contact Position |
The relevant position in the Contact Organisation |
|
|
Mail Address 1 |
Postal address of the Contact Position |
|
|
Mail Address 2 |
Aust and NZ: Optional extension of Mail Address 1 |
|
|
Suburb or Place or Locality |
Suburb of the Mail Address |
|
|
State or Locality 2 |
Aust: State of Mail Address NZ: Optional extension for Locality |
|
|
Country |
Country of the Mail Address |
|
|
Postcode |
Aust:Postcode of the Mail Address. NZ: Optional postcode for mail sorting |
|
|
Telephone |
Telephone of the Contact Position |
|
|
Facsimile |
Facsimile of the Contact Position |
|
|
Electronic Mail Address |
Electronic Mail Address of the Contact Position |
|
|
Metadata Date |
Metadata Date |
Date that the metadata record for the dataset was created |
|
Additional Metadata |
Additional Metadata |
Reference to other directories or systems containing further information about the dataset |
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