CIESIN LOGO

Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network




6. Distribution



Distribution provides information about the availability of a data set or information resource. Along with describing options for obtaining the resource, it includes contact details for the distributor and ordering instructions. This section contains definitions and examples for the following metadata elements.

Distributor
Resource Description
Distribution Liability
Standard Order Process
Custom Order Process
Technical Prerequisites
Available Time Period


Distributor *


Definition
: The organization(s) or individual(s) from whom the data set or information resource may be obtained.

Distributor requires contact information. Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Distributor are contained in
Section 10 (Contact Information). Multiples are allowed; each Distributor listed requires a separate contact record.


Resource Description


Definition
: The internal identifier by which a data set or information resource is known by the distributor.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Resource Description
: NODS8831 > 24000 high resolution images
Resource Description
: Ground Water Pilot Project
Resource Description
: USGS Open-File Report 91-346


Distribution Liability *


Definition
: A statement of the liability assumed by the distributor of a data set or information resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Distribution Liability
: CIESIN provides these data without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. CIESIN shall not be liable for incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of the use of any data provided by CIESIN.

Distribution Liability
: Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the USGS regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The Geological Survey will warrant the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. Requests for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 days from the date of this shipment from the ordering site.


Standard Order Process *


Standard Order Process contains descriptive information on the general ways in which a data set or information resource may be obtained or received, and related instructions and fee information. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Ordering Instructions
*

Definition
: General instructions and advice about obtaining the data resource from the distributor. Include details about any special terms and services provided. If the data resource is available in both digital and non-digital form, specify instructions for each.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Ordering Instructions
: For digital data orders on 3.5" floppy disk, a maximum order of ten quads is allowed. Data may be ordered in latitude/longitude or State Plane Coordinate System coordinates (Universal Traverse Mercator coordinates are standard). Latitude/longitude coordinates are not available with GRASS format. For this service, the user must order data through USGS-ESIC for delivery on magnetic media. Please specify the desired coordinate system when ordering. Non-digital form: please specify wetlands overlay or wetlands overlay composited with USGS base map.

Fees and Terms
*

Definition
: Specific details regarding any fees or terms under which the data resource may be obtained.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Fees and Terms
: This data resource is available at no charge via FTP delivery. For delivery on 3.5" floppy disk, a base cost recovery charge and shipping and handling will apply. Contact Customer Services for specific details.

Fees and Terms
: The online copy of the data set may be accessed without charge. For delivery on magnetic tape, the charge for one data set is $40; for 2 data sets is $60, for 3 data sets is $80, for 4 data sets is $100, for 5 data sets is $120. When ordered in groups of 6 or more data sets, the charge is $7 per data set plus a $90 base fee.

Turnaround Time
*

Definition
: An estimate of the time needed for filling an order.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Turnaround Time
: Orders placed Monday through Thursday, 8:00a.m.
to 5:00p.m. will be shipped the following day. Orders placed on Friday through Sunday, and holidays, will be shipped on the next business day.

Non-digital Form
*

Definition
: A description of options for obtaining the data resource on non-computer-compatible media.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Non-digital Form
: A Print edition of "Global Environmental Projections for the 21st Century" is available upon request.

Non-digital Form
: Hardcopy NWI wetlands maps at various scales, on diazo paper or mylar, composited with or without the USGS base map.

Digital Form
*
Details providing options for obtaining the data resource on computer-compatible media.

Digital Transfer Information
*
A description of the form of the data to be distributed.

Format Name
*

Definition
: The name of the data transfer format.

Format
: Select from the following list; or free text.

Format Name list:
ARCE ARC/INFO Export format
ARCG ARC/INFO Generate format
ASCII ASCII file, formatted for text attributes, declared format
BIL Imagery, band interleaved by line
BIP Imagery, band interleaved by pixel
BSQ Imagery, band interleaved sequential
CDF Common Data Format
CFF Cartographic Feature File (U.S. Forest Service)
COORD User-created coordinate file, declared format
DEM Digital Elevation Model format (U.S. Geological Survey)
DFAD Digital Feature Analysis Data (Defence Mapping Agency)
DGN Microstation format (Intergraph Corporation)
DIGEST Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standard
DLG Digital Line Graph (U.S. Geological Survey)
DTED Digital Terrain Elevation Data (MIL-D-89020)
DWG AutoCAD Drawing Format
DX90 Data Exchange '90
DXF AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format
ERDAS ERDAS image files (ERDAS Corporation)
GRASS Geographic Resources Analysis Support System
HDF Hierarchical Data Format
IGDS Interactive Graphic Design System Format
IGES Initial Graphics Exchange Standard
MOSS Multiple Overlay Statistical System export file
netCDF network Common Data Format
NITF National Imagery Transfer Format
RPF Raster Product Format (Defense Mapping Agency)
RVC Raster Vector Converted format (MicroImages)
RVF Raster Vector Format (MicroImages)
SDTS Spatial Data Transfer Standard (Federal Information Processing Standard 173)
SIF Standard Interchange Format (DOD Project 2851)
SLF Standard Linear Format (Defense Mapping Agency)
TIFF Tagged Image File Format
TGRLN Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) Line format (Bureau of the Census)
VPF Vector Product Format (Defense Mapping Agency)


Format Version Number
*

Definition
: The version number of the format.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Format Version Number
: 4.0

Format Version Date
*

Definition
: The date of the version of the format.

Format
: Free date.

Format Specification
*

Definition
: The name of a subset, profile, or product specification of the format.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Format Specification
: Atlas Graphics Format for DOS or Windows.

Format Information Content
*

Definition
: a description of the content of the data encoded in a format.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Format Information Content
: Spatial data, attribute information, and unique identifiers.

File Decompression Technique
*

Definition
: Recommedations of algorithms or processes (including means of obtaining these algorithms or processes) that can be applied to read or expand data sets to which data compression techniques have been applied.

Format
: Free text.

File Decompression Technique: pkzip (DOS)
no compression applied
unzip (UNIX)
compress (UNIX)
tar (UNIX)
gzip (UNIX)
.sit (MAC - Stuffit)
.sea (MAC - Self-Extracting Archive)
.hqx (MAC - BinHex)


Transfer Size
*

Definition
: The size, or estimated size, of the transferred data set in megabytes.

Format
: Transfer Size > 0.0

Digital Transfer: Online Option
*
The means and media by which a data resource is obtained from the distributor. Information should specifically address the details on how to directly obtain the data resource electronically, and provide instructions for establishing communications with the distribution computer. The electronic address from which the data resource can be obtained from the distribution computer should also be included.

Network Resource Name


Definition
: The name of the file or service from which the data resource can be obtained. Where appropriate, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) should be provided.

Format
: Free text.

Dialup Instructions

Information required to access the disribution computer remotely through telephone lines.

Lowest BPS


Definition
: The lowest or only speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second.

Format
: Lowest BPS >=110

Highest BPS


Definition
: The highest speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second. Used in cases when a range of rates are provided.

Format
: Highest BPS > Lowest BPS

Number DataBits


Definition
: The number of data bits in each character exchanged in the communication.

Format
: 7<= Number DataBits <=8

Number StopBits


Definition
: The number of stop bits in each character exchanged in the communication.

Format
: 1<= Number StopBits <=2

Parity


Definition
: Parity error checking used in each character exchanged in the communication.

Format
: Select from list: None, Odd, Even, Mark, Space

Compression Support


Definition
: The data compression available through the modem service to speed data transfer.

Format
: Select from list: V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42bis; or free text.

Dialup Telephone


Definition
: The telephone number of the distribution computer.

Format
: Free text.

Dialup Filename


Definition
: The name of a file containing the data resource on the distribution computer.

Format
: Free text.

Access Instructions


Definition
: Specific instructions on how to access the data resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Access Instructions
: Contact CIESIN User Services (ciesin.info@ciesin.org) for assistance.


Online Computer and Operating System


Definition
: The brand of distribution computer and its operating system.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Online Computer and Operating System
: The data set was developed and is stored on IBM PC compatible computers, running on a Novell network.


Digital Transfer : Offline Option
*
Information about media-specific options for obtaining the data resource.

Offline Media


Definition
: The name of the media on which the data resource can be obtained.

Format: Select from the following list; or free text.
Offline Media list: CD-ROM
3-1/2 inch floppy disk
5-1/4 inch floppy disk
9-track tape
4 mm cartridge tape
8 mm cartridge tape
1/4-inch cartridge tape

Recording Density


Definition
: The density in which the data resource can be recorded.

Format
: Recording Density > 0.0

Example
:
Recording Density
: 1.4

Recording Density Units


Definition
: The units of measure for the recording density.

Format
: Select from list: bpi, gb, kb, mb; or free text.

Example
:
Recording Density Units
: mb

Recording Format


Definition
: The options available, or method used to write the data set to the medium.

Format
: Select from the following list; or free text.
Recording Format list: cpio
tar
High Sierra
ISO 9660
ISO 9660 with Rock Ridge extensions
ISO 9660 with Apple HFS extensions

Example
:
Recording Format
: MS DOS 5.0
Recording Format
: ISO 9660

Compatibility Information


Definition
: The description of other limitations or requirements for using the medium.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Compatibility Information
: MS DOS Version 5.0


Custom Order Process


Definition
: A description of customized distribution services that may be available, and the terms and conditions for obtaining these services.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Custom Order Process
: Contact CIESIN User Services (ciesin.info@ciesin.org, telephone: 517-797-2727) for further information.

Technical Prerequisites


Definition
: A description of any technical capabilities that the user must have to utilize the data resource in the form(s) provided by the distibutor.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Technical Prerequisites
: Check NWI's ftp site, maps directory for an explanation of the wetland codes. Check NWI's ftp site, software directory for a program that will parse the wetland codes to fixed length format. Check NWI's ftp site, software directory for an AML to convert NWI DLG files to ARC/INFO coverages.
Technical Prerequisites
: Must be able to read a Lotus 1-2-3 V. 4.0 file format.


Available Time Period


Definition
: The time period when the data resource will be available from the distributor.

Available Time Period requires time period information. Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Available Time Period are contained in
Section 9 (Time Period).



previous next
Table of Contents Metadata Reference




© 1998. CIESIN.
Revised: March 1998.
URL: http://www.ciesin.org/metadata/documentation/guidelines/
For more information contact CIESIN User Services:
E-mail: ciesin.info@ciesin.org, Telephone: +1-517-797-2727.