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Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network



1. Identification Information



Identification Information provides basic descriptive details about a data set or information resource. This section contains definitions and examples for the following metadata elements.

Data Resource Citation
Description
Time Period of Content
Status
Spatial Domain
Keywords
Access and Use Constraints
Point of Contact
Browse Graphic
Data Set Credit
Security Information
Native Data Set Environment
Related Reference(s)


Data Resource Citation *


Definition
: A full citation to the data set or information resource being described by this metadata record.

Data Resource Citation requires citation information. Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Data Resource Citation are contained in
Section 8 (Citation Information ). Only one Data Resource Ci tation is allowed per metadata record.

Description *


Description provides a characterization of the data set or information resource. It includes details on what the resource is about, why it was created, and allows for additional information specific to the resource that is not covered elsewhere in t he metadata record. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Abstract
*

Definition
: A concise and informative description of the contents of the data set or information resource. Significant information should be included to provide an accurate representation of the resource described, such as the objectives of the data collection or study, the scope, and an indication of the contents, subject range, and use. The first sentence of an abstract should always identify by full title the item being described. See
Appendix B for a more detailed discussion and guidelines for writing abstracts.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Abstract
: "GIS Coverage of Mexican States" is an Arc/Info coverage (vector based) of Mexican States with associated data items. This digital coverage was digitized by the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) from 1:1,000,000 so urce maps produced by the Instituto Nacional De Estadistica Geografia E Informatica (INEGI), 1982. Each administrative unit (32 states in all) has the following associated data items (also obtained from INEGI): population in 1990; square kilometers; pop ulation density; population by gender; population 6 to 14 years of age that can read and write; population 6 to 14 years of age that cannot read and writer; literate population 15 years of age and older; and non-literate population 15 years of age and old er.

Abstract
: "HEMDisk" contains information about international organizations and programs associated with the integration and application of science to the measurement and monitoring of the present state or change in the environment and related work on harmonization. Organization and program emphasis is on international bodies, with some national bodies whose work involves strong international connections or significance. Information is global in scope, and is structured within categories such as country, geographic scope, type of organization, and several others. Information was derived from surveys conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Office of Harmonization of Environmental Management (HEM), since 1989. The HEM Of fice is part of the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and a component of Earthwatch.

Purpose
*

Definition
: A brief summary of the intentions with which the data or information resource was developed.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Purpose
: To provide access to and enhance the use of information worldwide, advancing understanding of human interactions in the environment, and serving the needs of science, and public and private decision making.

Purpose
: The data provide consultants, planners, and resource managers with information on wetland location and type. The data were collected to meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mandate to map the wetland and deep water habitats of the United States.

Language*


Definition
: The language(s) in which the data or information resource is available.

Format
: Select from list, or free text.

Example
:
Language:
English
Language:
Chinese
Language:
Spanish


Project/Campaign/Agency Program


Definition
: Scientific endeavor, agency program, or project that the data set or information resource supports.

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

Project/Campaing/Agency Program list:
ESE Earth Science Enterprise
MTPE Mission to Planet Earth
LTER Long-Term Ecological Research
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
WOCE World Ocean Circulation Experiment
CAA Clean Air Act
CWA Clean Water Act
NWI National Wetlands Inventory
EPA GCRP EPA Global Change Research Program
EOSDIS Earth Observing System Data and Information System
USDA United States Department of Agriculture


Supplemental Information


Definition
: Additional descriptive information about the data set or information resource, such as an alternative title, or other language title it may be known by.

Format
: Free text.



Time Period of Content *


Definition
: The time period(s) to which the data set or information resource corresponds.

Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Time Period of Content are contained in
Section 9 (Time Period).


Currentness Reference *


Definition
: The basis on which the Time Period of Content information is determined. Provides information about the currentness (how up-to-date) the data set or information resource is.

Format
: Select from list: ground condition, publication date; or free text.



Status *


Status includes the state of, and maintenance information for the data set or information resource. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Progress
*

Definition
: The current state of the resource.

Format
: Select from list: complete, in work, planned.

Maintenance and Update Frequency
*

Definition
: The frequency with which changes and/or additions are made to the data set or information resource after the initial production or publication is completed.

Format
: Select from list: continually, daily, weekly, monthly, annually, decennially, unknown, as needed, irregular, none planned; or free text.



Spatial Domain *


Spatial Domain provides the geographic areal domain of the data resource. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Bounding Coordinates
*

Definition
: The limits of coverage of a data set expressed by latitude and longitude values in the order western-most, eastern-most, northern-most, and southern-most. For data sets that include a complete band of latitude around the earth, t he West Bounding Coordinate shall be assigned the value -180.0, and the East Bounding Coordinate shall be assigned the value 180.0 .

Format
:

Example
:
Bounding Coordinates

West Bounding Coordinate: -75.625
East Bounding Coordinate: -75.5
North Bounding Coordinate: 39.75
South Bounding Coordinate: 39.625

Data Set G-Polygon

Coordinates defining the outline of an area covered by the data set.

Data Set G-Polygon Outer Ring


Definition
: The closed nonintersecting boundary of an interior area; expressed by latitude and longitude values.
Format: G-Ring Latitude: The latitude of a point of the g-ring.
G-Ring Longitude: The longitude of a point of the g-ring.

Data Set G-Polygon Exclusion G-Ring


Definition
: The closed nonintersecting boundary of a void area (or "hole") in an interior area; expressed by latitude and longitude values.

Format
:


Keywords *


Keywords are words or phrases used to indicate the main ideas and aspects of a data resource. They are also used as an index to the contents. There are two categories of keywords: controlled, and uncontrolled. Controlled keywords are terms taken fr om an established authoritative list (thesaurus) of indexing terms. Uncontrolled keywords are terms applied as free text and are not derived from an established authoritative list.

The CIESIN metadata management system supports both controlled and uncontrolled keywords, identified as "theme", "place", "stratum", and "temporal". Each of these is described in the following metadata sub-elements.


Theme Keyword
*

Definition
: A word or phrase used to describe the topic or subject of a data resource. Multiples allowed.

Format
: Controlled; format should follow that of the selected thesaurus.

Theme Keyword Thesaurus
*


Definition
: The title of a formally registered thesaurus or a similar authoritative source list of Theme keywords.

Format
: Free text; provide the title of the thesaurus/list used.

Example
:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus
: CIESIN Indexing Vocabulary
Theme Keyword
: population distribution


Place Keyword
*

Definition
: The name of the geographic location characterized by the data resource. Multiples allowed.

Format
: Controlled; format should follow that of the selected thesaurus.

Place Keyword Thesaurus
*

Definition
: The title of a formally registered thesaurus or a similar authoritative source list of Place keywords.

Format
: Free text; provide the title of the thesaurus/list used.

Example
:
Place Keyword Thesaurus
: Geographic Names Information System
Place Keyword
: Leelanaw County
Place Keyword
: Yellowstone National Park
Place Keyword
: Kuala Lumpur


Stratum Keyword


Definition
: The name of the layered, vertical location used to describe the location covered by the data resource (such as seafloor, seabed, troposphere, stratosphere).

Format
: Controlled; format should follow that of the selected thesaurus.


Stratum Keyword Thesaurus


Definition
: The title of a formally registered thesaurus or a similar authoritative source list of Stratum keywords.

Format
: Free text; provide the title of the thesaurus/list used.

Example
:
Stratum Keyword Thesaurus
: CIESIN Stratum Keyword List.
Stratum Keyword
: seabed
Stratum Keyword
: stratosphere


Temporal Keyword


Definition
: The name of the time period covered by the data resource (such as pre-Colombian, World War II).

Format
: Controlled; format should follow that of the selected thesaurus.

Temporal Keyword Thesaurus


Definition
: The title of a formally registered thesaurus or a similar authoritative source list of Temporal keywords.

Format
: Free text; provide the title of the thesaurus/list used.

Example
:
Temporal Keyword Thesaurus
: CIESIN Temporal Keyword List.
Temporal Keyword
: pre-Colombian
Temporal Keyword
: Jurassic
Temporal Keyword
: Neolithic



Access and Use Constraints *


Access and Use Constraints provide information regarding any restrictions that may exist on acquiring and using the data set or information resource. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Access Constraints
*

Definition
: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing the resource. These include any access constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations on obtaining th e data set or information resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Access Constraints
: None.
Access Constraints
: This data set is available only to authorized U.S. Federal personnel.


Use Constraints
*

Definition
: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for using the resource after access is granted. These include any use constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitation s on using the data set or information resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Use Constraints
: The data are for non-commercial use only. No third party distribution is permitted.



Point of Contact


Definition
: Contact information for an individual and/or organization that is knowledgeable about the data resource and can answer questions and provide assistance.

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



Browse Graphic


Browse Graphic provides an illustration or sample of the data resource being described. A legend or explanation should be included to aid in interpreting the graphic. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Browse Graphic File Name


Definition
: The name of a related graphic file that provides an illustration or example of the data resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Browse Graphic File Name
: Gages.gif


Browse Graphic File Description


Definition
: A text description of the illustration or example.

Format: Free text.

Example
:
Browse Graphic File Description
: State map showing point data locations.

Browse Graphic Caption


Definition
: A one-line text description of the illustration or example used as a caption when the example is displayed.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Browse Graphic Caption:
1980 U.S. Population distribution

Browse Graphic File Type


Definition
: The file type of the graphic file.

Format: Select from list; or free text
File Type list:CGMComputer Graphics Metafile
EPSEncapsulated Postscript Format
GIFGraphic Interchange Format
JPEGJoint Photographic Experts Group Format
PBMPortable Bit Map Format
PSPostscript Format
TIFFTagged Image File Format
XWDX-Windows Dump

Example
:
Browse Graphic File Type
: GIF, Graphic Interchange Format

Browse Graphic URL


Definition
: The address through which the browse product may be accessed.

Format
: Follow the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) convention of the Internet.

Example
:
Browse Graphic URL:
http://www.ciesin.org/demog/browse.html



Data Set Credit


Definition
: Recognition and acknowledgment of those who contributed to the data resource.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Data Set Credit
: The tables and glossary were compiled by Joseph Smith and Mary Brown.



Security Information


Security Information describes any handling restrictions that may be imposed on a data resource because of national security, individual privacy, or other concerns. This metadata element encompasses the following sub-elements.

Security Classification System


Definition
: The name of the classification system.

Format
: Free text.


Security Classification


Definition
: The name of the handling restrictions that pertain to the data resource.

Format
: Select from list or free text; top secret, secret, confidential, restricted, classified, unclassified, sensitive.

Security Handling Description


Definition
: Any additional information about the restrictions on handling the data resource.

Format
: Free text.



Native Data Set Environment


Definition
: A description of the data set in the producer's environment. Include items such as the name of the software (including version), the computer operating system, file name (including host-, path-, and filenames), and the data set si ze.

Format
: Free text.

Example
:
Native Data Set Environment:
The USGS Stream Gage Program Data Set was written and is maintained in Lotus 1-2-3, version 4, format. This is the standard native data format for this data set. The Division of Water Resources maintains this da ta on PC's running on a Novell network. As copies of the data set are updated, the improved version is added to the Metadata subdirectory on the file server. In the future this data set will be copied and converted to ATLAS*GIS dbf format which is a dBa se file structure.



Related Reference(s)


Definition
: Citation to other related data set(s) or information resource(s) that are likely to be of interest.

Each Related Reference takes the form of a citation. Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Related Reference are contained in
Section 8 (Citation Information). Multiples are allowed; each Rela ted Reference requires a separate citation record.



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Table of Contents Data Quality




© 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.