NEARC 2007
Mind Over Metadata

Are you looking for metadata tools to help you produce documentation for your geospatial data and information? This webpage should help you out. Below, you'll find a workflow that I've found to be effective when creating new metadata from scratch. At the moment, the advice below is currently geared towards users of ESRI ArcGIS Desktop 9.x users.

These tools aren't the only ones on the block. The University of Wisconsin hosts a great list of Metadata Tools for Geospatial Data. It hasn't been updated in nearly a year, but most of the content is still accurate.

 

 

1) Start by getting out a copy of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata standards. Using FGDC's guides may save you time in the long run as they describe how the various fields are defined, what you ought to include in your metadata, and what you need not bother with.

- Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) Workbook

- CSDGM Graphical Representation

- The FGDC website's metadata section contains a good deal more information about the rationale for metadata, tools, and resources. And while we're on the topic, take a look at the USGS Metadata Information and Software website and the National Park Service Northeast Region's Metadata Resources and References website for more great advice, instructions, and links to resources.

- If you need an extra hand with interpreting the CSDGM, take a look at Metadata in Plain Language, written by Peter Schweitzer at USGS.

 

2) A convenient way to begin writing your metadata is to use the metadata publishing tool from the National Geospatial One-Stop. The purpose of the Geospatial One-Stop is to serve as a geospatial data and information clearinghouse for the nation. It's lifeblood is metadata, and has an easy-to-use form that can be effectively used to seed a metadata document. Using the Geospatial One-Stop to start your metadata practically ensures that your final product will be compatible with the clearinghouse if you decide you'd like to share it in the end.

Tip: In your metadata, list the status as "in progress" or "planned" if your data aren't ready to be shared yet. Your initial metadata document will be posted to the One-Stop, but those who discover it will learn your data aren't available yet.

Tip: Download your document in XML format to your desktop after using the One-Stop. This'll let you import your metadata into other tools to further build it out.

Tip: Write any significant text, such as the abstract and purpose, in a text editor first. This will allow you to spellcheck your work, and save a separate copy to your PC so you hopefully won't lose it in case your browser crashes, Geodata.gov has a hiccup, etc.

 

2b) If the Geospatial One-Stop isn't part of your plans, try out the Coeur d'Alene tribe's Three Tab Metadata Editor to help you start a new metadata document. This tool, which is installed and used within the context of ArcCatalog, help you quickly complete most of the mandatory FGDC metadata fields in an easy-to-use editor. You'll likely need to refine your metadata further using another editor, such as the contact information if the metadata author or data provider is different from the primary contatct, but this tool gives you a strong start.

 

3) Now's the time to hit ArcCatalog. Import your metadata into ArcCatalog using the default metadata import tool. Look for the correct button on ArcCatalog's metadata toolbar. Let ArcCatalog automatically update your metadata with the geographic extent, data type, coordinate system information, and some basic attribute information. We'll fix the metadata extension, metadata import process step, and online linkage later.

 

4) Don't bother with the ArcCatalog metadata editor unless you simply need to quickly fix something. Personally, I avoid it due to lack of an extensive help file, and I prefer to see everything on my screen at once. Instead, try exporting your metadata from ArcCatalog into an XML document, then opening it in USGS' TKME metadata editor. I use this to fill in the details that the Geospatial One-Stop and the Three Tab Metadata Editor don't delve into, name the attribute information for the geospatial data I'm documenting.

 

5) Once you're done working in TKME, save it as a XML document. CNS

 

5) Your metadata are now ready for ArcCatalog again.