Metadata

Metadata is essentially data about data. It is information about data which simplifies the discovery, management and use of data. It covers descriptive, administrative, and structural information and attempts to answer questions such as:

• What is the data representing?
• Who created the data and when?
• How was the data created?
• In what time period is the data relevant?
• What is the quality of the data?
• Are there any restrictions when using the data?
• What is the format of the data?

Metadata can be created for all types of data, including images. When it comes to geographic data, there are also spatial descriptions which are useful to know:

• How are the geographical features represented?
• What is the reference scale of the data?
• In what geographic coordinate reference system is the data stored?
• What geographical extent does the data cover?

How is metadata created?

Some metadata can be created automatically, for instance when you create or save a file. Other data can be added manually, such as a description or usage rights. The software you are using may include this functionality (such as Microsoft Word or ArcGIS Pro). Specific software or websites are also available for the creation and storage of metadata. For instance, GeoNetwork is an online catalogue application for spatial data sources that allows the creation and maintenance of metadata.

What are the metadata standards for spatial data?

A metadata standard describes a way structuring metadata to an agreed structure. There a different metadata standards for different disciplines. For geographic data, the relevant standards are:

• ISO 19115: Geographic information – a metadata standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ISO 19139: Geographic information Metadata XML schema implementation – the XML implementation schema for ISO 19115.
• Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE) – an EU legal framework for spatial metadata which can also comply with ISO 19115 and ISO 19139