MMI References for Metadata Tutorial Presentations
The references are organized according to presentation (Introduction to Metadata, Introduction to Controlled Vocabularies, Submitting to a Metadata Clearinghouse, and Metadata Best Practices) and according to slide in the presentation.
To find one of the MMI site topics referenced below, just enter that title in the search box, and the desired information should be the first link or two.
Links to References by Presentation
- Introduction to Metadata
- Introduction to Controlled Vocabularies
- Submitting Metadata to a Clearinghouse
- Metadata Best Practices
- General References
Introduction to Metadata
[John Graybeal, MBARI, and Cyndy Chandler, WHOI]
In this module, we will help scientists (and their teams) learn to use metadata to document their data sets. We will use typical oceanographic data sets to demonstrate this process. We encourage all scientists and data technicians who want to understand basic metadata principles to attend this training.
References: Introduction to Metadata
It's the Law
The following laws address metadata at a national level.
- EXECUTIVE ORDER 12906: COORDINATING GEOGRAPHIC DATA ACQUISITION AND ACCESS: THE NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/direct/orders/20fa.html - Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)
http://www.ec-gis.org/inspire/ - See MMI's Metadata Reporting Policies and Requirements page for known government regulations and policies.
It's the Policy
- See MMI's Metadata Reporting Policies and Requirements page for known government regulations and policies.
- For policies of individual projects, visit that project's web site.
The Value of Metadata to Me
- Metadata Clearinghouses are the subject of an MMI Training at
http://marinemetadata.org/for-scientists/sciencetraining/oceansciences08
Which Standard?
These standards are referenced on the MMI site.
- FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: http://content/refs/csdgm
- NetCDF Standard: http://marinemetadata.org/content/refs/netcdf
- COARDS Climate and Forecast NetCDF Conventions (and other NetCDF conventions):http://marinemetadata.org/content/refs/netcdfconventions
- OceanSITES NetCDF Conventions: http://marinemetadata.org/content/refs/oceansites
- Organizations that create their own set of supported standards are called standards endorsing bodies. Their agreed conventions may be found at their web sites. These organizations are listed at MMI's Endorsement Body Organizations page.
- Metadata Best Practices are the subject of an MMI Training at: http://marinemetadata.org/for-scientists/sciencetraining/oceansciences08
Introduction to Controlled Vocabularies
[Luis Bermudez, Southeastern Universities Research Association]
In this module, we will introduce scientists to approaches that help reduce semantic interoperability problems between different data systems. Controlled vocabularies are mechanisms that can help scientists find the data that they need – with minimal confusion about what different terms mean.
References: Controlled Vocabularies
Information available on the MMI site:
- Relationship Between Metadata and Controlled Vocabularies
- What is a Controlled Vocabulary
- Distinction between Ontologies and Controlled Vocabularies
- Ontologies Hosted at MMI
- All vocabulary references on MMI
- template material for evaluating vocabularies for IODE/JCOMM
Submitting Metadata to a Clearinghouse
[Kathy Martinolich, NOAA]
In this module, we will help scientists submit (or publish) their metadata to the major metadata clearinghouses (NSDI/FGDC, Geospatial Onestop, NBII, OBIS, and GCMD) by providing an overview of each. (We may also provide a table that can be used as a reference later - hardcopy or online.) In the overview of each clearinghouse we will address: a. requirements for use (metadata standards, any required metadata elements, connections...), and b. tools/resources for help publishing to a clearinghouse. We may also present evaluation criteria that we think would be helpful for participants to use when determing which clearinghouse to use. In addition to the overview, we will also use typical oceanographic data sets to demonstrate the submittal process to the Geospatial Onestop.
References: Submitting Metadata to a Clearinghouse
Federal Geographic Data Committee Clearinghouse
- FGDC Search Interface - http://clearinghouse1.fgdc.gov
- FGDC – How to Register as a Clearinghouse Node - http://registry.gsdi.org/registrywizard.asp
- FGDC Geospatial Metadata Standards - http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/geospatial-metadata-standards
- Geospatial Metadata Factsheet - http://www.fgdc.gov/library/factsheets/documents/metafact.pdf
- FGDC Metadata Quick Guide - http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/documents/MetadataQuickGuide.pdf
- FGDC Top Ten Metadata Errors - http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/documents/top10metadataerrors.pdf
National Biological Information Infrastructure
- NBII Clearinghouse Search Interface - http://mercury.ornl.gov/nbii/
- NBII BioBot Search - http://search.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt
- Global Diversity Information Facility - http://www.gbif.org
- Submit Metadata to the NBII Clearinghouse - http://159.189.176.5/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=0&in_hi_userid=2&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=410&PageID=606
- Become an NBII Clearinghouse Node - http://159.189.176.5/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=410&&PageID=607&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true
- NBII Metadata Activities - http://159.189.176.5/portal/community/Communities/Toolkit/Metadata/
- Biological Data Profile Workbook (for use with FGDC-STD-001-1998) - http://www.nbii.gov/images/uploaded/151871_1162508205217_BDP-workbook.doc
Geospatial One-Stop
- Geospatial One-Stop Search - http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos
- Geospatial One-Stop Metadata Standards - http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKL9443cfYFSYGYfpb6kehCFhhCYe4IIV-P_NxUfW_9AP2C3NDQiHJHRQCuw28C/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82X0tfVlI!
- Creating and Publishing Metadata in Support of Geospatial One-Stop and the NSDI - http://www.geodata.gov/gos/metadata/CreatePublishMetadata.pdf
- How to Register Your Data in Geospatial One-Stop - http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKL944PCwLJgFh-lvqRaCIW6CJh7hARE2dfuJA_hqJQiIihgYG-r0d-bqq-t36AfkFuKBBElDs6KioCALh72ik!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82X0tfVlY!
Ocean Biogeographic Information System
- OBIS Search - http://www.iobis.org/
- OBIS Advanced Search - http://www.iobis.org/OBISWEB/ObisControllerServlet?searchCategory=/CacheDataServlet
- How to Contribute to OBIS - http://www.iobis.org/tech/#_Toc164083852
- OBIS Data Schema and metadata - http://www.iobis.org/tech/#_Toc164083855
- OBIS Schema Version 1.1 - http://www.iobis.org/tech/provider/schemadef1/
- What is metadata? - http://www.iobis.org/tech/#_Toc164083866
Global Change Master Directory
- Global Change Master Directory search - http://gcmd.nasa.gov/
- To Add Descriptions to GCMD - http://gcmd.nasa.gov/User/authoring.html
- How to use the DocBUILDER tool - http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/DocumentBuilder/Home.do?RequestAction=Help
- What is a DIF? - http://gcmd.nasa.gov/User/difguide/whatisadif.html
Metadata Best Practices
[Matt Howard and Stephanie Watson, Texas A&M University]
In this module, we will present a high-level overview of contemporary practices and standards in metadata. This loosely structured, flexible module will allow ample opportunity for attendees to ask questions about metadata issues facing them and their organizations. This module could be an overview of the other tutorials, but very distilled, condensed.
References: Metadata Best Practices
Metadata in a Larger Context
- Tutorial on Digital Preservation Management http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/dpm/
Archive Guidance Documents
Capturing Metadata
- Reference for csquares - C-squares is a system for storage, querying, display, and exchange of "spatial data" locations and extents in a simple, text-based, human- and machine- readable format;http://www.cmar.csiro.au/csquares/
- Getting Started - How you can publish your metadata http://marinemetadata.org/guides/mdataintro/gettingstarted
- Writing Good Metadata - http://marinemetadata.org/guides/mdataintro/writegoodmdata
Trusted Digital Repository
Content Standards: More Criteria
- Seven dimensional approach to selecting a metadata content standard http://marinemetadata.org/examples/mmihostedwork/selection/std7djpg/view
- workbook, based on the 7 dimensional approach - http://marinemetadata.org/examples/mmihostedwork/selection/std7dxls
Choosing a CV: More
- Tips on choosing and implementing a controlled vocabulary http://marinemetadata.org/guides/vocabs/cvchooseimplement/cvchoosing
- Achieving semantic interoperability http://marinemetadata.org/guides/vocabs/cvchooseimplement/cvsemint
- MMI presentation on selecting an instrument controlled vocabulary http://marinemetadata.org/info/aboutmmi/outreachdocs/instrumentvocabspdf/view
- How to hold a vocabulary mapping workshop http://marinemetadata.org/guides/vocabs/cvchooseimplement/cvmap/cvmapwk
- All vocabulary references on MMIhttp://marinemetadata.org/vocabularies/refs/allvocs/
- A last resort: developing a controlled vocabulary http://marinemetadata.org/guides/vocabs/cvdev
General References
These information resources (and pointers to additional lists) are referenced at MMI.
- MMI's List of Tools:http://marinemetadata.org/tools
- MMI's Tools DIVE: Help Find Tools!:http://marinemetadata.org/dive
- MMI's List of Content Standards: http://marinemetadata.org/csrefs
- MMI's Own Guidance: http://marinemetadata.org/guides
- MMI's List of Additional Guidance:http://marinemetadata.org/guides/otherexternalguides
Ask for Help
These help resources are referenced at MMI.
- MMI's Ask MMI: http://marinemetadata.org/ask
- Other Metadata Email Lists: http://marinemetadata.org/helplists
- FGDC Training: http://www.fgdc.gov/training
- OceanTeacher Training: http://www.oceanteacher.org/
- You can find general metadata trainers by searching the web for 'metadata training', and marine-focused trainers by searching for 'marine metadata training'.