MMI Guides

About the Guides Editorial Group

aisenor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:26:00 -0700

The MMI Guides are being developed through a community-based effort, involving volunteers from many research institutions and agencies across the US and Canada, and supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The authors of each individual guide are listed on that guide's page.

Additional Resources

carynn — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:30:21 -0800

If you know of a resource not included on this list, please let us know, or submit the reference online!

Reference	Description	Guide Reference Topics
Advancing ecological research with Ontologies (a review paper)	A review paper on the use of ontologies in ecological research	Resource Discovery Convention Topics Species Usage Example Topics
GEON Summer Institute	Metadata-related materials from the Cyberinfrastructure Summer Institute, put on by GEON each year. 2005 includes presentations on Semantic Web and Knowledge Representation, Ontologies in GEON, and many other (non-metadata) data systems related topics, like web services.	Tools Metadata Controlled Vocabularies Guide Reference Topics
Getty Library Introduction to Metadata	An online publication devoted to metadata, its types and uses, and how it can improve access to digital resources.	Metadata Guide Reference Topics
GSDI Data Management Cookbook	Data Management Cookbook for geospatial data. Old but well constructed example.	Metadata Guide Reference Topics
ICES/IOC SGXML Final Report	The final report (including recommendations relevant to metadata practice in the marine domain)of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas / Intergovernnmental Oceanographic (ICES/IOC) Study Group on the Development of Marine Data Exchange Systems using XML (SGXML).	Guide Reference Topics Metadata Tools
NISO Primer: Understanding Metadata	A primer introduction to metadata from NISO (July 24, 2004)	Guide Reference Topics Metadata Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles
NOAA's CSC Metadata Workshop Materials	This online guide, available from NOAA's Coastal Services Center, includes information on metadata standards, getting started, metadata tools, metadata training, and metadata links.	Tools Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles Metadata Guide Reference Topics
NSDL Metadata Primer	Metadata primer guide written for the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) by Diane Hillmann's.	Guide Reference Topics Metadata Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles
NSGIC Metadata Primer	A "How To" Guide on Metadata Implementation for digital spatial data	Metadata Guide Reference Topics Guidance Initiative Topics
OCGC's Metadata Demystified	What are metadata and why are they important?	Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles Metadata Guide Reference Topics
Scholarly Citation of Data	A recent paper proposing a standard for the scholarly citation of quantitative data.	Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles Metadata Guide Reference Topics
Stanford Ontology Creation Guide	A guide about ontology development published by the creators of Protege at Stanford University.	Controlled Vocabularies Guide Reference Topics
UNESCO IOC Ocean Teacher	Provides basic technical training on establishing oceanographic data systems.	Metadata Guide Reference Topics
Virtual Data Center Citation	A (somewhat) specific implementation of the Altman-King recommendation for data citations.	Guide Reference Topics Metadata Metadata Standards, Extensions and Profiles
W3C Best Practices for Semantic Web (2006)	A list of best practices developed for the semantic web	Usage Example Topics
W3C: URIs, URLs, and URNs	W3C description of the relationship between URIs, URLs, and URNs	Tools Guide Reference Topics

Case Studies

carynn — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:14:11 -0800

DIGARCH Cruise Harvest

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIOScripps Institution of Oceanography ) / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOIWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) project to archive cruise data in an interoperableThe ability of two or more information systems to exchange metadata with minimal loss of information. Related Guide environment, using tools developed at SIO

Controlled Vocabularies (CV) for Metadata Harvesting

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) experience using database technology to harvest and correct erroneous metadata

Developing Controlled Vocabularies

aisenor — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:00:00 -0800

The following should help you define the terms in your new vocabulary. Remember, you have to make the vocabulary expandable (scalableThe ability of a metadata system to expand. Well-designed systems are established with the flexibility to scale up to larger data sets, enhanced metadata requirements, and a variety of growth factors.) because there will likely be additions. As well, there are a few tricks you can think about before starting.

Have a specific question about developing vocabularies? Ask MMI!

Glossary of Metadata Acronyms

paul — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:41:24 -0700

This glossary provides metadata-related definitions for the acronyms used on this web site.

Metadata-Related Acronyms

a • b • c • d • e • f • g • h • i • l • m • n • o • p • q • r • s • u • v • w • x

Glossary Terms appear as links in the MMI Guides. Definitions will appear in a pop-up when the mouse hovers over the term.

ADN: ADEPT/DLESE/NASA metadata framework
ANSI: American National Standards Institute
API: Application Program Interface
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange
BODC: British Oceanographic Data Center
CoRIS: Coral Reef Information System
CSDGM: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
CSV: Comma Separated Value
CTD: Conductivity - Temperature - Depth
CV: Controlled Vocabulary
DCMI: Dublin Core Metadata Initiative
DIF: Directory Interchange Format
DL: Description Logistics
DLESE: Digital Library for Earth System Education
DMAC: Data Management And Communications
DOI: Digital Object Identifier
DTD: Document Type Definition
ER: Entity-Relational (as in Entity-Relational Diagram)
ERESE: Enduring Resources for Earch Science Education
FGDC: Federal Geographic Data Committee
GCMD: Global Change Master Directory
GIS: Geographic Information System
GML: Geography Markup Language
GUI: Graphical User Interface
HTML: HyperText Markup Language
IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IOOS: Integrated Ocean Observing System
ISO: International Standards Organization
LC: Library of Congress
MARC: MAchine Readable Cataloging
MB37: MultiBeam 37
MBARI: Monterey Bay Aquarium and Research Institution
METS: Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standards
MMI: Marine Metadata Interoperability
MOOS: Monterey Ocean Observing System
MUSE: MOOS Upper-Water-Column Science Experiment
NBII: National Biological Information Infrastructure
NetCDF: Network Common Data Format
NISO: National Information Standards organization
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NSDI: National Spatial Digital Infrastructure
NSDL: National Science Digital Library
OAI: Open Archives Initiative
OAI - PMH: Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting
OCLC: Online Computer Library Center
OGC: Open Geospatial Consortium
OWL: Web Ontology Language
PMH: Protocol for Metadata Harvesting
PURL: Persistent Uniform Resource Locator
QA: Quality Assurance
QC: Quality Control
RDF: Resource Description Framework
SDSC: San Diego Supercomputer Center
SGML: Standard Generalized Markup Language
SIO: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
SKOS: Simple Knowledge Organization System
SOAP: Simple Object Access Protocol
SRL: Semantic Rule Language
SST: Sea Surface Temperature
SUB: State and University Library
SVN: SubVersioN
UDDI: Universal DescriptionSynonyms: Discovery and Integration
UML: Unified Modeling Language
URI: Uniform Resource Identifier
URL: Uniform Resource Locator
URN: Uniform Resource Name
USGS: United States Geological Survey
VINE: Vocabulary INtegration Environment Tool
W3C: World Wide Web Consortium
WFS: Web Feature Service
WHOI: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
WSDL: Web Services Description Language
XBT: eXpendable BathyThermograph
XML: eXtensible Markup Language
XSL: eXtensible Stylesheet Language

Glossary of Metadata Terminology

carynn — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:15:09 -0700

This glossary provides metadata-related definitions for the terms used on this web site.

In some cases definitions used by the larger marine metadata community may be different than those used by this site; in such cases, the difference is indicated. In many cases this page provides a metadata-centric definition for a term that has wider meetings (e.g., 'dictionary'); such cases begin with the phrase 'In the context of metadata'.

Metadata-Related Definitions

a • c • d • f • g • h • i • m • o • p • r • s • t • u • v • w

Glossary Terms appear as links in the MMI Guides. Definitions will appear in a pop-up when the mouse hovers over the term.

Authority File: A type of flat controlled vocabulary that consists of a list of labels and terms which can be used for establishing the acceptable content, for example a metadata element or database field. Related GuideSynonyms: Authority Files
Clearinghouse: A service available via the internet that provides a catalog of resources. A clearinghouse usually emphasizes discovery of resources, particularly data sets.
Code List: A type of flat controlled vocabulary consisting of a set of codes and their meanings, in use in a specific project. Related GuideSynonyms: Code Lists
Content Standard: A list or hierarchy of required metadata elements to be included in the metadata description. Related GuideSynonyms: Content Standards
Controlled Vocabulary: A managed list of terms. In the context of vocabularies, management typically includes careful selection of terms, maintenance of terms over time (i.e. addition, deprecation, modification), and presentation of the vocabulary in an accessible format. Related GuideSynonyms: Controlled Vocabularies, CV, CVs
Crosswalk: Documents that map metadata elements between different metadata standards. Related GuideSynonyms: Metadata Crosswalk, Vocabulary Mappings, Vocabulary Mapping, Crosswalk
Crosswalking Rule: In the context of crosswalking, rules are a process which define how to deal consistently with complex element mappings. Rules are created and applied during the mapping of elements from the source schema to the target schema, when one-to-one relationships between schema elements do not exist. Related Guide
Synonyms: Crosswalking Rules
Dictionary: In the context of metadata, a dictionary is a type of controlled flat vocabulary, which provides a list of metadata terms, definitions and additional information within a specific domain. Related GuideSynonyms: Dictionaries
Discovery: Use of metadata values or vocabularies to find metadata or data sets. Related GuideSynonyms: Discovery Metadata, Discovery Vocabulary, Discovery Vocabularies
Flat Vocabulary: A managed list of acceptable metadata terms that associates acceptable values with particular metadata elements. Flat vocabularies include authority files, glossaries, dictionaries, code lists, and gazetteers. Related GuideSynonyms: Flat Vocabularies
Formal Metadata: Metadata that conforms to a specific standard, with consistent collection criteria, terminology and structure. Related Guide
Format Standard: A description of the digital storage and structural requirements of metadata which assures that different software programs are able to read or query the data. Related GuideSynonyms: Format Standards
Gazetteer: In the context of metadata, a gazetteer is a very specific type of flat controlled vocabulary - a geographic term list. Related GuideSynonyms: Gazetteers
Glossary: A type of flat controlled vocabulary containing a list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms. Related GuideSynonyms: Glossaries
Harmonization: In the context of crosswalking, metadata schema of the source and the target standards are represented in the same syntax during harmonization. Related GuideSynonyms: Harmonize
Ingest: In the context of metadata, the ingest process is the method by which metadata is read into a system (e.g. a database import).
Machine-Readable: In the context of metadata, formatted in a way that is well defined and processable by the system's software and hardware. Metadata with this characteristic can be discovered, ingested, and presented by an electronic system (also known as 'computable'). Related GuideSynonyms: Machine Readable, Machine Readability
Metadata: Data about data. Metadata provides a context for research findings, ideally in a machine-readable format. It enables discovery of data via an electronic interface, and correct use and attribution of findings. Related Guide
Metadata Classification: Grouping of metadata values, based on shared criteria. Related GuideSynonyms: Metadata Class, Classes
Metadata Element: Individual instance of a metadata label and value pair. For example, "creator: John Doe" is a metadata element. Related GuideSynonyms: Metadata Elements, Metadata Fields, Element, Parameter, Metadata Parameter, Field, Metadata Parameters, Metadata Properties, Parameters, Metadata Field, Fields, Elements
Metadata Extension: Addition to a metadata standard that allows users to provide information in additional fields, or additional ways, that were not mentioned in the original standard. Related GuideSynonyms: Extension, Metadata Extensions, Extensions
Metadata Instance: A metadata document describing a resource in a standards-compliant manner For example, the Everglades Hydrology and Water Quality Data document provided in XML by the USGS. Also, see other MMI-provided metadata instance examples.Synonyms: Instance
Metadata Interoperability: The ability of two or more information systems to exchange metadata with minimal loss of information. Related GuideSynonyms: interoperability, interoperable, Metadata Interoperability
Metadata Label: A descriptor for a metadata value. This can be thought of as a question to which the value is providing an answer. For example, for the metadata label "date", the metadata value could be "March 16, 2008".Synonyms: Label
Metadata Profile: The community-specific application of a metadata standard. Related GuideSynonyms: Profiles, Metadata Profiles, Profile
Metadata Specification: Any description of how to store metadata. Specifications have no limitations on the level of required documentation and no requirement for formal approval, publishing or governance by a broad community-based organization. Related GuideSee also: Metadata Standard Synonyms: Specifications, Metadata Specifications, Specification
Metadata Standard: A set of documented rules which define the creation of metadata by providing a combination of terminology (vocabularies), syntactical rules, format rules, and other requirements. Metadata standards are approved, published and governed by a formal body or organization with broad community-based representation (international or national). Related GuideSee also: Metadata Specification Synonyms: Standard, Metadata Standards, Standards
Metadata Value: Metadata values are the content connected to metadata labels in a metadata element. For example, if the metadata label is "date", the metadata value could be "May 13, 2007". Related GuideSynonyms: Values, Metadata Values, Value
Multi-Level Vocabulary: A managed list of metadata terms, where the terms are organized into categories. Multi-Level vocabularies include taxonomies and subject headings. Related GuideSynonyms: Multi Level Vocabularies, Multi-Level Vocabularies, Multi Level Vocabulary
Ocean Observing Network: Connected system of data collection nodes.Synonyms: OOS
Ontology: A type of relational controlled vocabulary, which provides for categories, relationships, rules and axioms among metadata elements. Typically a hierarchy of classes and terms, an ontology is a machine-readable way of relating metadata terminology. Related GuideSynonyms: Ontologies
Protocol: A strategy for transmitting data between systems. A protocol can be used not only over the internet, between computers, but also between applications running anywhere. Examples: FTP, SNMP, SSH. Synonyms: Protocols
Provenance: The record of how a particular metadata value or record came to be. Provenance can include things like when the record was created, accessed or modified.
Relational Vocabulary: Managed list of acceptable terms that makes use of relationships between metadata terms. Relational vocabularies include thesauri, semantic networks and ontologies. Related GuideSynonyms: Relational Vocabularies
Relationship: Connections between metadata terms within a vocabulary. These relationships can connect terms by scope, provenance, or other well-defined criteria.Synonyms: Relationships
Scalability: The ability of a metadata system to expand. Well-designed systems are established with the flexibility to scale up to larger data sets, enhanced metadata requirements, and a variety of growth factors.Synonyms: Scalable
Schema: In the context of metadata, a description of the data represented within a database.Synonyms: Schemas
Semantic Framework: A semantic framework guides a specific development to make use of computer-interpretable programming languages, such as XML, to create systems which promote and allow semantic interoperability. Both semantic interoperability and the Semantic Web rely on the backbone of a semantic framework. May also refer to the Marine Metadata Interoperability's own Semantic Framework. Related Guide
Semantic Interoperability: The ability of multiple systems to exchange information in useful ways; in particular, the ability for each system to 'understand' the terms of the other sufficiently to use those terms correctly. Related Guide
Semantic Mapping: In the context of crosswalking, elements in the source schema are explicitly mapped to elements in the target schema during semantic mapping. Related GuideSynonyms: Semantic Mappings
Semantic Network: A type of relational controlled vocabulary consisting of lists of terms/concepts and directed relationships. Related Guide
Semantic Technology: Semantic technology provides the meaning behind data alongside the data itself. Software written to enable semantic technology explicitly separates the underlying code, data input and output, and data meaning from one another.Synonyms: Semantic Technologies
Semantic Web: The transformation of the web from an inherently human-interpretable medium to an inherently computer-interpretable medium. In the semantic web, machines can read and understand the content published in the network.
Subject Heading: A type of multi-level controlled vocabulary in which metadata values are classified into categories which may be broad classes. Related GuideSynonyms: Subject Headings
Taxonomy: A multi-level controlled vocabulary in which metadata terms are grouped according to subject-specific classes, usually hierarchical. Related GuideSynonyms: Taxonomies
Thesaurus: A type of relational controlled vocabulary which provides a list of terms, with specific relationships between the terms. Related GuideSynonyms: Thesauri
Transformation: In the context of crosswalking, transformation is the process of creating a target instance of the metadata description from the source instance. Related GuideSynonyms: Transformations
Usage Vocabulary: The set of terms used to identify, analyze, or re-use data values in the native form of the data asset. Related GuideSynonyms: Usage Metadata, Usage Vocabularies
Vocabulary: A set of terms (e.g., words) that are used in a specific community. Related GuideSynonyms: Vocabularies
Vocabulary Mapping: Documents that map metadata terms between different controlled vocabularies. Related GuideSynonyms: Vocabulary Mappings
Vocabulary Term: A potential metadata value that is part of a set intended to restrict the available options in a particular metadata element.Synonyms: Vocabulary Terms
Web Service: Standardized way of integrating Web-based applications using open standards over an Internet protocol backbone. Web services share business logic, data and processes through a programmatic interface across a network. The applications interface, not the users. Synonyms: Web Services

Additional Metadata Glossaries on the Internet

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) Glossary
Introduction to Metadata, Pathways to Digital Information, Available from the Research at the Getty

How to Create a Scalable Controlled Vocabulary - Allowing for Additions

aisenor — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:11:00 -0800

How to Determine the Terms

aisenor — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:11:00 -0800

To identify the terms of the vocabularyA set of terms (e.g., words) that are used in a specific community. Related Guide, you need to first examine the descriptions of your assets, looking for discrete (i.e., non continuous) content. Things that are measured are usually continuous, while things that have specific descriptions are usually discrete. Also, if you can count the total number of possible descriptions, it is likely to be discrete.

MMI Guides

carynn — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:04:00 -0800

Welcome to the MMI Guides

The Marine Metadata Interoperability (MMI) Guides are intended to

khogrefe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:49:00 -0800

Guides Home Page
How to Use the Guides
Glossary of Metadata Terms
Glossary of Metadata Acronyms

Tips and Tricks

aisenor — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:11:00 -0800

The “Dos and Don’ts” from the previous section also apply to legacy data. The following apply as well:

What is a Controlled Vocabulary?

carynn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:16:21 -0800

A vocabulary is a set of terms (words, codes, etc.) that are used in a specific community. VocabulariesA set of terms (e.g., words) that are used in a specific community. Related Guide provide a mechanism for communication- be it written, oral or electronic- because the meaning of the terms are known and agreed upon by the community members. When a vocabulary is formally managed, it becomes a controlled vocabularyA managed list of terms. In the context of vocabularies, management typically includes careful selection of terms, maintenance of terms over time (i.e. addition, deprecation, modification), and presentation of the vocabulary in an accessible format. Related Guide. In this case, "managed" means the terms are stored and maintained using agreed-upon procedures. Procedures should exist for adding terms, modifying terms and, more rarely, deprecating terms from a controlled vocabulary.

MMI Guides

About the Guides Editorial Group

Additional Resources

Case Studies

DIGARCH Cruise Harvest

Controlled Vocabularies (CV) for Metadata Harvesting

Developing Controlled Vocabularies

Glossary of Metadata Acronyms

Metadata-Related Acronyms

Glossary of Metadata Terminology

Metadata-Related Definitions

Additional Metadata Glossaries on the Internet

How to Create a Scalable Controlled Vocabulary - Allowing for Additions

How to Determine the Terms

MMI Guides

Welcome to the MMI Guides

Table of Contents

Tips and Tricks

What is a Controlled Vocabulary?