Formal metadata information and software > CSDGM 1994 (superseded)
This document has been superseded. Everyone should refer instead to the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, officially known as FGDC-STD-001-1998, dated June 1998, at the web site of the Federal Geographic Data Committee.

3: Spatial Data Organization Information -- the mechanism used to represent spatial information in the data set.

Syntax:

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information =
0{Indirect_Spatial_Reference}1 + 0{Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method + ([Point_and_Vector_Object_Information | Raster_Object_Information])}1
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information =
[SDTS_Terms_Description | VPF_Terms_Description]
SDTS_Terms_Description =
1{SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type + (Point_and_Vector_Object_Count) }n
VPF_Terms_Description =
VPF_Topology_Level + 1{VPF_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type + (Point_and_Vector_Object_Count)}n
Raster_Object_Information =
Raster_Object_Type + (Row_Count + Column_Count + 0{Vertical_Count}1)

Semantics:

Indirect Spatial Reference -- 3.1
name of types of geographic features, addressing schemes, or other means through which locations are referenced in the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Direct Spatial Reference Method -- 3.2
the system of objects used to represent space in the data set.
Type: text
Domain: "Point" "Vector" "Raster"
Point and Vector Object Information -- 3.3
the types and numbers of vector or nongridded point spatial objects in the data set. Compound.
SDTS Terms Description -- 3.3.1
point and vector object information using the terminology and concepts from "Spatial Data Concepts," which is chapter 2 of part 1 in Department of Commerce, 1992, Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) (Federal Information Processing Standard 173): Washington, Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology. (Note that this reference to the SDTS is used ONLY to provide a set of terminology for the point and vector objects.) Compound.
SDTS Point and Vector Object Type -- 3.3.1.1
name of point and vector spatial objects used to locate zero-, one-, and two-dimensional spatial locations in the data set.
Type: text
Domain: (The domain is from "Spatial Data Concepts," which is chapter 2 of part 1 in Department of Commerce, 1992, Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) (Federal Information Processing Standard 173): Washington, Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology):
"Point"
"Entity point"
"Label point"
"Area point"
"Node, planar graph"
"Node, network"
"String"
"Link"
"Complete chain"
"Area chain"
"Network chain, planar graph"
"Network chain, nonplanar graph"
"Circular arc, three point center"
"Elliptical arc"
"Uniform B spline"
"Piecewise Bezier"
"Ring with mixed composition"
"Ring composed of strings"
"Ring composed of chains"
"Ring composed of arcs"
"G-polygon"
"GT-polygon composed of rings"
"GT-polygon composed of chains"
"Universe polygon composed of rings"
"Universe polygon composed of chains"
"Void polygon composed of rings"
"Void polygon composed of chains"
Point and Vector Object Count -- 3.3.1.2
the total number of the point or vector object type occurring in the data set.
Type: integer
Domain: Point and Vector Object Count > 0
VPF Terms Description -- 3.3.2
point and vector object information using the terminology and concepts from Department of Defense, 1992, Vector Product Format (MIL-STD-600006): Philadelphia, Department of Defense, Defense Printing Service Detachment Office. (Note that this reference to the VPF is used ONLY to provide a set of terminology for the point and vector objects.) Compound.
VPF Topology Level -- 3.3.2.1
the completeness of the topology carried by the data set. The levels of completeness are defined in Department of Defense, 1992, Vector Product Format (MIL-STD-600006): Philadelphia, Department of Defense, Defense Printing Service Detachment Office.
Type: integer
Domain: 0 <= VPF Topology Level <= 3
VPF Point and Vector Object Type -- 3.3.2.2
name of point and vector spatial objects used to locate zero-, one-, and two-dimensional spatial locations in the data set.
Type: text
Domain: (The domain is from Department of Defense, 1992, Vector Product Format (MIL-STD-600006): Philadelphia, Department of Defense, Defense Printing Service Detachment Office): "Node" "Edge" "Face" "Text"
Raster Object Information -- 3.4
the types and numbers of raster spatial objects in the data set. Compound.
Raster Object Type -- 3.4.1
raster spatial objects used to locate zero-, two-, or three-dimensional locations in the data set.
Type: text
Domain: (With the exception of "voxel", the domain is from "Spatial Data Concepts," which is chapter 2 of part 1 in Department of Commerce, 1992, Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) (Federal Information Processing Standard 173): Washington, Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology): "Point" "Pixel" "Grid Cell" "Voxel"
Row Count -- 3.4.2
the maximum number of raster objects along the ordinate (y) axis. For use with rectangular raster objects.
Type: Integer
Domain: Row Count > 0
Column Count -- 3.4.3
the maximum number of raster objects along the abscissa (x) axis. For use with rectangular raster objects.
Type: Integer
Domain: Column Count > 0
Vertical Count -- 3.4.4
the maximum number of raster objects along the vertical (z) axis. For use with rectangular volumetric raster objects (voxels).
Type: Integer
Domain: Depth Count > 0
USGS tools and info for formal metadata
This page is http://geology.usgs.gov/tools/metadata/standard/
Maintained by Peter Schweitzer
Last updated 20-Jul-1998