1. Tools for creation of formal metadata
  2. Metadata in Plain Language

What does the data set describe?

How does the data set describe geographic features?

People need to know what attributes of the geographic features are supplied in the data set. The spatial extent of the geographical features is described explicitly by the data; what are the other characteristics of the features such as scientific measurements, identifiers and labels, or characteristics associated with the geographic regions delimited by the features (population within census tracts, for example)?
In spatial data sets, attributes are typically associated with geographic features, although other arrangements are possible. Describe the attributes of each type of feature together, since the attributes of one type of feature are typically contained in one or a few related digital files or tables.
You can describe the features and attributes using a Detailed_Description, which is best, or an Overview_Description. Use an overview only if all of the details of the attribute values are explained in some published source.

Features

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: Name of the feature type or table
      Entity_Type_Definition: What is this feature or table?
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Document, if any, that defines this type of feature.
If this type of feature or table isn't defined in some authoritative publication like FIPS 173, and you don't know what to put in Entity_Type_Definition_Source, leave that element out. It is mandatory, but meaningless information is worse than no information.

Attributes

For each attribute, you should know the attribute's name in the data set, a definition of the attribute, and what values the attribute holds. 
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Name of the item or attribute
      Attribute_Definition: What information does it provide?
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Document, if any, that defines this attribute.
If this attribute isn't defined in some authoritative publication like FIPS 173, and you don't know what to put in Attribute_Definition_Source, leave that element out.

What sort of values does the attribute hold?

In general, attributes either measure, categorize, or characterize the features or entities they describe.
  • Labels or names that characterize the features 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
    Unrepresentable_Domain:
	  Description of the values, like unabbreviated descriptive text, place names, identifiers without further scientific significance
  • Text codes or integer numbers that categorize the features 
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
    Enumerated_Domain:
      Enumerated_Domain_Value: One of the possible values
      Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: What it means
      Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Document, if any, that defines the value.
  Attribute_Domain_Values:
    Enumerated_Domain:
      Enumerated_Domain_Value: Another possible value
      Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: What it means
      Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Document, if different, that defines the value.
  . . .
    If you have a simple table of values and definitions, you can use the Enumerated_Domain Helper to code the metadata.
    NOTE: An Enumerated_Domain does not have to contain only numbers! Here the word enumerated means the values are specified one by one in a list.
  • Integers or decimal (floating- or fixed-point) values showing some measure of the features 
      Range_Domain:
    Range_Domain_Minimum: Lowest possible value
    Range_Domain_Maximum: Highest possible value
    What are the units? 
    Attribute_Units_of_Measure: units
    Optional information about attribute values:

    What is the resolution of the measurements? 
    Attribute_Measurement_Resolution: smallest meaningful difference
    Were measurements made at regular time intervals?

    • When did you start making measurements? 
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: start date
    • When did you stop making measurements? 
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: stop date
    • How often did you make measurements? 
      Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: time interval
    What about the accuracy of the values? 
    Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information:
  Attribute_Value_Accuracy: Quantitative estimate
  Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: How did you estimate it?

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