USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

What does the data set describe?

1. What is the title of the data set?

   Identification_Information:
     Citation:
       Citation_Information:
         Title: Put the title here
   

   For a published data set, this should be the title of the publication. Not all data are formally published, however, and publication titles sometimes omit pertinent information. Since the title is what people will see first in a search of the Clearinghouse, you'll want to make sure it is both informative and concise. If you're creating a title, try to include the theme, geographic extent, and time period of the data, if applicable. If you have a formal title, consider appending additional information to it, set off by a colon.
   Some people recommend keeping the title shorter than 80 characters, but there is no set limit. Additional general information should be included in a succinct Abstract as well:

   Identification_Information:
     Description:
       Abstract: More detailed information
   

   If the data are published in an official sense, include the series name and the issue number, along with name and location of the publisher as follows:

   Identification_Information:
     Citation:
       Citation_Information:
         Series_Information:
           Series_Name: Name of series or journal
           Issue_Identification: Volume and issue number
         Publication_Information:
           Publication_Place: Location name
           Publisher: Company or organization name
   

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   Identification_Information:
     Spatial_Domain:
       Bounding_Coordinates:
         West_Bounding_Coordinate:  Westernmost longitude
         East_Bounding_Coordinate:  Easternmost longitude
         North_Bounding_Coordinate: Northernmost latitude
         South_Bounding_Coordinate: Southernmost latitude
   

   Write these values in decimal degrees even if the data set uses projected coordinates.
   
3. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Identification_Information:
     Time_Period_of_Content:
       Time_Period_Information:
         See How to describe time periods
       Currentness_Reference: What the time period means
   

4. Is this a digital map or remote-sensing image, or something different like tabular data?

   Identification_Information:
     Citation:
       Citation_Information:
         Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Pick from the list
   

   The list of standard values is:

       atlas
       diagram
       globe
       map
       model
       profile
       remote-sensing image
       section
       view
   

   Use one of these if you can, otherwise make up something more informative.
   
   
5. How does the data set represent geographic features?
6. How does the data set describe geographic features?