Glossary of Metadata Fields Description

This glossary provides you with brief descriptions of the minimum set of metadata fields required to properly describe a geographical data as well as some optional elements highly suggested for a more extensive standard description.

Access constraints: Access constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations on obtaining the resource
Abstract: Brief narrative summary of the content of the resource(s)
Administrative area: State, province of the location
Temporal extent - Begin date: Formatted as 2007-09-12T15:00:00 (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss)
Character set: Full name of the character coding standard used for the metadata set
Grid spatial representation - Cell geometry: Identification of grid data as point or cell
City: City of the location
Reference System Info - Code: Alphanumeric value identifying an instance in the namespace
Country: Country of the physical address
Data quality info: Provides overall assessment of quality of a resource(s)
Date: Reference date and event used to describe it (YYYY-MM-DD)
Date stamp: Date that the metadata was created (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss)
Date type: Event used for reference date
Delivery point: Address line for the location (as described in ISO 11180, annex A)
Equivalent scale - Denominator: The number below the line in a vulgar fraction
Data Quality - Description: Description of the event, including related parameters or tolerances
OnLine resource - Description: Detailed text description of what the online resource is/does
Descriptive keywords: Provides category keywords, their type, and reference source
Grid spatial representation - Dimension name: Name of the axis i.e. row, column
Grid spatial representation - Dimension size: Number of elements along the axis
Dimension size Resolution: Number of elements along the axis
Distribution info: Provides information about the distributor of and options for obtaining the resource(s)
Geographic bounding box - East bound longitude: Eastern-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)
Edition: Version of the cited resource
Electronic mail address: Address of the electronic mailbox of the responsible organisation or individual
Temporal extent - End date: Formatted as 2007-09-12T15:00:00 (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss)
Equivalent scale: Level of detail expressed as the scale of a comparable hardcopy map or chart
Extent: Information about spatial, vertical, and temporal extent
Facsimile: Telephone number of a facsimile machine for the responsible organisation or individual
File identifier: Unique identifier for this metadata file
Vector spatial representation - Geometric object type: Name of point and vector spatial objects used to locate zero-, one-and two-dimensional spatial locations in the dataset
Vector spatial representation - Geometric object count: Total number of the point or vector object type occurring in the dataset
Geographic bounding box: Geographic position of the dataset
Grid spatial representation: Information about grid spatial objects in the dataset
Grid spatial representation - Resolution value: Degree of detail in the grid dataset
Grid spatial representation - Transformation parameter availability: Indication of whether or not parameters for transformation exists
Data Quality - Hierarchy level: Hierarchical level of the data specified by the scope
Identification info: Basic information about the resource(s) to which the metadata applies
Point of Contact - Individual name: Name of the responsible person- surname, given name, title separated by a delimiter
Keyword: Commonly used word(s) or formalised word(s) or phrase(s) used to describe the subject
Data Language: Language used for documenting data
Metadata - Language: Language used for documenting metadata
Data Quality - Lineage: Non-quantitative quality information about the lineage of the data specified by the scope. Mandatory if report not provided
OnLine resource - Linkage: Location (address) for on-line access using a Uniform Resource Locator address or similar addressing scheme such as http://www.statkart.no/isotc211
Maintenance and update frequency: Frequency with which changes and additions are made to the resource after the initial resource is completed
Metadata author: Party responsible for the metadata information
Metadata standard name: Name of the metadata standard (including profile name) used
Metadata standard version: Version (profile) of the metadata standard used
OnLine resource - Name: Name of the online resource
Geographic bounding box - North bound latitude: Northern-most, coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent expressed in latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)
Grid spatial representation - Number of dimensions: Number of independent spatial-temporal axes
Distribution Info - OnLine resource: Information about online sources from which the resource can be obtained
Point of Contact - Organisation name: Name of the responsible organisation
Other constraints: Other restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing and using the resource
Point of contact: Identification of, and means of communication with, person(s) and organisations(s) associated with the resource(s)
Point of contact - Position name: Role or position of the responsible person
Postal code: ZIP or other postal code
Presentation form: Mode in which the resource is represented
OnLine resource - Protocol: Connection protocol to be used
Purpose: Summary of the intentions with which the resource(s) was developed
Reference system info: Description of the spatial and temporal reference systems used in the datasetData
Data Quality - Report: Quantitative quality information for the data specified by the scope. Mandatory if lineage not provided
Grid spatial representation - Resolution value: Degree of detail in the grid dataset
Point of contact - Role: Function performed by the responsible party
Geographic bounding box - South bound latitude: Southern-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)
Spatial representation info: Digital representation of spatial information in the dataset
Spatial representation type: Method used to spatially represent geographic information
Data Quality - Statement: General explanation of the data producer's knowledge about the lineage of a dataset
Status: Status of the resource(s)
Supplemental Information: Any other descriptive information about the dataset
Temporal Extent: Time period covered by the content of the dataset
Title: Name by which the cited resource is known
Topic category code: High-level geographic data thematic classification to assist in the grouping and search of available geographic data sets. Can be used to group keywords as well. Listed examples are not exhaustive. NOTE It is understood there are overlaps between general categories and the user is encouraged to select the one most appropriate.
Grid spatial representation - Transformation parameter availability: Indication of whether or not parameters for transformation exists
Vector spatial representation - Topology level: Code which identifies the degree of complexity of the spatial relationships
Type: Subject matter used to group similar keywords
URL: Unified Resource Locator
Use constraints: Constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations or warnings on using the resource
Vector spatial representation: Information about the vector spatial objects in the dataset
Voice: Telephone number by which individuals can speak to the responsible organisation or individual
Geographic bounding box - West bound longitude: Western-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)