What
is Metadata?
Metadata is the technical word for 'data about data. It is the term used
to describe the summary information or characteristics of a set of data.
An example of metadata might be a library catalogue. In the area of geospatial
information or information with a geographic component this normally means
the What, Who, Where, When and How of the data. The only major difference
that therefore exists from the many other metadata sets being collected
for libraries, academia, professions and elsewhere is the emphasis on
the spatial component - or the 'where' element.
Having this
summary of the data is no different from the summary information that
exists for many items in everyday life. A mail order catalogue provides
metadata, which summarises the basic information about electrical goods,
whereas labels on food products provide statements on ingredients, nutritional
value and manufacturer. It is this metadata which is looked at by the
consumer or data user to determine whether it is fit for the purpose for
which they wish to use it. Geospatial data is no different. |
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These
different levels might therefore be described as:
• Discovery metadata - which answers the question
"What datasets hold the sort of data I am interested in"
• Exploration metadata - Do the identified datasets contain sufficient
information to enable a sensible analysis to be made for my purposes?
• Exploitation metadata - the process of obtaining and using the data
that are required
Metadata is derived from the Greek root meta, "change" and data and so refers
to the changes that take place in data (and therefore the need to document
these changes creating a summary of data about data)
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