| Metadata is a summary
document providing content, quality, type, creation, and
spatial information about a data set. It can be stored
in any format such as a text file or database record.
Because of its small size compared to the data it describes,
metadata is more easily shareable. By creating metadata
and sharing it with others, information about existing
data becomes readily available to anyone seeking it. Metadata
makes data discovery easier and reduces data duplication.
- (ESRI, 2002) |
|
It is important to keep
spatial metadata records as it maintains an organization’s
investment in spatial data. Metadata provides information
about the data available within an organization. It helps
users to find data, and also tells how to interpret and
use this data. Publishing metadata facilitates data sharing.
Sharing of data between organizations stimulates cooperation
and a coordinated and integrated approach to spatial related
policy issues. |
| For metadata to be useful
it is essential that they follow a widely accepted standards.”
Standards should be consistent, unambiguous, comprehensive,
flexible and efficient. Standards solve particular problems,
such as how to represent data efficiently and they create
benefits such as interoperability, portability, ease of
use, and economies of scale More. |
|
There are seven core metadata
elements
|