Metadata is "data about the data". In GIS, metadata is information about the spatial data. This can include a huge variety of information like the source of the original data, the date it was collected, how the data has been processed, who owns the data, and estimates of the error or "uncertainty" of the data.
There are metadata standards that describe hundreds of different types of information that you could put into a metadata file. Think for a moment about what you need to know when you download data from the web and then find a problem. I feel, the most critical elements for metadata are:
The source of the data let's me go back to where I found the data and get additional information if available. The contact information would allow me to find the person responsible for the data in case I had a question. Finally, the date lets me know how out of date the data is so I know when I need to update the data.
The next most important metadata information is:
There are a number of organizations that manage the standards for metadata. The general ones are below but you may find one in your specific area of interest as well.
There are two important standards to remember for metadata in the United States. FGDC is the Federal Geographic Data Committee who created the original metadata format for the US. A version of this standard has been adopted as ISO 19115 and this is the standard (or a version of it) that will probably be used the most in the United States in the future. Many government organizations use these standards and require some level of compliance to these standards. The good news is that the lab this week will show you how to add the required metadata to your shapefiles relatively easily.
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