Understanding Geospatial

Metadata
Standards, Processes, Tools, and Common
Myths

©Sujan Parajuli
 What is Geospatial Metadata?

Is the structured information that

describes essential details about a Acts as a map for the data
spatial dataset—such as its content, itself, detailing how it was
source, methods, accuracy, generated, processed, and
resolution,coordinate systems, should be interpreted.
intended use, and responsible
organizations.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Importance of Geospatial Metadata
Data Interoperability Data Quality Data Integrity
Discovery and Usability and Validation
Helps users Facilitates Includes Records a
find datasets integration and information on dataset’s lineage,
relevant to their sharing across data accuracy, providing
needs, systems and resolution, and transparency
understand organizations completeness, about its source,
their content, by allowing users transformations,
and assess standardizing to make and assumptions.
their fitness for descriptions. informed
use. decisions.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Tools for Geospatial Metadata
ESRI ArcCatalog
Metatools by QGIS
A free tool within ArcGIS Pro
that provides metadata Provides a range of plugins
creation, viewing, and editing and tools for creating and USGS Metadata
functionalities. editing metadata within QGIS Wizard

GeoNetwork CATMDEdit Developed by the U.S.

Geological Survey (USGS) and
An open-source catalog is based on the Content
A free tool for creating Standard for Digital Geospatial
application for managing and
and managing metadata Metadata (CSDGM)
sharing geospatial metadata.
based on ISO 19115
standards.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Geospatial Metadata Standards
INSPIRE Metadata
ISO 19115
Regulation
A European standard that A comprehensive standard for
ensures data compatibility describing geographic FGDC (Federal
across European Union information and services.
countries.
Geographic Data
Committee)
ANZLIC Metadata Dublin Core
Profile Commonly used in the U.S., it
provides a framework for data
A standard applicable
Designed specifically for documentation.
across many domains,
spatial data in Australia and including geospatial data
New Zealand.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Essential Elements U.S. FGDC
Identification Spatial and
Information Temporal Extent
1
Name, description, purpose, Geographic coverage 2 Data Quality
and keywords associated with (coordinates or area) and
the dataset. temporal coverage (when Information
data was collected). 3
Data Format and Details on data accuracy,
Spatial Reference reliability, and validation
Distribution methods.
5 Coordinate system,
File format, data type,
projection, and datum
distribution methods, and any
details.
associated software
requirements. 4
©Sujan Parajuli
 Steps in Geospatial Metadata Creation
Identify Dataset Content Document the dataset's title, abstract,
01 keywords, and intended use. This provides
and Purpose users with a high-level overview.
Specify Geographic and Include spatial boundaries (e.g.,
02 coordinates) and relevant dates, such as
Temporal Coverage creation and last update.
Record details about data accuracy,
03 Describe Data Quality precision, resolution, and completeness.
Include any known limitations.
Document dataset lineage, including data
Identify Data Sources
04 sources, collection methods, and processing
and Processes steps.
Define Access and Use Specify legal, privacy, or ethical restrictions
05 on data access, as well as appropriate usage
Constraints guidelines.
©Sujan Parajuli
 Geospatial Data Standards: Key Organizations
International Federal Geographic Open Geospatial
Organization for Data Committee Consortium
Standardization (FGDC) (OGC)
(ISO) Oversees U.S. geospatial Develops standards
standards, including the such as Web Map
Sets global Service (WMS) and
Content Standard for
geospatial standards Geography Markup
Digital Geospatial
like ISO 19115, Language (GML),
Metadata (CSDGM),
enhancing metadata enabling cross-platform
promoting uniform data
consistency and geospatial data sharing
documentation for
international data and system
federal and state
interoperability. compatibility.
agencies.
©Sujan Parajuli
 Key FGDC Standards
FGDC Endorsed ISO Standards Content Standard for Digital
Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM)
Endorses international ISO standards
like ISO 19115 and ISO 19139 to Establishes guidelines for
enhance interoperability and alignment documenting geospatial data, including
with global geospatial systems. metadata elements that support data
discovery and sharing across federal
agencies.
Geospatial Positioning Accuracy
Standards (National Standard for
Framework Data Standards
Spatial Data Accuracy - NSSDA)
Defines frameworks for seven core
Provides methods for measuring and geospatial data layers, ensuring
reporting the positional accuracy of consistent data collection and usage
spatial data, essential for across federal agencies.
high-precision applications.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Key ISO Standards
ISO 19115 ISO 19107
(Geographic Information - (Spatial Schema)
Specifies schemas for vector-based
Metadata)
spatial objects, focusing on geometry
Defines the structure for
and topology representations in GIS.
geospatial metadata,
detailing data creation, ISO 19139
content, spatial reference,
(Metadata XML Schema Implementation)
and quality to support data
Provides XML schema implementations for ISO
discovery and management.
19115 metadata, enabling standardized
encoding and automated metadata processing.
ISO 19111
(Spatial Referencing by ISO 19157
Coordinates) (Geographic Information - Data Quality)
Establishes methods for managing
Sets guidelines for assessing geospatial data
coordinate reference systems, crucial
quality, covering accuracy, completeness, and
for spatial data accuracy and
consistency to ensure reliable spatial analyses.
interoperability.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Key OGC Standards
Web Map Service (WMS) Web Coverage Service (WCS)
A protocol for delivering georeferenced map Designed for accessing raster data like
images over the internet, enabling integration satellite imagery, WCS allows high-resolution
of maps from multiple sources into a single data downloads suitable for remote sensing
interface.
applications.

Web Feature Service (WFS) Geography Markup Language (GML)

Provides access to vector-based spatial
An XML-based format for encoding
features, allowing users to retrieve and
geographic data, enabling consistent data
analyze actual spatial data rather than just
exchange across different platforms.
images.

Sensor Observation Service (SOS) Keyhole Markup Language (KML)

Defines an interface for accessing real-time A format for representing geographic data in
sensor data, supporting IoT applications Earth browsers, supporting map annotation
and environmental monitoring. and 3D data visualization.

©Sujan Parajuli
 U.S. FGDC VS ISO 19115
Uses the FGDC (CSDGM) standard for Primary Serves as the global framework for geospatial
metadata, widely adopted among Standards metadata.
federal and state agencies

Simpler and easier to implement, Scope and Serves as the global framework for geospatial
tailored to national datasets Complexity metadata.
Geared towards U.S. interoperability but Focus on Emphasizes cross-border compatibility,
may require adjustments for use with Interoperability benefiting multinational projects.
international datasets
Mandated or encouraged in areas like the EU
U.S. federal agencies are required to Government
through policies such as the INSPIRE directive
follow FGDC standards Mandates
to foster global data-sharing.

Has limited support for newer data Support for Includes extensions (e.g., ISO 19115-1,
types like real-time or high-resolution Emerging 19115-2) that accommodate advanced and
imagery Data Types real-time data for diverse applications.
©Sujan Parajuli
 Challenges in Geospatial Metadata Management
Consistency and Interoperability Resource Metadata
Completeness Between Constraints Maintenance
Standards
Comprehensive Metadata must be
Creating metadata Different metadata creation regularly updated to
that meets all organizations may can be reflect any changes
standards while use different time-intensive, to the dataset, which
remaining standards, creating requiring dedicated can be challenging
user-friendly can difficulties in data resources and without automated
be challenging, integration and expertise. tools.
especially for compatibility.
complex datasets.

©Sujan Parajuli
 Myths and Truths about Geospatial Metadata
“ Metadata is “ Metadata is
“ Metadata is “ Metadata is
Optional ” Self-Explanatory “
Static “ Only for Data
Scientists “
Truth: Metadata is Truth: Metadata Truth: High-quality
essential for data should be Truth: Metadata metadata requires
discovery, usability, dynamic, evolving serves a wide careful curation to
and integration. as data undergoes audience—from ensure clarity,
Without it, datasets updates or policymakers to completeness, and
lack context, modifications to engineers—facilitati adherence to
leading to misuse accurately reflect ng informed use standards, helping
or changes. and end-users interpret
misinterpretation. decision-making data accurately.
across sectors.
©Sujan Parajuli