Hands-on metadata class

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Stitt, Susan, Lienkaemper, George, and Schweitzer, Peter, 2004, Hands-on metadata class: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1066.

   Online Links:

   • <http://gio.usgs.gov/egis/training/usgs_gis_2004/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Susan Stitt
   • George Lienkaemper
   • Peter Schweitzer

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

Why was the data set created?

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 20-Feb-2004

Metadata author:

Peter N. Schweitzer
U.S. Geological Survey
Mail Stop 954 National Center
U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
USA

(703) 648-6533 (voice)
(703) 648-6560 (FAX)
<mailto:pschweitzer@usgs.gov>

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)