Documenting a geodatabase using metadata
Metadata is commonly defined as data about data. Metadata provides information about the content, lineage (history and quality of the spatial dataset), conditions and limitations for the access and use of spatial data, and other characteristics of data. The metadata information helps users easily evaluate the quality of data and decide whether the dataset is appropriate for their projects.
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For more information about different metadata standards, please refer to the following:
- ISO/TC211 standards (EN ISO19115, 19119 and 19139) at http://www.isotc211.org/.
- FGDC Geospatial metadata standards at https://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/.
- INSPIRE metadata standard at http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/.
- Dublin Core Metadata Initiative at http://dublincore.org/.
Regarding metadata, the INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council define metadata in Art. 3, paragraph (6) as the following: "information which describes spatial data sets and...