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CIESIN's Guide to FGDC Compliant Metadata

5. Entity and Attribute Information

Entity and Attribute Information provides details about the information content of the dataset, including the entity types, their attributes, and the domains from which attribute values may be assigned.

5. Entity and Attribute Information  (Mandatory if Applicable)

CONTAINS:

5.1 Detailed Description  (Mandatory)
5.2 Overview Description  (Mandatory)

NOTE: This guide only provides information concerning optionality at the section level and top level elements within each section. Keep in mind that the optionality of a section or compound element always takes precedence over the elements that it contains, and if deemed applicable, then the optionality of its subordinate elements is to be interpreted. Refer to either the FGDC Metadata Workbook, Version 2.0 or Section 5 of the USGS's "Image Map of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata", a graphical representation of the Standard for rules concerning optionality.

5.1 Detailed Description

Definition: Description of the entities, attributes, attribute values, and related characteristics encoded in the dataset. This metadata element contains the following sub-elements:

5.1.1 Entity Type

Definition: The definition and description of a set into which similar entity instances are classified.

5.1.1.1 Entity Type Label

Definition: The name of the entity type.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Entity Type Label
: NYROADS

5.1.1.2 Entity Type Definition

Definition: The description of the entity type.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Entity Type Definition
: The roads of New York

5.1.1.3 Entity Type Definition Source

Definition: The authority of the definition.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Entity Type Definition Source
: None

5.1.2 Attribute

Definition: A defined characteristic of an entity.

5.1.2.1 Attribute Label

Definition: The name of the attribute.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Attribute Label
: NYROADS_TYPE

5.1.2.2 Attribute Definition

Definition: The description of the attribute.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Attribute Definition
: The road types of New York

5.1.2.3 Attribute Definition Source

Definition: The authority of the definition.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Attribute Definition Source
: None

5.1.2.4 Attribute Domain Values

Definition: The valid values that can be assigned for an attribute.

5.1.2.4.1 Enumerated Domain

Definition: The members of an established set of valid values.

5.1.2.4.1.1 Enumerated Domain Value

Definition: The name or label of a member of the set.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Enumerated Domain Value
: 1

5.1.2.4.1.2 Enumerated Domain Value Definition

Definition: The description of the value.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Enumerated Domain Value Definition
: Interstate Highway

5.1.2.4.1.3 Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source

Definition: The authority of the definition.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source
: None

5.1.2.4.2 Range Domain

Definition: The minimum and maximum values of a continuum of valid values.

5.1.2.4.2.1 Range Domain Minimum

Definition: The least value that the attribute can be assigned.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Range Domain Minimum
: 1

5.1.2.4.2.2 Range Domain Maximum

Definition: The greatest value that the attribute can be assigned.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Range Domain Maximum
: 4

5.1.2.4.2.3 Attribute Units of Measure

Definition: The standard of measurement for an attribute value.

Format: Free text.

5.1.2.4.2.4 Attribute Measurement Resolution

Definition: The smallest unit increment to which an attribute value is measured.

Format: Real; Resolution > 0.0

5.1.2.4.3 Codeset Domain

Definition: Reference to a standard or list which contains the members of an established set of valid values.

5.1.2.4.3.1 Codeset Name

Definition: The title of the codeset.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Codeset Name
: New York Road Types

5.1.2.4.3.2 Codeset Source

Definition: The authority for the codeset.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Codeset Source
: None

5.1.2.4.4 Unrepresentable Domain

Definition: Description of the values and reasons why they cannot be represented.

Format: Free text.

5.1.2.5 Beginning Date of Attribute Values

Definition: Earliest or only date for which the attribute values are current. In cases when a range of dates are provided, this is the earliest date for which the information are valid.

Format: Free date.

Example:
Beginning Date of Attribute Values
: 1999
Beginning Date of Attribute Values
: January 1999
Beginning Date of Attribute Values
: 1999-01-01
Beginning Date of Attribute Values
: 1999/01/01
Beginning Date of Attribute Values
: 19990101

5.1.2.6 Ending Date of Attribute Values

Definition: The latest date for which the information is current; used in cases when a range of dates are provided.

Format: Free date.

Example:
Ending Date of Attribute Values
: 1999
Ending Date of Attribute Values
: February 1999
Ending Date of Attribute Values
: 1999-02-01
Ending Date of Attribute Values
: 1999/02/01
Ending Date of Attribute Values
: 19990201

5.1.2.7 Attribute Value Accuracy Information

Definition: An assessment of the accuracy of the assignment of attribute values.

5.1.2.7.1 Attribute Value Accuracy

Definition: An estimate of the accuracy of the assignment of attribute values.

Format: Real.

5.1.2.7.2 Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation

Definition: The definition of the Attribute Value Accuracy measure and units, and a description of how the estimate was derived.

Format: Free text.

5.1.2.8 Attribute Measurement Frequency

Definition: The frequency with which attribute values are added.

Format: Free text.

Example:
Attribute Measurement Frequency
: Unknown
Attribute Measurement Frequency
: As needed
Attribute Measurement Frequency
: Irregular
Attribute Measurement Frequency
: None planned


5.2 Overview Description

Definition: Summary of, and citation to detailed description of, the information content of the dataset. This metadata element contains the following sub-elements:

5.2.1 Entity and Attribute Overview

Definition: Detailed summary of the information contained in a dataset.

Format: Free text.

5.2.2 Entity and Attribute Detail Citation

Definition: Reference to the complete description of the entity types, attributes, and attribute values for the data set.

Format: Free text.

CIESIN's Guide to FGDC Compliant Metadata

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