Identification Information provides basic information about a data
set.
Description provides a characterization of the dataset.
It includes details on what the resource is about, why it was created,
and allows for additional information specific to the resource that
is not covered elsewhere in the metadata record. This metadata element
contains the following sub-elements:
1.2.1 Abstract
Definition: A brief narrative of the dataset or
information resource. The first sentence of an abstract should always
identify by full title the item being described. See Appendix 4. Writing Abstracts for a detailed discussion on writing abstracts.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Abstract: Gridded Population of the World (GPW), Version 2.0 (v2)
consists of estimates of human population for the years 1995 and 1990
by 2.5 arc-minute grid cells. The 3 products are population counts
(raw counts), population densities (per square km), and land area
(actual area net of ice and water), all of which are available in
two GIS-compatible data formats at the global, continent (Antarctica
not included), and country levels. A proportional allocation gridding
algorithm, utilizing 127,105 national and sub-national administrative
units, is used to assign population values to grid cells. Advantages
to GPW v2 include higher quality data from the U.S., Africa, Australia,
Canada, Europe, Russia, New Zealand, and India; 8 times the number
of administrative units; national population estimates that have been
adjusted to match the United Nations national estimated population
for each country; a proportional allocation algorithm that reduces
error with multiple input polygons; and higher spatial resolution.
GPW v2 is produced by the Columbia University Center for International
Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) in collaboration with the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World
Resources Institute (WRI).
Abstract: Chinese County-Level Data on Hospitals and Epidemiology
Stations, 1950-1985 consists of hospital and epidemiological station
data for the administrative regions of China from 1950 to 1985. The
data includes name and years of operation at a scale of one to one
million (1:1M) at the county level. This dataset is produced in collaboration
with the University of Washington as part of the China in Time and
Space (CITAS) project, and the Columbia University Center for International
Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).
1.2.2 Purpose
Definition: A summary of the intentions with which
the dataset was developed.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Purpose: To provide access to and enhance the use of information
worldwide, advancing understanding of human interactions in the environment, and serving the needs of science, and public and private decision
making.
Purpose: To provide consultants, planners, and resource managers
with information on wetland location and type. The data were collected
to meet U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mandate to map the wetland
and deep water habitats of the United States.
1.2.3 Supplemental Information
Definition: Additional descriptive information about
the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Supplemental Information:
This is the first version of the Global Subnational Infant Mortality Rates dataset. If you discover any errors or have any issues with the data, please let us know at ciesin.info@ciesin.columbia.edu.
1.3 Time Period of Content
Definition: The time period(s) to which the dataset
corresponds to the currentness reference.
Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Time
Period of Content are contained in Section 9
(Time Period).
1.3.1 Currentness Reference
Definition: The basis on which the Time Period of
Content information is determined; provides information about how
up-to-date the dataset is.
Format: Free Text.
Example:
Currentness Reference: ground condition
Currentness Reference: publication date
1.4 Status
Status includes the state of, and maintenance information
for the dataset. This metadata element contains the following sub-elements:
1.4.1 Progress
Definition: The state of the dataset.
Format: Controlled text.
Example:
Progress: complete
Progress: in work
Progress: planned
1.4.2 Maintenance and Update Frequency
Definition: The frequency with which changes and
additions are made to the dataset after the initial dataset completed.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Maintenance and Update Frequency: continually
Maintenance and Update Frequency: daily
Maintenance and Update Frequency: weekly
Maintenance and Update Frequency: monthly
Maintenance and Update Frequency: annually
Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknown
Maintenance and Update Frequency: as needed
Maintenance and Update Frequency: irregular
Maintenance and Update Frequency: none planned
1.5 Spatial Domain
Spatial Domain provides the geographic areal domain of the
dataset. This metadata element contains the following sub-elements:
1.5.1 Bounding Coordinates
The limits of coverage of a dataset expressed by latitude
and longitude values in the order western-most, eastern-most, northern-most,
and southern-most. For datasets that include a complete band of latitude
around the earth, the West Bounding Coordinate shall be assigned the
value -180.0, and the East Bounding Coordinate shall be assigned the
value 180.0.
1.5.1.1 West Bounding Coordinate
Definition: The western-most coordinate of the
limit of coverage expressed in longitude.
Format: Real; range from -180.0 to 180.0 longitude.
Example:
West Bounding Coordinate: 74.5
West Bounding Coordinate: -10.0
1.5.1.2 East Bounding Coordinate
Definition: The eastern-most coordinate of the
limit of coverage expressed in longitude.
Format: Real; range from -180.0 to 180.0 longitude.
Example:
East Bounding Coordinate: 100.2
East Bounding Coordinate: -55.7
1.5.1.3 North Bounding Coordinate
Definition: The northern-most coordinate of the
limit of coverage expressed in latitude.
Format: Real; range from -90.0 to 90.0 latitude.
Example:
North Bounding Coordinate: 40.8
North Bounding Coordinate: -22.7
1.5.1.4 South Bounding Coordinate
Definition: The southern-most coordinate of the
limit of coverage expressed in latitude.
Format: Real; range from -90.0 to 90.0 latitude.
Example:
South Bounding Coordinate: 6.0
South Bounding Coordinate: -72.2
1.5.2 Data Set G-Polygon
Coordinates defining the outline of an area covered by
the dataset.
1.5.2.1 Data Set G-Polygon Outer Ring
The closed nonintersecting boundary of an interior area.
1.5.2.1.1 G-Ring Point
A single geographic location.
1.5.2.1.1.1 G-Ring Latitude
Definition: The latitude of the point of the g-ring.
Format: Real; range from -90.0 to 90.0 latitude.
Example:
G-Ring Latitude: 13.0
G-Ring Latitude: -33.2
1.5.2.1.1.2 G-Ring Longitudegrounded0101
Definition: The longitude of the point of the g-ring.
Format: Real; range from -180.0 to 180.0 longitude.
Example:
G-Ring Longitude: 85.4
G-Ring Longitude: -134.6
1.5.2.1.2 G-Ring
Definition: A set of ordered pairs of floating-point
numbers, separated by commas, in which the first number in each
pair is the longitude of a point and the second is the latitude
of the point. Longitude and latitude are specified in decimal
degrees with north latitudes positive and south negative, east
longitude positive and west negative.
Format: Real; range from -180.0 to 180.0 longitude, -90.0
to 90.0 latitude.
Example:
G-Ring: -76.0 40.0, -76.0 42.0, -74.0 42.0, -74.0 40.0
G-Ring: 30.0 -30.0, 30.0 -25.0, 35.0 -25.0, 35.0 -30.0
1.5.2.2 Data Set G-Polygon Exclusion G-Ring
The closed nonintersecting boundary of a void area (or
"hole" in an interior area).
1.6 Keywords
Keywords are words or phrases summarizing an aspect of the dataset. There are two categories of keywords: controlled and uncontrolled. Controlled keywords are terms taken from an established authoritative
list (thesaurus) of indexing terms. Uncontrolled keywords are terms
applied as free text and are not derived from an established authoritative
list. This metadata element contains the following sub-elements:
1.6.1 Theme
The subjects covered by the dataset. (See:
CIESIN Indexing Vocabulary).
1.6.1.1 Theme Keyword Thesaurus
Definition: Reference to a formally registered
thesaurus or a similar authoritative source of theme keywords.
Format: None, free text.
Example:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: CIESIN Indexing Vocabulary
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: Global Change Master Directory Science Keywords
1.6.1.2 Theme Keyword
Definition: Common-use word or phrase used to
describe the subject of the dataset.
Format: Controlled text, free text (Uncontrolled).
Example:
Theme Keyword: CIESIN > Agriculture and Food Security > Agricultural
Diseases > Animal Diseases
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > Agriculture > Agricultural Aquatic
Sciences > Aquaculture
Theme Keyword: Population Density
Theme Keyword: GPW Version 2
1.6.2 Place
The geographic locations characterized by the dataset.
(See: CIESIN Location Indexing Terms.)
1.6.2.1 Place Keyword Thesaurus
Definition: Reference to a formally registered
thesaurus or a similar authoritative source of place keywords.
Format: None, free text.
Example:
Place Keyword Thesaurus: CIESIN Indexing Vocabulary
Place Keyword Thesaurus: Global
Change Master Directory Location Keywords
1.6.2.2 Place Keyword
Definition: The geographic name of a location
covered by a dataset.
Format: Controlled text, free text.
Example:
Place Keyword: Country/Island > United States
Place Keyword: Continent/Region > North America
Place Keyword: Water Body > Atlantic Ocean
1.6.3 Stratum
Layered, vertical locations characterized by the dataset.
1.6.3.1 Stratum Keyword Thesaurus
Definition: Reference to a formally registered thesaurus
or a similar authoritative source of stratum keywords.
Format: None, free text.
Example:
Stratum Keyword Thesaurus: Global
Change Master Directory Location Keywords
1.6.3.2 Stratum Keyword
Definition: The name of a vertical location used
to describe the locations covered by a dataset.
Format: Controlled text, free text.
Example:
Stratum Keyword: Troposphere
Stratum Keyword: Mantle
1.6.4 Temporal
Time period(s) characterized by the dataset.
1.6.4.1 Temporal Keyword Thesaurus
Definition: Reference to a formally registered
thesaurus or a similar authoritative source of temporal keywords.
Format: None, free text.
1.6.4.2 Temporal Keyword
Definition: The name of a time period covered
by a dataset.
Format: Controlled text, free text.
Example:
Temporal Keyword: Hourly
Temporal Keyword: Daily
Temporal Keyword: Jurassic
1.7 Access Constraints
Definition: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for
accessing the dataset. These include any access constraints applied
to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any
special restrictions or limitations on obtaining the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Access Constraints: None
Access Constraints: CIESIN offers unrestricted access and use of
data without charge, unless specified in the documentation for particular
data. All other rights are reserved.
1.8 Use Constraints
Definition: Restrictions and legal prerequisites for
using the dataset after access is granted. These include any use constraints
applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property,
and any special restrictions or limitations on using the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Use Constraints: None
Use Constraints: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Trustees
of Columbia University in the City of New York hold the copyright of
this dataset. Users are prohibited from any commercial, non-free resale,
or redistribution without explicit written permission from WCS or CIESIN.
Users should acknowledge WCS and CIESIN as the source used in the creation
of any reports, publications, new datasets, derived products, or services
resulting from the use of this dataset. WCS or CIESIN also request
reprints of any publications and notification of any redistributing
efforts.
1.9 Point of Contact
Definition: Contact information for an individual
and/or organization that is knowledgeable about the dataset.
Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Point
of Contact are contained in Section 10 (Contact
Information).
1.10 Browse Graphic
A graphic that provides an illustration of the dataset.
The graphic should include a legend for interpreting the graphic. This
metadata element contains the following sub-elements:
1.10.1 Browse Graphic File Name
Definition: The name of a related graphic file that
provides an illustration or the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Browse Graphic File Name: africa_population_density
1.10.2 Browse Graphic File Description
Definition: A text description of the illustration.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Browse Graphic File Description: 1995 Africa Population Density
(Lambert Azimuthal Projection).
1.10.3 Browse Graphic File Type
Definition: File type of a graphic file.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Browse Graphic File Type: CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
Browse Graphic File Type: EPS (Encapsulated Postscript format)
Browse Graphic File Type: EMF (Enhanced Metafile)
Browse Graphic File Type: GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
Browse Graphic File Type: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group
format)
Browse Graphic File Type: PBM (Portable Bit Map format)
Browse Graphic File Type: PS (Postscript format)
Browse Graphic File Type: TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
Browse Graphic File Type: WMF (Windows Metafile)
Browse Graphic File Type: XWD (X-Windows Dump)
1.11 Data Set Credit
Definition: Recognition of those who contributed to
the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Data Set Credit: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw/credits.jsp
1.12 Security Information
Handling restrictions imposed on the dataset because of
national security, privacy, or other concerns. This metadata element
contains the following sub-elements:
1.12.1 Security Classification System
Definition: Name of the classifications system.
Format: Free text.
1.12.2 Security Classification
Definition: Name of the handling restrictions on
the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Security Classification: Top secret
Security Classification: Secret
Security Classification: Confidential
Security Classification: Restricted
Security Classification: Unclassified
Security Classification: Sensitive
1.12.3 Security Handling Description
Definition: Additional information about the restrictions
on handling the dataset.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Security Handling Description: Data archivist must approve additional
data processing.
1.13 Native Data Set Environment
Definition: A description of the dataset in the producer's
processing environment, including items such as the name of the software
(including version), the computer operating system, file name (including
host-, path-, and filenames), and the dataset size.
Format: Free text.
Example:
Native Data Set Environment: UNIX and windows
1.14 Cross Reference
Definition: Information about other, related data
sets that are likely of interest.
Guidelines and examples for applying the metadata sub-elements for Cross
Reference are contained in Section 8 (Citation
Information).