The sources for information used to create or update the metadata include yearly project work plans and progress summaries, publications, posters, fact sheets, etc. The software currently being used is Spatial Metadata Management System from Intergraph Corp. (NAYY - This is not an endorsement of the software by the U.S. Government.) Once the metadata record is created in SMMS, it is sent to the project Principal Investigator (PI) for review with a request for changes, additions, or corrections. When the record is approved by the PI, it is exported as an ASCII text file and checked for grammar and spelling errors. The record is then processed through mp (metadata parser software) written by Peter Schweitzer of the USGS. This software checks for errors in element relationships, missing elements, and invalid responses for elements with specific domains. The software allows output of the metadata in a number of formats - outline html (FGDC), sgml, text, Q&A or metadata in plain language, xml, and NASA DIF. These records are then sent to the SOFIA webmaster who posts the html, text, Q&A, and xml versions on the website. The sgml version is used by the FGDC NSDI Clearing house to index the records.
Demonstrations of the metadata portion of SOFIA and the software used to create the metadata are planned for the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) conference in April 2003.
All USGS Priority Ecosystem Studies (PES) projects funded in FY 2004 will have current metadata by the end of the fiscal year.
Work will continue on updating the metadata for completed projects. ISO Topic Category keywords will be added to the metadata records as they are updated. The addition of these keywords in necessary for the metadata records to be available through the GeoData.gov website.
The SOFIA metadata and website will be demonstrated at appropriate venues such as the National Ecosystem Restoration Conference (NCER) and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) conferences..
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for
Coastal Geology
Comments and suggestions? Contact: Heather
Henkel - Webmaster
Generated by mp version 2.8.18 on Fri Mar 09 17:46:16 2007