U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Procedure: GEOSPATIAL METADATA STANDARD

You are invited to read the definitions of terms used in this data standard.

Name
 Geospatial Metadata Standard
Description
 Federal participation in the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is mandated by OMB Circular No. A-16 (Revised), “Coordination of Geographic Information and Related Spatial Data Activities”. The Circular also establishes the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) as the interagency coordinating body for facilitating Circular A-16 related and implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). 

Executive Order 12906, "Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure," was signed on April 11, 1994, by President William Clinton. Executive Order 12906 requires Federal agencies to document all new geospatial data they collect or produce, either directly or indirectly, using the metadata standard developed by the FGDC.  This standard is known as the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, Version 2, FGDC-STD-001-1998.
Source
 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), Version 2, FGDC-STD-001-1998
Reference(s)

Part 270, FW 6, Data Management and Standards, dated September 30, 2002.

Graphical representation of the FGDC CSDGM Version 2 - view or download a color-coded graphic produced by the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Biological Informatics in conjunction with the FGDC.

Graphical summary of the FGDC CSDGM Version 2 - view or download a color-coded graphic produced by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Use Instructions
 The FGDC CSDGM standard will be used to document geospatial data sets created by FWS staff or by any individual employed as a contractor to the FWS. Specifically, the CSDGM Version 2 must be used to document data that will be shared, used many times, or of potential historic/long-term importance. The mandatory use of this standard does not apply to temporary or intermediate data; however, the standard must be used to document the steps taken to create the final data files.

The Biological Data Profile of the CSDGM Version 2 is designed to document biological data sets, both geospatial and non-geospatial in nature and includes all the elements in the CSDGM, as well as additional elements to describe biological data sets. The adopted Service standard for Biological Metadata can be viewed at this site.

The FWS is an official Clearinghouse Node of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) Clearinghouse. The NBII Metadata Clearinghouse is a registered node on the FGDC's National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Clearinghouse Network, which means that FGDC-compliant metadata records are searchable on the NSDI Clearinghouse and readily accessible for harvesting by Geospatial One-Stop (geodata.gov). 

Guidance and Tools
 Metadata Guidance - general information and FAQ's on using the FGDC metadata standards.

Metadata Records and Templates - example FWS metadata records and templates for metadata creation.

Metadata Support  - information on FWS metadata support services and the Memorandum of Understanding with USGS NBII Program on creating and publishing formal metadata on geospatial data sets.

Metadata Tools - commercial and freeware/shareware tools for creating FGDC-compliant metadata.

Overview on Geospatial Metadata - information and links to FGDC standards, training opportunities, available training materials, and USGS metadata FAQ's.
Phase
 Adopted
Initial Approval Date
 August 31, 1998
Revision Approval Date
 October 12, 2007
Validation Date
 September 27, 2007
Data Steward Barbara White, National Data Administrator, Branch of Data and System Services, Division of Information Resources and Technology Management

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These pages are maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Information Resources and Technology Management. Please feel free to contact Barb White with any questions and comments.

Keywords=fish, wildlife, biological, metadata, clearinghouse, profile, geospatial, GIS, non-geospatial, FGDC, NBII, data, elements, standards, procedures, tools
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