U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Procedure: BIOLOGICAL METADATA STANDARD
You are invited to read the definitions of terms used in this data standard.
| Name |
Biological Metadata Standard |
| Description |
The Biological Data Profile of the Federal Geographic Data Committee's (FGDC) Content
Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), FGDC-STD-001.1-1999, provides a common
set of terminology and definitions for the documentation of biological data through the
creation of extended elements. This is an official profile of the data documentation
referenced in
Executive Order 12906, which requires that spatial data be documented in a consistent manner to
facilitate sharing data and to reduce duplication of effort. The Profile is designed to document biological data sets, both geospatial and non-geospatial in nature and includes all the elements in the FGDC CSDGM, as well as additional elements to describe biological data sets. Because the Profile includes all elements in the "base" FGDC CSDGM, the software tools and protocols used to collect, index, or exchange FGDC metadata are compatible with the metadata produced according to the Profile. |
| Source |
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Part 1, Biological Data Profile |
| Reference(s) |
Part 270, FW 6, Data Management and Standards, dated September 30, 2002. Graphical Representation of the Biological Data Profile - view or download a color-coded graphic produced by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in conjunction with the FGDC. Biological Metadata: An Invaluable Information Tool Fact Sheet |
| Use Instructions |
The Biological Data Profile of the FGDC CSDGM must be used to document
biological data that is created by Service staff or by contractors.
Specifically, the Profile must be used to document data that will be shared, used many times, or of potential
historic/long-term importance to the Service. The mandatory use of the
Profile does not apply to
temporary or intermediate data; however, it must be used to document the steps
taken to create the final data files. The Profile can be used to specify metadata content for the full range of biological resources data and information. This includes biological data that are explicitly geospatial in nature, data that are not explicitly geospatial (such as data resulting from field or laboratory-based research), and "information" categories such as research reports, field notes, or specimen collections. The adopted Service standard for Geospatial Metadata can be viewed at this site. The Biological Data Profile is an important component of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). The NBII Metadata Clearinghouse is a registered node on the FGDC's National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Clearinghouse Network. The FWS is an official NBII Clearinghouse Node, 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 |
Biological Data Profile Workbook (for use with CSDGM Version 2,
FGDC-STD-001-1998) 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. |
| Phase |
Adopted |
| Initial Approval Date |
August 20, 2003 |
| 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 Andrey Andreyev with any questions and comments.
Keywords=fish, wildlife, biological, metadata, clearinghouse, profile, geospatial, non-geospatial,
FGDC, NBII, data, elements, standards, procedures, tools
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