The conservation GIS community is invited to a one-day Environmental Data Management Workshop, to be held at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California, Wednesday, August 20, 2008 from 9-5.

This workshop will cover basics of creating FGDC metadata in the morning, and organizational metadata management strategies in the afternoon. It is hosted by Sonoma Ecology Center and the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation Commons.

The workshop is limited to 24 and is intended for the Greater San Francisco Bay Area environmental data professionals. Other participants will be included as space permits. There are no registration or parking fees, but participants are responsible for their own transportation and lunch.

Participants must register in advance by contacting Pat Stiefer at Pat@SonomaEcologyCenter.org

WORKSHOP AGENDA:

Morning: METADATA BASICS FOR GEO-SPATIAL DATA

Metadata overview:

-what is it and why we do it

-metadata standards

-federal standards, present and future (CSDGM and ISO/NAP)

Creating metadata:

-some metadata editor options

-tour of ArcCatalog 9.2 and hands-on creation of your metadata record

Afternoon: ORGANIZATIONAL DATA MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Managing your metadata:

-tips on starting a metadata program in your organization

-streamlining your metadata workflow

-metadata catalogs

Sharing metadata - why and how:

-publishing your own catalog

-participating in a regional or national data community

-hands-on use of CERES / SF Commons publishing tools