Example FWS Biological Metadata Records and Templates

• Example FWS biological metadata record with the basic data elements needed to comply with the minimal documentation of biological data sets in the FWS. The example record, courtesy of Region 5, Gulf of Maine Program, inlcudes short notes by a number of the elements on what should be entered.
• The completed FWS biological metadata record - fully documents the elements needed to comply with the FWS guidelines for minimal metadata documention. 
• The completed FWS biological metadata record - fully documents all applicable elements in the FGDC Profile.
• The completed FWS biological metadata record - documents a minimal, but adequate, set of applicable elements in the FGDC Profile.
• Input template in Word 97/2000 for Windows format - lists all the metadata elements in the FGDC Profile. This template can be used to document the required data elements without using a metadata creation software tool. It can also be used as a reference for what to enter in the element fields.

Metadata Support Tools

A variety of software tools are available for metadata creation. Each one listed below makes use of the FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata and may support the Biological Data Profile. This is not an endorsement of these tools, however, and the FWS does not guarantee the results from using these tools for metadata creation.

Metadata Creation Software

• Intergraph Spatial Metadata Management System (SMMS)
  Information about creating NBII-compliant metadata with SMMS.

• USGS
  TKME Windows platform tool.(free)
  XTME UNIX platform tool.(free)

• M3Cat
  An on-line metadata tool by Intelec produces FGDC, Biological Data Profile, and ISO TC19115 metadata.

• NOAA Coastal Services Center
  Download instructions for the ArcView® Metadata Collector Version 2.0

Metadata Processing Software

• USGS Metadata Pre-Parser (cns)
  Pre-parser for formal metadata. (free)
• USGS Metadata Parser (mp)
  Compiler for formal metadata. (free)

Related Resources

• USGS Formal Metadata Web Site
  Metadata information and descriptions of the USGS metadata support tools (available for downloading from this site).
• FGDC Metadata Tools Page
  Surveys conducted on various metadata tools.

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Barb White, Division of Information Technology Management

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Keywords= biological, metadata, guidance, FGDC, NBII, elements, data, standards, templates, tools
Last Modified August 07, 2003 11:26 AM