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
 Executive Order #12906 requires that spatial data be documented in a consistent manner to facilitate sharing data and to reduce duplication of effort in data creation. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) developed the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata in response to EO #12906.

The Service GIS Steering Committee has endorsed the use of the FGDC's Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata. However, because of the complexity of the complete standard, the committee created a subset of metadata elements that would be considered mandatory for Service data. This subset includes all the mandatory elements in the FGDC standard as well as a few elements the committee considered important.
Source
 The Geospatial Metadata site with links to the complete standard, FAQ, history, and tools.
Reference(s)

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

The Overview of geospatial metadata in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) spatial data arena.

Use Instructions
 The Geospatial Metadata standard, as created by the Service GIS Steering Committee, should be used to document geospatial data that is created by Service staff or by contractors. Specifically, it should be used to document data that will be shared, will be used many times, or are of potential historic/long-term importance to the Service. This standard does not have to be used for temporary or intermediate data (but can be used to document the steps used to create the final data files).

There are guidelines referenced in the tools section illustrating both this subset and the complete standard. Copies are also available as WordPerfect documents from the Data Steward.

Tools
Pointers to templates and other tools for implementing geospatial metadata in the FWS.
Phase
 Adopted
Approval Date
 August 31, 1998
Validation Date
 January 3, 2005
Data Steward Deb Southworth Green, National FWS GIS Coordinator, Branch of Data and System Services, Division of Information Resources and Technology Management

Return to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Data Standards Page.
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page.

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

Keywords=fish, wildlife, animals, birds, data, standards, procedures, metadata
Last Modified