Metadata Standards

The current metadata standard used in the United States is Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM Version 2 - FGDC-STD-001-1998) . In an effort to align current US standards with existing international standards, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) adopted the international standard ISO 19115 Geographic information -- Metadata in March 2003. ANSI is expected to adopt ISO 19139 Metadata Implementation Model and Schema in the near future. Upon adoption, FGDC will implement ISO 19139 as its standard.

Various groups accomodate special needs for metadata structure and content by developing profiles of the base standard. Below is a list of current profiles endorsed by FGDC:

Why use standards?

When producing a map, the cartographer must organize all the descriptive information that goes into the map legend in a particular format. Titles are put in a specific place, tic marks are made a certain way, meters may be used instead of feet, and so forth. A metadata standard is simply a common set of terms and definitions that describe geospatial data.

To be effective, metadata needs to conform to standards so that interoperability between different computer applications can be achieved and so that searchers can use a standard set of retrieval techniques to maximize their chances of finding the resources via a search engine.

Quick Facts

Quoted from Sharon Shin, FGDC Metadata Coordinator.
"The standards process is structured, iterative, and well-documented. Standards are developed by volunteers from the topical community to assure content meets the community’s needs. Standards are publicly reviewed and comments are adjudicated (accepted/declined and why). Standards proposal are submitted by FGDC working (thematic) groups whereby the proposed standard is developed, reviewed by the Standards Working Group, reviewed by the FGDC, upon approval reviewed by the public, comments responded, response evaluated, approved for endorsement and endorsed. The FGDC has issued a number of directives to assist in the standards development process. Standards are periodically reviewed for revision."

For more information on standards, please visit the FGDC standards page.