Agricultural Metadata Element Set: Standardization and Information Dissemination

Transcription

1 Agricultural Metadata Element Set: Standardization and Information Dissemination

2 Some background on Metadata normally described as data about data it enables effective, efficient, and accurate use of data sets and data collections. It is the departure point for every kind of discovery system paper based catalogues digital machine readable repositories It is a documentation of collected data, understandable many years after its collection

3 Summary - Metadata Common metadata allows us to : Give lexical words a meaning Book Title vs. Personal Title Published Date vs. Date of Birth Person Name vs. Brand Name Facilitate easy exchange between systems Facilitate resource discovery and request access for it Reuse content for different purposes inventory across databases Reduction of cost by using standardized tools and resources Facilitate automatic processing and manipulation of information Ex. send an using all < > fields

4 Existing standards Dublin Core 15 simple elements which are all optional and repeatable qualified DC ex. date modified Our standard uses the DC. Why? simple and flexible an open standard achieved through inter-domain consensus libraries, archives, government, education etc. caters to discovery of resources international

5 The Dublin Core Title Creator Subject Description Publisher Contributor Date Type Format Identifier Source Language Relation Coverage Rights All the DC elements are identified by the namespace prefix dc:

6 Example of Metadata in DC <link rel="schema.dc" href=" /> <meta name="dc.title" lang="english" content="agricultural Metadata Standards Homepage (Welcome Page)" /> <meta name="dc.creator" content="agris/caris Unit" /> <meta name="dc.subject" lang="english" content="comments are welcome; First draft of Namespace document; AgMES Stance on Namespaces and Application Profiles; Draft XML DTD; What's New" /> <meta name="dc.description" lang="english" content="the objectives of the AgMES Project include development and proposal of agricultural information standards for the combined purpose of resource discovery, interoperability and effective data exchange between and among uniquely and richly described agricultural resources. The Project looks into the first objective of this initiative, preparing and promoting good practice guidelines for using metadata in description of agricultural resources." /> <meta name="dc.publisher" content="agris/caris Unit" /> <meta name="dc.contributor" content="agris/caris Unit" /> <meta name="dc.date" scheme="w3cdtf" content=" " /> <meta name="dc.type" scheme="dcmitype" content="text" /> <meta name="dc.format" scheme="imt" content="text/html" /> <meta name="dc.identifier" content=" /> <meta name="dc.language" scheme= ISO639-2" content= eng" /> Same metadata can be found in the source code of AgMES top page < ( View Source )

7 AgMES beginnings November 2000: workshop in Brussels (FAO and OneWorld Europe) to initiate discussion about a Metadata schema. July 2001: concept paper about a metadata set March 2002: Draft Metadata standard (AgMES) February 2003: Version: 1.1 of AgMES released with RDF Schema ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/agris/papers/agmesns-dlio.doc

8 AgMES and extensibility The DC elements were not enough to describe records in many of our Agricultural databases. We wanted to specify schemes such as AGROVOC, AGRIS subject Categories qualifiers such as subjectthesaurus and subjectclassification to distinguish between them elements such as Availability to provide information about the exact location of the resource (holding location) Local extensions to DC are easy to make, however, they must not compromise interoperability We did not reinvent, it is not that there are not enough standards, but there are just too many!

9 AgMES extensions -The Bigger Picture The Building Blocks (Namespaces) Dublin Core (DC) AgMES (AGS) AGLS (AGLS) Others (FI, vcard etc.) Application Specific Implementations AGRIS AP FIGIS AP

10 What does Metadata Provide? Facilitate use of common semantics and interoperability Provide for domain specificity AGROVOC, ASFA Support resource discovery and electronic management of resources Books, Journals, PowerPoint Presentations etc. Provide one-stop location for creating similar future systems clearinghouse containing information on creating, maintaining element set

11 What it does not.. Information system organization mechanism storage Data transfer mechanisms or protocol A means to describe everything! Don t force everything into it

12 Current Status The first draft is available for use < ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/agris/papers/agmesns-dlio.doc > Preparing documents for guidance on : use, extension, maintenance Furnishing the website with examples of usage Providing advice to interested parties

13 Next steps AgMES is an implementation independent standard that provides elements in addition to DC to store and exchange metadata on document like resources Local extensions can be made, however, it must not compromise interoperability Do not reinvent, it is not that there are not enough standards, there are actually too many!

14 More Information AgMES Homepage < AgMES 1.1 Document <ftp://extftp.fao.org/agris/papers/agmesns-dlio.doc> AgMES RDF < Glossary of Terms < [Example of AgMES Use] AGRIS: Guidelines for the Description of Information Objects in the International Information System on Agricultural Sciences and Technology <ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/agris/papers/agrisap- UserGuide.doc>