Metadata

Large spatial data sets contain a great variety and amount of information Using spatial data depends on being able to locate the data and to understand the data characteristics and quality The key to this ability are Metadata, or data about data They give information on data sets characteristics, history and identify organizations to contact to obtain a data set Standardized metadata elements would provide a way to document data sets within an organization Standardized metadata would also help users understand the content of data sets they receive from others Metadata components could include a set of data elements that accomplish the following: identify the data identify the custodians and access conditions for the data describe the projection, status, content, lineage, processing and quality of the data Metadata could be gathered for each tile in a partitioned database as well as for the collection as a whole The metadata could be collected in data catalog to help users evaluate existing data Metadata could also be provided in a data transfer to help users adapt the data to their applications

Elements of Spatial Metadata Content

Identification Information: Data Set Identity: type of map, scale Identification Code Theme Keyword: hydrology Use Restrictions: none, public domain Access Restrictions: none Spatial Data Structure: vector

 Data Set Description: hydrologic units as defined by the federal government, collected and digitized at 1:250000

Contact Information
Contact Type : Custodian Contact Organization : U.S. Geological Survey Contact Person: Ms. Jane Doe Contact Mailing Address: 444 National center Contact Telephone: 703 555-1212 Contact Fax Number: 703 555-1234 Contact electronic Mail: jdoe@usgs.gov Contact Instructions: Contact for technical information via e-mail or regular mail Contact Liability: Data in public domain, Custodian does not assume any liability

Transfer Information
Transfer Format: DLG-3 Optional Transfer Mode: Online/Offline Transfer Size: 40 MB Transfer Instructions: Data are available through WAIS software /Internet Fees: Fees range from $50 to $500 depending on tape format and media

Status Information
Data Set Status: Available Release date: 10/10/2010 Maintenance and Update Frequency: As needed

Coordinate System Information

Horizontal Coordinate System: Albers Equal Area Conic Coordinate Type: Map projection Coordinate units: Meters Origin Latitude: Not applicable Origin Longitude: -96.0 Latitude of Standard Parallel One: 29.5 Latitude of Standard parallel two: 45.5 False Easting: Not applicable False Northing: Not applicable Central Azimuth: Not applicable Central Scale Factor: Not applicable Datum Name: North American Datum 1927 Ellipsoid Name: Clarke 1886 Ellipsoid Semi-major Axis: 6378206.4 Ellipsoidal Reciprocal Flattening: 294.97869 Vertical Coordinate System Name: Not applicable

 Vertical Coordinate Type: Not applicable Vertical Datum name: Not applicable Vertical Datum Type: Not applicable

Source Information
Source Descriptor: Land use and land cover digital data from 1:250,0000 and 1:100,0000 scale maps- GIRAS series data from USGS National Mapping Division Source Citation: U.S. Geological Survey, 1990, land use and land cover digital data from 1:250,000 and 1:100,000- scale maps, data users guide 4. Source Data Resolution: 10 m

Metadata Reference Information

Metadata Date: 05/01/1993 Metadata Contact: Jane Doe, U.S. Geological Survey

Processing History Information

Process Used: Original materials were USGS/NMD Quadrangle based digital files in the UTM projection. These files were processed as follows: 1. Performed an affine transformation between the internal map coordinates ( to nearest 10 meters) and true UTM coordinates for each Quadrangle 2. Eliminated bounding neatline from each Quadrangle and replaced with geometrically corrected neatline. Extended undershoot to intersect new neatline using 500 meter maximum extension. Clipped overshoot to neatline. 3. re-established topology of polygon and line features using 2 meter feature tolerance, clipped at overshoot features

4. Joined all Quadrangle data sets together, preserving line and polygon features and attributes 5. removed map edge-lines where hydrologic unit identifies (HUC) were the same on either side of a line Process Parameters: See process description Process Date: 01/08/1992

Data Quality Information

Horizontal Positional Accuracy: 150 meters Horizontal Positional Accuracy Explanation: Deductive estimate, map materials at 1:250,000 scale do not comply with National Map Accuracy Standards Vertical positional Accuracy: Not applicable Vertical positional Accuracy Explanation: Not applicable Thematic Accuracy : Greater than 90 Thematic Accuracy Explanation: Value derived from comparison with 1:2M scale source values Logical Consistency: Data set is verified topologically-structured polygon and line data with nodes at all intersections Completeness: All hydrologic units identified by U.S. geological Survey are included in this digital map product. Several hydrologic units may be composed of multiple, non-contiguous polygons

Feature/Attribute Information
Feature Code: Hydrologic unit codes Feature Definition: Hydrologic units delimit catchment basins for stream segments Feature definition Source: U.S. Geological survey Circular 878-A Attribute Label: Area Attribute Definition: Area measured in equal area meters Attribute Definition Source: Algorithm used by software Attribute Feature Association: Area associated with each hydrologic unit Attribute Domain Value: Positive real number