System design and organization, access to data
- being a useful starting point before moving on ro a more complex information system;
- minimising replication ot coastal work in Devon and Cornwall.
There was a concern to ensure that such a system is easy to use. GIS, for
example, is perceived as too complex. This would involve hiding advanced and complex system functionality that can put oft potential users,
moving towards an intuitive user-friendly interface. There was also a
perceived over-emphasis on digital information - making sure that
decision making is not replaced with a computer system and that
human contact is maintained. This has been reflected in the participation
of users in the development of an ALC CZMIS from an early stage to ensure relevance and applicability.
Finally, there was a need to maximise use of network technology (e.g.
Internet) to integrate and make available large amounts of qualityassured data and information to the user.
Metadata
Metadata is ‘designed for description of the contents of a data set' (Goodchild, 1998). The user will ask general questions about a data set’s
suitability for use; these are then translated into metadata categories
(e.g. What data exist? Are they of use to me? Can I see a sample? How
do I get them?). The most widely known of metadata standards are
those specified by the US Federal Geographic Data Committee (Content
Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata) for use with the National
Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (FGDC, 1 998). This is a distributed network that allows public and private data providers to publish their
spatial data. The broad categories and some of the fields have been
adopted for this project; for data quality, the fields suggested in the UK
Association for Geographic Information (AGI) standards were used
( AGI, 1999):
- Identification Information (e.g. title, spatial coverage, period, access);
- Data Quality Information (e.g. thematic, temporal, spatial accuracy);
- Spatial Data Organization Information (e.g. raster, vector, postcodes);
- Spatial Reference Information (e.g. projection, datum, co-ordinate
system);
- Entity/Attribute Information;
- Distribution Information (e.g. originator/owner details, charges,
formats);
- Metadata Reference Information (Currentness of metadata).
It is perceived to be normal for organizations to continue to establish
their own standards, while aligning themselves in principle to the
above standards.
For an example of Web-basecl metadata access systems, the European
Directory ofMarine Environmental Data (EDMED) aims to form a comprehensive reference to European marine environmental data. This is
for the benefit of marine scientists, engineers and policy makers, to
identify and facilitate access to useful data through a list-based interface (BODC, 1999).
97
- being a useful starting point before moving on ro a more complex information system;
- minimising replication ot coastal work in Devon and Cornwall.
There was a concern to ensure that such a system is easy to use. GIS, for
example, is perceived as too complex. This would involve hiding advanced and complex system functionality that can put oft potential users,
moving towards an intuitive user-friendly interface. There was also a
perceived over-emphasis on digital information - making sure that
decision making is not replaced with a computer system and that
human contact is maintained. This has been reflected in the participation
of users in the development of an ALC CZMIS from an early stage to ensure relevance and applicability.
Finally, there was a need to maximise use of network technology (e.g.
Internet) to integrate and make available large amounts of qualityassured data and information to the user.
Metadata
Metadata is ‘designed for description of the contents of a data set' (Goodchild, 1998). The user will ask general questions about a data set’s
suitability for use; these are then translated into metadata categories
(e.g. What data exist? Are they of use to me? Can I see a sample? How
do I get them?). The most widely known of metadata standards are
those specified by the US Federal Geographic Data Committee (Content
Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata) for use with the National
Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (FGDC, 1 998). This is a distributed network that allows public and private data providers to publish their
spatial data. The broad categories and some of the fields have been
adopted for this project; for data quality, the fields suggested in the UK
Association for Geographic Information (AGI) standards were used
( AGI, 1999):
- Identification Information (e.g. title, spatial coverage, period, access);
- Data Quality Information (e.g. thematic, temporal, spatial accuracy);
- Spatial Data Organization Information (e.g. raster, vector, postcodes);
- Spatial Reference Information (e.g. projection, datum, co-ordinate
system);
- Entity/Attribute Information;
- Distribution Information (e.g. originator/owner details, charges,
formats);
- Metadata Reference Information (Currentness of metadata).
It is perceived to be normal for organizations to continue to establish
their own standards, while aligning themselves in principle to the
above standards.
For an example of Web-basecl metadata access systems, the European
Directory ofMarine Environmental Data (EDMED) aims to form a comprehensive reference to European marine environmental data. This is
for the benefit of marine scientists, engineers and policy makers, to
identify and facilitate access to useful data through a list-based interface (BODC, 1999).
97