Implementing European Metadata in ArcInfo 8

Author: Bert Vermeij
Organization: Esri Nederland B.V.

Groothandelsgebouw A4
Stationsplein 45 3013 AK
Rotterdam, CA 92373
The Netherlands

Phone: 31 (0) 10-21707
b.vermeij@Esrinl.com

This paper deals with our experiences with the customization of ArcCatlog, fitting the metadata functionality to the needs of the Dutch users. Metadata describes and documents spatial data. The implementation of metadata serves several goals. Archiving spatial data, for data managers and searching spatial data, for data users. Spatial metadata is one of the key-components of a geo-information infrastructure. Data managers prefer to keep the metadata with the data, data users are primarily interested in a metadata environment that can be queried. Publishing metadata in a Clearinghouse provides a searchable database of information about geodata and thus facilitates data sharing.
With ArcCatalog, Esri introduced a system that automatically associates metadata with spatial datasets. A key issue with respect to metadata is the use of content standards or what metadata to collect. Out of the box, ArcCatalog currently supports the (American) FGDC content standard for spatial metadata, whereas in Europe the CEN/TC287 standard becomes widely adopted.
This paper describes an initiative of Esri Nederland and one of our business partners, Geodan B.V., to integrate ArcCatalog in the relatively well developed metadata-situation in the Netherlands. The core part of this effort is the design and implementation of metadata schema and an editor that supports the Dutch content standard for spatial metadata. In fact, this standard is a locally redefined subset of the European CEN/TC287 content standard for spatial metadata. Both technical issues as well as some theoretical background are covered by this paper.