Serf Recommendations
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SERF for Service Discovery - Required
The Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) is the de-facto GCMD standard for describing data services and applications. This spiral includes the fields that are required by the SERF standard. Additonal documentation is available via the following online references:
Source: Interactive SERF Guide Write a SERF Guide
| Concept | Description | Dialect (Fit) Paths |
|---|---|---|
| Metadata Identifier | A phrase or string which uniquely identifies the metadata file/record. | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Id SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Entry_ID ISO /*/gmd:fileIdentifier/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataIdentifier/mcc:MD_Identifier |
| Resource Title | A short description of the resource. The title should be descriptive enough so that when a user is presented with a list of titles the general content of the data set can be determined. | ECS /*/ecs:ShortName > /*/ecs:LongName ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Entry_Title FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:title DCAT /dct:title ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString |
| Keyword | A word or phrase that describes some aspect of a resource. Can be one of several types. Note: The general identification keywords usually have a type of "theme" and are refered to as "theme keywords". Other types and vocabularies are used for other information. Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) requires a Science and a Service GCMD Keyword. This concept is called "Subject" in the CSW Specification. | ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:DisciplineKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TopicKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TermKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:VariableKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:CategoryKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TopicKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TermKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel1Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel2Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel3Keyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:DetailedVariableKeyword DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Category DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Topic DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Term DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_1 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_2 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_3 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Detailed_Variable SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Keyword FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:keywords/fgdc:theme/fgdc:themekey DCAT /dct:keyword ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString |
| Distribution Contact | Contact information for the organization or individual that distributes the resource. | ECS /*/ecs:ArchiveCenter ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Center/dif:Personnel/dif:Role SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Service_Provider FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo DCAT /dct:contactPoint ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributorContact/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributorContact/cit:CI_Responsibility |
| Abstract | A paragraph describing the resource. Note: This concept is called "Desciption" in Catalog Services for the Web. | ECS /*/ecs:CollectionDescription ECHO /*/echo:Description DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Summary/serf:Abstract FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:abstract DCAT /dct:description ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:abstract/gco:CharacterString |
| Purpose | A paragraph describing the original purpose for collecting the dataset. | ECS (1) /*/ecs:SuggestedUsage1 ECHO (1) /*/SuggestedUsage DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Purpose SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Summary/serf:Purpose FGDC (1) /fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:purpose ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:purpose/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:purpose/gco:CharacterString |
SERF for Service Discovery - Highly Recommended
The Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) is the de-facto GCMD standard for describing data services and applications. This spiral includes the fields that are highly recommended by the SERF standard. Additonal documentation is available via the following online references:
Source: Interactive SERF Guide Write a SERF Guide
| Concept | Description | Dialect (Fit) Paths |
|---|---|---|
| Resource Citation | Citation for the resource. | SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Service_Citation FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation |
| Media | Media on which the resource is available | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Distribution_Media SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Distribution/serf:Distribution_Media FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:dataqual/fgdc:lineage/fgdc:sinfo/fgdc:type ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:transferOptions/gmd:MD_DigitalTransferOptions/gmd:offLine/gmd:MD_Medium/gmd:name/gmd:MD_MediumNameCode/@codeListValue ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:transferOptions/mrd:MD_DigitalTransferOptions/mrd:offLine/mrd:MD_Medium/mrd:name/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Contact | The organization or person responsible for answering questions about the resource. | ECS /CollectionMetaDataFile/CollectionMetaDataSets/Collections/CollectionMetaData/Contact[Role='User Services'] ECHO /*/echo:Contacts/echo:Contact DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Personnel[dif:Role='INVESTIGATOR'] DIF /serf:SERF/serf:Personnel[serf:Role='INVESTIGATOR'] SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Personnel DCAT /dct:contactPoint ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:pointOfContact ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:pointOfContact |
| Resource Cost or Fees | Cost associated with access to the resource | ECHO /*/echo:Price DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Fees SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Distribution/serf:Fees FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:storder/fgdc:fees ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributionOrderProcess/gmd:MD_StandardOrderProcess/gmd:fees/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributionFormat/mrd:MD_Format/mrd:formatDistributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributionOrderProcess/mrd:MD_StandardOrderProcess/mrd:fees/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Format | The physical or digital manifestation of the resource | ECS /ecs:PrimaryCSDT ECHO /*/echo:DataFormat DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Distribution_Format SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Distribution/serf:Distribution_Format DCAT /dct:format ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributorFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributionFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributionFormat/mrd:MD_Format ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributorFormat/mrd:MD_Format |
| Instrument Keyword | Keywords that describe the instrument used to collect the resource. | ECHO //echo:Platforms/echo:Platform/echo:Instruments/echo:Instrument/echo:ShortName ECHO //echo:Platforms/echo:Platform/echo:Instruments/echo:Instrument/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Sensor_Name/dif:Short_Name DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Sensor_Name/dif:Long_Name SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Sensor_Name/serf:Short_Name SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Sensor_Name/serf:Long_Name ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='instrument']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='instrument']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Title | A short description of the resource. The title should be descriptive enough so that when a user is presented with a list of titles the general content of the data set can be determined. | ECS /*/ecs:ShortName > /*/ecs:LongName ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Entry_Title FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:title DCAT /dct:title ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString |
| Platform Keyword | Keywords that describe the platform used to collect the resource. | ECS /*/ecs:Platform/ecs:PlatformShortName ECS /*/ecs:Platform/ecs:PlatformLongName ECHO //echo:Platforms/echo:Platform/echo:ShortName ECHO //echo:Platforms/echo:Platform/echo:LongName SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Source_Name/serf:Short_Name SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Source_Name/serf:Long_Name ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='platform']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='platform']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Quality Description | Description of the quality of the resource or any quality assurance procedures followed in producing the resource. Note: ISO-1 provides free text fields for describing quality information in the DQ_MeasureReference, DQ_EvaluationMethod, and DQ_DescriptiveResult objects. | DIF /dif:DIF/Quality SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Quality |
| Project Keyword | Keywords that describe the Project used to collect the resource. | SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Project/serf:Short_Name SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Project/serf:Long_Name ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='project']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='project']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Access Constraints | Information about any constraints for accessing the data set. This includes any special restrictions, legal prerequisites, limitations and/or warnings on obtaining the data set. Some words that may be used in this field include: Public, In-house, Limited, Additional detailed instructions on how to access the data can be entered in this field. | ECS /*/ecs:AccessConstraints ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment ECHO /*/echo:Visible DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Access_Constraints SERF /serf:DIF/serf:Access_Constraints FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:accconst DCAT /dct:accessLevel DCAT /dct:accessLevelComment ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:accessConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints/mco:accessConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints/mco:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Use Constraints | Information about how the data may or may not be used after access is granted to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property. This includes any special restrictions, legal prerequisites, terms and conditions, and/or limitations on using the data set. Data providers may request acknowledgement of the data from users and claim no responsibility for quality and completeness of data. | ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Use_Constraints SERF /serf:DIF/serf:Use_Constraints FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:useconst DCAT /dct:dataQuality ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_Constraints/gmd:useLimitation/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:useConstraints/gmd:MD_RestrictionCode ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_Constraints/mco:useLimitation/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints/mco:useConstraints/mco:MD_RestrictionCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints/mco:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString |
| Distribution Contact | Contact information for the organization or individual that distributes the resource. | ECS /*/ecs:ArchiveCenter ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Center/dif:Personnel/dif:Role SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Service_Provider FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo DCAT /dct:contactPoint ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributorContact/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributorContact/cit:CI_Responsibility |
| Service Location | Endpoint for accessing the service. | SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Service_Citation/serf:URL DCAT /dct:webService ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:containsOperations/srv:SV_OperationMetadata/srv:connectPoint/gmd:CI_OnlineResource/gmd:linkage/gmd:URL ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:containsOperations/srv:SV_OperationMetadata/srv:connectPoint/cit:CI_OnlineResource/cit:linkage/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Language | The language of the resource. | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Language SERF /serf:SERF/serf:Service_Language DCAT /dct:Language ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:language/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:defaultLocale/lan:PT_Locale/lan:language/lan:LanguageCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:otherLocale/lan:PT_Locale/lan:language/lan:LanguageCode |
xPath Note: The xPaths included in this table use several wildcards. // means any path, so //gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty indicates a gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty anywhere in an XML file. /*/ indicates a single level with several possible elements. This usually indicates one of several concrete realizations of an abstract object. For example /*/gmd:identificationInfo could be gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo or gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo and gmd:identificationInfo//*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords could be gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords or gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords. Fit: The fit of the dialect path with the concept is estimated on a scale of 1 = excellent two-way fit, 2 = one-way fit or some other problem, 3 - extension required.
Page - Data Usability
