Data Discovery (FGDC)

These attributes are mandatory for the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM). Where compatible the spirals provide xpath references for DIF, ECHO, ECS, DCAT, ISO, ISO-1 and FGDC documentation dialects.

FGDC for Data Discovery - Mandatory

The FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata includes fields in the Identification Information and Metadata Reference Sections that are mandatory for data discovery. In the graphical representation of the standard, these are yellow fields included in yellow sections.

Source: CSDGM Graphical Representation Mandatory FGDC metadata fields - data.gov

Concept	Description	Dialect (Fit) Paths
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.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName ECS /*/ecs:ShortName > /*/ecs:LongName DCAT dct:title FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc: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
Originating Organization	The organization responsible for creating the resource	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Originating_Center ECHO /*/echo:ProcessingCenter FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo/fgdc:cntperp/fgdc:cntorg FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:origin ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty[gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode='author']/gmd:organisationName/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:citedResponsibleParty/cit:CI_Responsibility[cit:role/cit:CI_RoleCode='author']/cit:party/cit:CI_Organisation/cit:name/gco:CharacterString
Publication Date	Date of publication of the cited resource	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Release_Date DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:Publication_Date ECHO /*/echo:InsertTime ECS /*ecs:CitationforExternalPublication DCAT dct:issued FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:pubdate ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/gmd:date/gco:Date ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/gmd:date/gco:DateTime ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:date/cit:CI_Date[cit:dateType/cit:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/cit:date/gco:DateTime
Abstract	A paragraph describing the resource. Note: This concept is called "Desciption" in Catalog Services for the Web.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract ECHO /*/echo:Description ECS /*/ecs:CollectionDescription DCAT dct:description FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:abstract 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.	DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Purpose ECHO (1) /*/SuggestedUsage ECS (1) /*/ecs:SuggestedUsage1 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
Resource Status	The status of the resource	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Progress FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:status ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:status/gmd:MD_ProgressCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:status/mcc:MD_ProgressCode
Resource Update Frequency	The frequency with which changes and additions are made to the data set after the initial data set is completed	FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:status/fgdc:update ISO /*/gmd:metadataMaintenance/gmd:MD_MaintenanceInformation/gmd:maintenanceAndUpdateFrequency ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataMaintenance/mmi:MD_MaintenanceInformation/mmi:maintenanceAndUpdateFrequency
Temporal Extent	The temporal extent of the resource	DIF /dif:Temporal Coverage ECHO /*/Temporal/RangeDateTime ECS /ecs:RangeBeginningDate ECS /ecs:RangeEndingDate FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:timeperd/fgdc:timeinfo/fgdc:rngdates ISO /*/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent ISO-1 /*/mri:MD_DataIdentification/mri:extent/gex:EX_Extent/gex:temporalElement/gex:EX_TemporalExtent
Bounding Box	A bounding box for identifying a geographic area of interest Note: This concept is called "Coverage" in the CSW Specification	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage ECHO /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle ECS /*/ecs:Spatial/ecs:HorizontalSpatialDomain/ecs:BoundingRectangle FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:extent/gex:EX_Extent/gex:geographicElement/gex:EX_GeographicBoundingBox
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.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Access_Constraints ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment ECHO /*/echo:Visible ECS /*/ecs:AccessConstraints DCAT /dct:accessLevel FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:accconst 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.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Use_Constraints ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:useconst 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
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.	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 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 ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:DisciplineKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TopicKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TermKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:VariableKeyword DCAT dct:keyword FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:keywords/fgdc:theme/fgdc:themekey 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 Liability	Statement of the liability assumed by the distributor.	FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distliab
Distribution Contact	Contact information for the organization or individual that distributes the resource.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Center/dif:Personnel/dif:Role ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter ECS /*/ecs:ArchiveCenter DCAT dct:contactPoint FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo 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
Metadata Contact	The organization or person currently responsible for the metadata.	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Personnel[dif:Role='DIF AUTHOR'] DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Originating_Metadata_Node ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter ECS /*/ecs:Contact[Role='Archive'] FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metc/fgdc:cntinfo ISO /*/gmd:contact ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:contact/cit:CI_Responsibility
Metadata Standard Citation	The name of the standard to which the metadata conforms	DIF /serf:DIF/serf:Metadata_Name FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metstdn ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:metadataStandardName ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataStandard
Metadata Standard Version	The name of the standard to which the metadata conforms	DIF /serf:DIF/serf:Metadata_Version FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metstdv ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:metadataStandardVersion ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataStandard/cit:CI_Citation/cit:identifier/mcc:MD_Identifier/mcc:version
Ordering Instructions	General instructions, terms and services provided by the distributor	ECHO /*/echo:Orderable FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:storder/fgdc:ordinst ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributionOrderProcess/gmd:MD_StandardOrderProcess/gmd:orderingInstructions/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributionOrderProcess/mrd:MD_StandardOrderProcess/mrd:orderingInstructions/gco:CharacterString
Resource Cost or Fees	Cost associated with access to the resource	DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Fees ECHO /*/echo:Price 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
Turnaround	Typical turnaround time for the filling of an order.	FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:storder/fgdc:turnaro

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.

Data Discoverability /Accessibility