Documenting Projects

From Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)

The Arctic Research Mapping Application (ARMAP) brings together a multi-disciplinary collection of nearly three thousand NSF funded projects focused on characterizing and understanding the Arctic environment. These projects are described in a standard and structured way using a metadata profile developed during 2011 by the Alaska Data Integration working group (ADIwg). This profile was originally derived from the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (documentation from the original ADIwg wiki will be available at https://github.com/adiwg/project-metadata-fgdc). It includes a number of fundamental documentation concepts that, taken together, have been proven to make up a successful framework for providing access to information about NSF funded projects in the Arctic region and their geographic distribution. The fundamental project documentation concepts and how these concepts might be shared across a broader community using other metadata dialects are described here.

Project Identification

Identification information is used in the Project Metadata Profile implementation for ARMAP to support two types of information discovery: 1) text searches for titles and 2) unambiguous identification by a number of related organizations. Titles are included in the project citations along with links to project logistics reports (HTML metadata sum-maries). Identifiers are provided from the primary organization responsible for the pro-ject and the host organization (ARMAP in this case). In addition, there is a UUID included that unambiguously identifies the project independently from any organization.

Crosswalks

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. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:citation/adiwg:citeinfo/adiwg:title
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title
ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName
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:identificationInfo/*/rmd:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString
Online Resource Online Resource for the cited resource ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:citation/adiwg:citeinfo/adiwg:onlink
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Online_Resource
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:Online_Resource
ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:onlineResource/gmd:CI_OnlineResource
ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:onlineResource/cit:CI_OnlineResource
Project Sponsor The organization responsible for funding the project. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ids/adiwg:primorgcode
Sponsor Project Identifier An identifier for the project used by the organization responsible for funding the project. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ids/adiwg:primorgproj
Project Host The organization responsible for hosting a project website or including it in a portal. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ids/adiwg:hostorgcode
Host Project Identifier An identifier for the project used by the organization responsible for hosting a project website or including it in a portal. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ids/adiwg:primorgproj
Resource Identifier Identifier for the resource described by the metadata ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ids/adiwg:projguid
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_DOI
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:DOI
ECHO /*/echo:DataSetId
ECHO (1) /*/echo:ShortName | /*/echo:LongName
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:identifier/gmd:MD_Identifier/gmd:code/gco:CharacterString
ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:identifier/cit:MD_Identifier/cit:code

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.


Project Description

The ARMAP implementation of the Project Metadata Profile includes 1) textual information used to provide brief descriptions of the project and to support text searches and 2) keywords. The textual information has two forms: science descriptions of the project (abstract) and summaries of the logistics, reflecting the importance of logistics in Arctic project planning. There are two types of keywords: theme (from the NSF Discipline List) and place (from the ARMAP database of field projects for the Arctic region).

Crosswalks

Concept Description Dialect (Fit) Paths
Abstract A paragraph describing the resource. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:descript/adiwg:abstract
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract
ECHO /*/echo:Description
FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:abstract
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString
ISO-1 /*/mdb:identificationInfo/*/rmd:abstract/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.
ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:keywords/adiwg:theme/adiwg:themekey
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
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
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
Keyword Vocabulary If you are following a guideline or using a shared vocabulary for the words/phrases in your "keywords" attribute, put the name of that guideline here.

Note: DIF, ECHO and ECS require that theme keywords come from the Global Change Master Directory list.
ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:keywords/adiwg:theme/adiwg:themekt
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:thesaurusName/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString

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.


Project Contacts

Identifying organizations and individuals that are associated with a resource is important

Crosswalks

Concept Description Dialect (Fit) Paths
Metadata Contact The organization or person currently responsible for the metadata. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:metainfo/adiwg:metc
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Personnel[dif:Role='DIF AUTHOR']
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Originating_Metadata_Node
ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter
ISO /*/gmd:contact
Resource Contact The organization or person responsible for answering questions about the resource. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:ptcontac/adiwg:cntinfo
ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:datacred/adiwg:credorg/adiwg:cntinfo
ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:datacred/adiwg:credper/adiwg:cntinfo
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Personnel[dif:Role='INVESTIGATOR']
ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter
ECHO /*/echo:Contacts/echo:Contact
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:pointOfContact

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.


Project Extent

Describing the temporal and spatial extent of a project is critical for logistics and planning.

Crosswalks

Concept Description Dialect (Fit) Paths
Site The name or description of the physical location where the data were collected FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:descgeog
Site Location The latitude/longitude/elevation of the physical location where the data were collected ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:spdom/adiwg:Point/adiwg:coordinates
Southernmost Latitude The southernmost latitude of the bounding rectangle.

Note: OGC-SOS offering lists may not include the entire dataset. A gml:id attribute can be used to identify the bounding offering.
DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Southernmost_Latitude
ECHO (1) /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle/echo:SouthBoundingCoordinate
FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding/fgdc:southbc
ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:southBoundLatitude/gco:Decimal
Northernmost Latitude The northernmost latitude of the bounding rectangle.

Note: OGC-SOS offering lists may not include the entire dataset. A gml:id attribute (e.g. gml:id="network-all") can be used to identify the bounding offering.
DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Northernmost_Latitude
ECHO (1) /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle/echo:NorthBoundingCoordinate
FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding/fgdc:northbc
ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:northBoundLatitude/gco:Decimal
Westernmost Longitude The westernmost longitude of the bounding rectangle.

Note: OGC-SOS offering lists may not include the entire dataset. A gml:id attribute can be used to identify the bounding offering.
DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Westernmost_Longitude
ECHO (1) /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle/echo:WestBoundingCoordinate
FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding/fgdc:westbc
ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:westBoundLongitude/gco:Decimal
Easternmost Longitude The easternmost longitude of the bounding rectangle.

Note: OGC-SOS offering lists may not include the entire dataset. A gml:id attribute can be used to identify the bounding offering.
DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Easternmost_Longitude
ECHO (1) /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle/echo:WestBoundingCoordinate
FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding/fgdc:eastbc
ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:eastBoundLongitude/gco:Decimal
Start Time The start of the bounding time period ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:timeperd/adiwg:timeinfo/adiwg:rngdates/adiwg:begdate
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Temporal_Coverage/dif:Start_Date
ECHO /*/echo:Temporal/echo:RangeDateTime/echo:BeginningDateTime
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent/gmd:extent/gml:TimePeriod/gml:beginPosition
End Time The end of the bounding time period ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:timeperd/adiwg:timeinfo/adiwg:rngdates/adiwg:enddate
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Temporal_Coverage/dif:Stop_Date
ECHO /*/echo:Temporal/echo:RangeDateTime/echo:EndingDateTime
ECHO /*/echo:Temporal/echo:EndsAtPresentFlag
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent/gmd:extent/gml:TimePeriod/gml:endPosition
Vertical Minimum The minimum height of the bounding rectangle DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Minimum_Altitude
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Minimum_Depth
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:verticalElement/gmd:EX_VerticalExtent/gmd:minimumValue/gco:Real
Vertical Maximum The maximum height of the bounding rectangle DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Maximum_Altitude
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage/dif:Maximum_Depth
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:verticalElement/gmd:EX_VerticalExtent/gmd:maximumValue/gco:Real
Place Keyword A comma separated list of key words and phrases that give the location of the resource.

Note: Some dialects include keywords, but they do not include mechanisms for identifying the type. In those cases it is difficult to unambiguously identify place keywords.
ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:keywords/adiwg:place/adiwg:placekey
DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Category > //dif:Parameters/dif:Topic > //dif:Parameters/dif:Term > //dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_1 > //dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_2 >//dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_3 > //dif:Parameters/dif: > //dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_3
FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:keywords/fgdc:place/fgdc:placekey
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='place']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString
Place Keyword Vocabulary If you are following a guideline for the place words/phrases in your "keywords" attribute, put the name of that guideline here. ADIwg /adiwg:project/adiwg:idinfo/adiwg:keywords/adiwg:place/adiwg:placekt
FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:keywords/fgdc:place/fgdc:placekt
ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='place']/gmd:thesaurusName/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString

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.