Data Discovery (FGDC)
From Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)
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. | 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 ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title ECS /*/ecs:ShortName > /*/ecs:LongName FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:title DCAT dct:title |
| Originating Organization | The organization responsible for creating the resource | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/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 ECHO /*/echo:ProcessingCenter DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Originating_Center FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo/fgdc:cntperp/fgdc:cntorg FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:origin |
| Publication Date | Date of publication of the cited resource | 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 ECHO /*/echo:InsertTime DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Release_Date DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:Publication_Date FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:pubdate DCAT dct:issued |
| Abstract | A paragraph describing the resource. Note: This concept is called "Desciption" in Catalog Services for the Web. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:abstract/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:Description DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract ECS /*/ecs:CollectionDescription ECS /*/ecs:LongName FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:abstract DCAT dct:description |
| Purpose | A paragraph describing the original purpose for collecting the dataset. | ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:purpose/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:purpose/gco:CharacterString ECHO (1) /*/SuggestedUsage DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Purpose ECS (1) /*/ecs:SuggestedUsage1 FGDC (1) /fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:descript/fgdc:purpose |
| Resource Status | The status of the resource | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:status/gmd:MD_ProgressCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:status/mcc:MD_ProgressCode DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Progress FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:status |
| Resource Update Frequency | The frequency with which changes and additions are made to the data set after the initial data set is completed | ISO /*/gmd:metadataMaintenance/gmd:MD_MaintenanceInformation/gmd:maintenanceAndUpdateFrequency ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataMaintenance/mmi:MD_MaintenanceInformation/mmi:maintenanceAndUpdateFrequency FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:status/fgdc:update |
| Temporal Extent | The temporal extent of the resource | 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 ECHO /*/Temporal/RangeDateTime FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:timeperd/fgdc:timeinfo/fgdc:rngdates |
| Bounding Box | A bounding box for identifying a geographic area of interest Note: This concept is called "Coverage" in the CSW Specification | 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 ECHO /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:spdom/fgdc:bounding |
| 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. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:legalConstraints/gmd:MD_RestrictionCode ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:restrictions/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:legalConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:restrictions/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_Constraints ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_SecurityConstraints ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment ECHO /*/echo:Visible DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Access_Constraints ECS /*/ecs:AccessConstraints FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:accconst |
| 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. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_Constraints/gmd:useLimitation/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:useConstraints/gmd:MD_RestrictionCode ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:restrictions/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:legalConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:restrictions/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:otherConstraints/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:restrictions/gmd:MD_Constraints/gmd:useLimitation/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_Constraints ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_SecurityConstraints ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionFlag ECHO /*/echo:RestrictionComment DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Use_Constraints FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:useconst |
| 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. | 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 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 ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:DisciplineKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TopicKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:TermKeyword ECS (1) /*/ecs:DisciplineTopicParameters/ecs:VariableKeyword FGDC (1) /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:keywords/fgdc:theme/fgdc:themekey |
| 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. | 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 ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Center/dif:Personnel/dif:Role ECS /*/ecs:ArchiveCenter FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:cntinfo |
| Metadata Contact | The organization or person currently responsible for the metadata. | ISO /*/gmd:contact ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:contact/cit:CI_Responsibility ECHO /*/echo:ArchiveCenter DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Personnel[dif:Role='DIF AUTHOR'] DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Originating_Metadata_Node ECS /*/ecs:Contact[Role='Archive'] FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metc/fgdc:cntinfo |
| Metadata Standard Citation | The name of the standard to which the metadata conforms | ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:metadataStandardName ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataStandard DIF /serf:DIF/serf:Metadata_Name FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metstdn |
| Metadata Standard Version | The name of the standard to which the metadata conforms | ISO /gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:metadataStandardVersion ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataStandard/cit:CI_Citation/cit:identifier/mcc:MD_Identifier/mcc:version DIF /serf:DIF/serf:Metadata_Version FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:metainfo/fgdc:metstdv |
| Ordering Instructions | General instructions, terms and services provided by the distributor | 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 ECHO /*/echo:Orderable FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:storder/fgdc:ordinst |
| Resource Cost or Fees | Cost associated with access to the resource | 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 ECHO /*/echo:Price DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Fees FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:distinfo/fgdc:distrib/fgdc:storder/fgdc:fees |
| 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.
