A Method for Automating Geospatial Dataset Metadata

James K. Batcheller *, Bruce M. Gittings and Robert I. Dunfey Institute of Geography, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond St., Edinburgh, EH8 9XP, UK; E-Mails: bruce@ed.ac.uk (B.M.G.); robert.dunfey@shell.com (R.I.D.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-Mail: jk.batch@ed.ac.uk. Received: 28 August 2009; in revised form: 1 November 2009 / Accepted: 6 November 2009 / Published: 10 November 2009 Abstract: Metadata have long been recognised as crucial to geospatial asset management and discovery, and yet undertaking their creation remains an unenviable task often to be avoided. This paper proposes a practical approach designed to address such concerns, decomposing various data creation, management, update and documentation process steps that are subsequently leveraged to contribute towards metadata record completion. Using a customised utility embedded within a common GIS application, metadata elements are computationally derived from an imposed feature metadata standard, dataset geometry, an integrated storage protocol and pre-prepared content, and instantiated within a common geospatial discovery convention. Yielding 27 out of a 32 total metadata elements (or 15 out of 17 mandatory elements) the approach demonstrably lessens the burden of metadata authorship. It also encourages improved geospatial asset management whilst outlining core requisites for developing a more open metadata strategy not bound to any particular application domain. Keywords: geospatial metadata; metadata automation; data documentation; discovery metadata; feature metadata 1. Introduction Metadata have been key to the development of geospatial data sharing initiatives since their first emergence. From early mention of ‘data registers’ of spatial assets in the Chorley Report [1], through pioneering initiatives such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee’s (FGDC