Guidance notes for the production of discovery metadata for the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Version 3.1.

Abstract

Metadata standards are essential to enable easy discovery, evaluation and use of resources. In most cases within MEDIN the resource will be a dataset, however model outputs and services such as web mapping services and data download services are also included. Different sorts of standards are applied for discovering a dataset, service or series (collectively known as resources), evaluating its fitness for purpose and in providing the information required to use it. This standard is one that sets out a specific format to record details of a resource so that in the future other people can easily discover resources that may be of use to them. It is therefore termed a 'metadata discovery standard' and this document sets out the format used by the Marine Environmental Data Information Network (MEDIN). All metadata released via the MEDIN portal must comply with a number of international and national metadata standards. The MEDIN metadata schema is based on the ISO 19115:2003 standard, and includes all core INSPIRE metadata elements. It also complies with the UK GEMINI 2.3 metadata standard. The xml produced conforms to the ISO 19139 standard for xml implementation. This document is designed to assist those creating metadata for MEDIN and provides guidance on how to complete each element. Please refer to the INSPIRE metadata implementing rules, http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ rules and UK GEMINI 2.3 specification https://www.agi.org.uk/gemini/40-gemini/1037-uk-gemini-standard-and-inspireimplementing-rules for additional information. In writing this document reference has been made to the Technical Guidance for the implementation of INSPIRE dataset and service metadata based on ISO/TS 19139:2007 (see guidelines at http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/document-tags/metadata).