1. Caro-COOPS Data Management: Metadata

2. Cast-Net addresses the need for improved connectivity among coastal observing systems by creating a regional framework for enhanced communication and sharing of coastal observation capacities. An NSF EPSCoR SURA Grant Project

3. To create a regional framework for enhanced communication and sharing of coastal observation capacities; To create a system of tools that facilitate the collection, organization, and documentation of data and metadata at the observing system level; To distribute these tools among the SAML laboratories and provide assistance in their implementation; To identify those monitored parameters that are common to laboratories covering a broad geographical range, which can be used to develop a regional analysis and/or predicting capability; Ensure that this southeastern regional framework is compatible with the national and international vision of global ocean and coastal observation systems To create a regional framework for enhanced communication and sharing of coastal observation capacities; To create a system of tools that facilitate the collection, organization, and documentation of data and metadata at the observing system level; To distribute these tools among the SAML laboratories and provide assistance in their implementation; To identify those monitored parameters that are common to laboratories covering a broad geographical range, which can be used to develop a regional analysis and/or predicting capability; Ensure that this southeastern regional framework is compatible with the national and international vision of global ocean and coastal observation systems Objectives of the Cast-Net Program

4. FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata –Version 1 (1994); Version 2 (1998) http://www.fgdc.gov/Metadata/ContStan.html –Version 3.0 expected to be released after international standard approved NBII Biological Data Profile –Pre-profile based on 1995 American Institute of Biological Sciences final report –Official FGDC Profile Approved in 1999 http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/status/sub5_2.html FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata –Version 1 (1994); Version 2 (1998) http://www.fgdc.gov/Metadata/ContStan.html –Version 3.0 expected to be released after international standard approved NBII Biological Data Profile –Pre-profile based on 1995 American Institute of Biological Sciences final report –Official FGDC Profile Approved in 1999 http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/status/sub5_2.html Metadata Standards

5. Positive attributes of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) – Established Federal Standard – Numerous tools and resources are available to assist with its development – FGDC standard and the International Organization for standardization (ISO 19115) will soon be compatible Negative attributes of the CSDGM – Monolithic, it is difficult to integrate with other metadata standards – The strong emphasis of spatial standards may not be applicable – Other metadata standards may be more useful for data management initiatives Positive attributes of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) – Established Federal Standard – Numerous tools and resources are available to assist with its development – FGDC standard and the International Organization for standardization (ISO 19115) will soon be compatible Negative attributes of the CSDGM – Monolithic, it is difficult to integrate with other metadata standards – The strong emphasis of spatial standards may not be applicable – Other metadata standards may be more useful for data management initiatives

6. Caro-COOPS Metadata Initiatives To create a metadata system that will meet the requirements of the FGDC, yet is flexible and efficient. – Utilize other data and metadata standards such as SensorML, MarineXML, and Ecological Metadata Language (EML) Marine XML: designed to support metadata describing the data collection, quality control and subsequent processing, and facilitate the tracking of regional and global oceanographic data sets ( http://www.aodc.gov.au/products/prod/marinexml.html and http://ioc.unesco.org/marinexml/ ). SensorML: an XML schema for defining the geometric, dynamic, and observational characteristics of a sensor (rain gauge to a satellite system) ( http://vast.uah.edu/SensorML/ ). EML: it exists as a set of XML Schema documents that allow for the structural expression of metadata necessary to document a typical data set in the ecological sciences ( http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/software/eml/ ). To create a metadata system that will meet the requirements of the FGDC, yet is flexible and efficient. – Utilize other data and metadata standards such as SensorML, MarineXML, and Ecological Metadata Language (EML) Marine XML: designed to support metadata describing the data collection, quality control and subsequent processing, and facilitate the tracking of regional and global oceanographic data sets ( http://www.aodc.gov.au/products/prod/marinexml.html and http://ioc.unesco.org/marinexml/ ). SensorML: an XML schema for defining the geometric, dynamic, and observational characteristics of a sensor (rain gauge to a satellite system) ( http://vast.uah.edu/SensorML/ ). EML: it exists as a set of XML Schema documents that allow for the structural expression of metadata necessary to document a typical data set in the ecological sciences ( http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/software/eml/ ).

7. Caro-COOPS Metadata Initiatives cont. Metadata archived in relational databases and using XML and XSLT technologies: – Allows for the creation of user templates, only those fields that are regularly updated need to be administered. – Customizable metadata initiatives that are a reflection of the requirements of an individual institution or a researcher. – Always allow for the generation of FGDC metadata to meet federal requirements. Metadata archived in relational databases and using XML and XSLT technologies: – Allows for the creation of user templates, only those fields that are regularly updated need to be administered. – Customizable metadata initiatives that are a reflection of the requirements of an individual institution or a researcher. – Always allow for the generation of FGDC metadata to meet federal requirements.

8. Caro-COOPS Metadata Initiatives cont. Metadata generated by the Caro-COOPS program is diverse and multiple strategies are needed. – Metadata that describes instrumentation data will require minimum attention once initial metadata documentation has been developed. – Operational metadata will describe geometric, dynamic, and observational characteristics buoy instrumentation (i.e., sensorML). This should only require updates after instrumentation maintenance/calibration. – Biological collections are diverse and require unique solutions that do not necessarily allow for easy automation of metadata procedures. Metadata generated by the Caro-COOPS program is diverse and multiple strategies are needed. – Metadata that describes instrumentation data will require minimum attention once initial metadata documentation has been developed. – Operational metadata will describe geometric, dynamic, and observational characteristics buoy instrumentation (i.e., sensorML). This should only require updates after instrumentation maintenance/calibration. – Biological collections are diverse and require unique solutions that do not necessarily allow for easy automation of metadata procedures.