1. 1 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut MetaNet: Standardising Statistical Metadata Methodology Karen Brannen University of Edinburgh, UK

2. 2 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Overview l Background l Approach l Progress to date l Future work l Where next?

3. 3 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Background l ‘Thematic Network’ l Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme l Fifth Framework Research Programme of European Commission l IST-1999-29093 l ‘A network of excellence for harmonising and synthesising the development of statistical metadata’ l Started officially November 2000

4. 4 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Organisational Approach l Facilitate maximal exchange of ideas and contributions l Allow small groups to »focus on particular issues »bring forward recommendations l Dissemination activities: via the Web, conferences, etc l Two conferences, targeted at different audiences »Kick-off Conference held in April 2001 with nearly 70 delegates »Final Conference (Spring 2003): dissemination to about 100 delegates l 4 work groups

5. 5 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Consortium l University of Edinburgh (co-ordinator) l Statistics Netherlands (leading WG1) l University of Vienna (leading WG2) l Statistics Sweden (leading WG3) l Statistics Norway (leading WG4) l University of Athens l Survey and Statistical Computing

6. 6 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Further participants l 12 fully signed up members »Small contribution to costs of participation l 3 receiving funding for attending meetings only l Associate members receiving no contribution l All have same status l Participate in the project meetings, and contribute to the reports of the Working Groups l Numbers in Working Groups kept reasonably small l Room for a few extra people, if they are interested

7. 7 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Kick-off conference l Nearly seventy participants »Much higher than expected l Wide variety of backgrounds: »NSIs, academic and research institutions, the software industry, data archives, banks and health organisations. l Wide geographical distribution: »European Union, the USA, Canada, Israel, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, Slovenia, and international organisations. l More than the anticipated number expressed interest in contributing to the network

8. 8 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Four Working Groups l WG1: establish a methodology and tools for communication »Overview of technical aids to metadata representation l WG2: establish and unify current practice »A report on the nature of metadata and how these concepts can be used in practice l WG3: establish best practices for adopting the outcome of WGs 1 & 2 »Reference book for metadata standards and methodology l WG4: recommend how WG3 results can be implemented in practice »A training manual for the adoption of metadata standards and systems

9. 9 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut WG1: Overview of technical aids l Dimensions of statistical metadata (agreed with WG2) »Structures »Lifecycle »Roles of metadata »Usage type »User functionality l Tools »Levels of abstraction »Modelling languages »Communication and storage languages »Software supporting modelling and communication »Methodological approach to terminology

10. 10 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut WG1 Overview continued: Metadata models l Possible Typologies l Description of existing models »General Standards for metadata content and modelling ­DDI, Dublin Core, CWM, CMR, ISO11179 etc »Specific Standards ­Bank of Italy, SDDS, GDDS etc »General purpose software with a relevant metadata aspect ­Spreadsheets, relational databases etc »Statistical software with a metadata component ­SPSS, Blaise, Nesstar etc »Software for statistical metadata management ­Triple-S, GESMES, ComeIn etc

11. 11 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut WG2: A conceptual framework for describing statistical metadata l Identified five dimensions for describing statistical metadata »Now agreed with WG1 l Structure l Life-cycle l Role l Usage type l User functionality

12. 12 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut WG2: A conceptual framework (cont). l The space identified by these five dimensions is not uniformly covered l A number of metadata models cover the requirements of specific processes in detail »GESMES for exchange »Banca d’Italia model for modification »TADEQ for production l No single model embraces all types of processing l Work includes identifying the gaps

13. 13 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut WG3 & WG4: Next Steps l Work Groups 3 and 4 now beginning their work »Taking forward work of Work Groups 1 and 2 »Recommendations on best practices for adapting to recommended metadata models and standards ­Now begun to outline a handbook on strategies, methods, and tools for implementing a metainformation system in a statistical organisation »Address the practical issues faced in moving to the recommended best practices ­Discussions with ‘real’ users regarding implementation »Meeting in Oslo in October presenting progress and plans l Final conference in Spring 2003, in Athens

14. 14 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Feedback l Future of the network »Funding ends early next year »What next? l Any opinions ? »Anything in this presentation »Anything on the web sites »Any ideas for inclusion in the work »Any ideas for future of the network

15. 15 CES IASSIST 2002, 11 - 15 June 2002 University of Connecticut Further information l http://www.epros.ed.ac.uk/MetaNet »Published reports of the network »Resource section ­Terminology database ­Publications ­Other reference material l Mailing list via registration at web site above l Password to interested parties web site via public web site l K.Brannen@ed.ac.uk