Metadata management and statistical business process at Statistics Estonia Work Session on Statistical Metadata (Geneva, Switzerland 8-10 May 2013) Kaja Sõstra, Eda Froš

Outline Overview of integrated metadata management system Statistical information system and business process model Current metadata projects Future plans Conclusions

Integrated metadata management system iMETA Outsourced project August 2010 – July 2011 Integration of iMETA with other subsystems of our statistical information system (SIS) Metadata driven SIS Bilingual application; metadata will be stored in Estonian and in English

Purposes of the new metadata management system To support the whole statistical business process; To enable the storage of metadata once for all usages; To act as an instrument for harmonising and standardising metadata; To act as a central repository for all subsystems and for various outputs regardless of purpose, media, format and time.

Source documents Neuchâtel Terminology Model – classification database object types and their attributes Neuchâtel Termonology Model – variables and related concepts MMX Metadata Framework – implementation of MOF (built on relational database) technology

Content of iMETA Metadata navigator Statistical activities Classifications Concepts Statistical units types and statistical characteristics Measurement units Information about questionnaires Legal acts Databases

General architecture of metadata system

User interface

Metadata navigator Metadata repository contains metadata managed by iMETA application and also metadata managed by other applications. Metadata navigator gives an overview of all metadata stored in metadata repository (terminology objects, SQL objects, etc.)

Classifications Classification – kind of umbrella that comprises one or several classification versions Classification version – structured list of mutually exclusive categories Classification variant – the original categories of classification version are split or regrouped to provide context-specific additions to the standard structure Correspondence tables

Classification screen

Statistical activities (I) Statistical activity –the collection, storage, transformation and distribution of statistical information In Statistics Estonia the concept of statistical activity includes not only the conducted statistical surveys, but also management of statistical registers, compilation of yearbooks and analytical publications as well as other works related to the production of statistics Every year a new version (instance) of statistical activity is being described

Statistical activities (II) The description of statistical activity is based on ESMS concepts, supplemented by special attributes needed for Statistics Estonia. All attributes are grouped as: General information Methodology Quality Dissemination VVIS (electronic data collection system) E-respondent New attributes and groups can be added

Statistical activity screen

Statistical activities (III) Description of statistical activities enables To present descriptions of surveys according to Euro- SDMX structure (ESMS) on the web To create a document of Statistical Programme for 5 years; To present list of conducted statistical activities with short description by years on the web To create XML file according to Euro-SDMX MSD

Defining variables

Simplified variables model

Architecture of the information system Dissemination Statistical registers Metadata system Data collection Processing Statistical analysis Persons Administrative registers Users Economic entities Data Warehouse iMETA VVIS ADAM eGeostat SRS VAIS eSTAT PX-Web Census-HUB KUNDE Analyse

2002 Statistical Farm Register CRM 2006 Px-web 1994 Statistical Business Register eStat 2006 VVIS economic entities 2006 economic entities 2001 metadata management 2011 iMeta project started 2011 system for statistical registers project started 2011 project started 2011 persons planned Generic Statistical Business Process Model project started 2012

Links between metadata repository and other systems

Current metadata projects Implementation of ESS metadata standards on describing statistical activities and disseminating data Describing reference metadata (in the metadata system) for all statistical activities according to ESMS. Modernisation of reference metadata describing and update processes Preparation for dissemination of reference metadata on the website Technical development of iMeta

Future plans Dissemination of ESMS based reference metadata on the web is planned on the 1st of July this year Release of concepts and definitions on the web of Statistics Estonia. Replacement of current HTML version of concepts and methodology in output database Further development of iMeta in line with developments of other components of statistical information system

Conclusions Several parallel developments course problems of specification common requirements for all systems. Unfortunately, all new developments bring along some changes in the metadata system Responsible unit and persons should be appointed for management of metadata Creation of new metadata, filling in the gaps and harmonisation is very labour-intensive. Support from management and other people in the office is essential for success. Special guidelines and rules should be created. All potential internal users of metadata system should be informed about the development process and involved in it.

Thank you for your attention!