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

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

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

7. General architecture of metadata system

8. User interface

9. 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.)

10. 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

11. Classification screen

12. 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

13. 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

14. Statistical activity screen

15. 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

16. Defining variables

17. Simplified variables model

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

19. Components of information system
iMETA – integrated metadata system (2011)
SRS – system of statistical registers (2012)
Kunde – customer relationship management system (2006)
eSTAT – data collection system for economic entities (2006)
VVIS – data collection system for persons (2011)
ADAM – data collection system for administrative data (2011)
VAIS – template based data processing system (2012)
Analyse – system for statistical analyses (2013)
PX-Web – output database (2001) will be replaced by .Stat (2014)
Census Hub – dissemination tool for European statistics ( )

20. Links between metadata repository and other systems

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.

24. Thank you for your attention!