This glossary provides you with brief descriptions of the minimum set of metadata fields required to properly describe a geoghaphical data as well as some optional elements highly suggested for a more extensive standard description.

Access constraints. Access constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations on obtaining the resource

Abstract. Brief narrative summary of the content of the resource(s)

Administrative area. State, province of the location

* Temporal extent - Begin date. Formatted as 2007-09-12T15:00:00 (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss)

Character set. Full name of the character coding standard used for the metadata set

Grid spatial representation - Cell geometry. Identification of grid data as point or cell

City. City of the location

Reference System Info - Code. Alphanumeric value identifying an instance in the namespace

Country. Country of the physical address

Data quality info. Provides overall assessment of quality of a resource(s)

Date. Reference date and event used to describe it (YYYY-MM-DD)

Date stamp. Date that the metadata was created (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss)

Date type. Event used for reference date

Delivery point. Address line for the location (as described in ISO 11180, annex A)

Equivalent scale - Denominator. The number below the line in a vulgar fraction

Data Quality - Description. Description of the event, including related parameters or tolerances

OnLine resource - Description. Detailed text description of what the online resource is/does

Descriptive keywords. Provides category keywords, their type, and reference source

Grid spatial representation - Dimension name. Name of the axis i.e. row, column

Grid spatial representation - Dimension size. Number of elements along the axis

Dimension size Resolution. Number of elements along the axis

Distribution info. Provides information about the distributor of and options for obtaining the resource(s)

Geographic bounding box - East bound longitude. Eastern-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)

Edition. Version of the cited resource

Electronic mail address. Address of the electronic mailbox of the responsible organization or individual

Temporal extent - End date. Formatted as 2007-09-12T15:00:00 (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss)

Equivalent scale. Level of detail expressed as the scale of a comparable hardcopy map or chart

Extent. Information about spatial, vertical, and temporal extent

Facsimile. Telephone number of a facsimile machine for the responsible organization or individual

File identifier. Unique identifier for this metadata file

Vector spatial representation - Geometric object type. Name of point and vector spatial objects used to locate zero-, one-and two-dimensional spatial locations in the dataset

Vector spatial representation - Geometric object count. Total number of the point or vector object type occurring in the dataset

Geographic bounding box. Geographic position of the dataset

Grid spatial representation. Information about grid spatial objects in the dataset

Grid spatial representation - Resolution value. Degree of detail in the grid dataset

Grid spatial representation - Transformation parameter availability. Indication of whether or not parameters for transformation exists

Data Quality - Hierarchy level. Hierarchical level of the data specified by the scope

Identification info. Basic information about the resource(s) to which the metadata applies

Point of Contact - Individual name. Name of the responsible person- surname, given name, title separated by a delimiter

Keyword. Commonly used word(s) or formalised word(s) or phrase(s) used to describe the subject

Data Language. Language used for documenting data

Metadata - Language. Language used for documenting metadata

Data Quality - Lineage. Non-quantitative quality information about the lineage of the data specified by the scope. Mandatory if report not provided

OnLine resource - Linkage. Location (address) for on-line access using a Uniform Resource Locator address or similar addressing scheme such as http://www.statkart.no/isotc211

Maintenance and update frequency. Frequency with which changes and additions are made to the resource after the initial resource is completed

Metadata author. Party responsible for the metadata information

Metadata standard name. Name of the metadata standard (including profile name) used

Metadata standard version. Version (profile) of the metadata standard used

OnLine resource - Name. Name of the online resource

Geographic bounding box - North bound latitude. Northern-most, coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent expressed in latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)

Grid spatial representation - Number of dimensions. Number of independent spatial-temporal axes

Distribution Info - OnLine resource. Information about online sources from which the resource can be obtained

Point of Contact - Organisation name. Name of the responsible organization

Other constraints. Other restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing and using the resource

Point of contact. Identification of, and means of communication with, person(s) and organizations(s) associated with the resource(s)

Point of contact - Position name. Role or position of the responsible person

Postal code. ZIP or other postal code

Presentation form. Mode in which the resource is represented

OnLine resource - Protocol. Connection protocol to be used

Purpose. Summary of the intentions with which the resource(s) was developed

Reference system info. Description of the spatial and temporal reference systems used in the datasetData

Data Quality - Report. Quantitative quality information for the data specified by the scope. Mandatory if lineage not provided

Grid spatial representation - Resolution value. Degree of detail in the grid dataset

Point of contact - Role. Function performed by the responsible party

Geographic bounding box - South bound latitude. Southern-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)

Spatial representation info. Digital representation of spatial information in the dataset

Spatial representation type. Method used to spatially represent geographic information

Data Quality - Statement. General explanation of the data producer's knowledge about the lineage of a dataset

Status. Status of the resource(s)

Supplemental Information. Any other descriptive information about the dataset

Temporal Extent. Time period covered by the content of the dataset

Title. Name by which the cited resource is known

Topic category code. High-level geographic data thematic classification to assist in the grouping and search of available geographic data sets. Can be used to group keywords as well. Listed examples are not exhaustive. NOTE It is understood there are overlaps between general categories and the user is encouraged to select the one most appropriate.

Grid spatial representation - Transformation parameter availability. Indication of whether or not parameters for transformation exists

Vector spatial representation - Topology level. Code which identifies the degree of complexity of the spatial relationships

Type. Subject matter used to group similar keywords

URL. Unified Resource Locator

Use constraints. Constraints applied to assure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations or warnings on using the resource

Vector spatial representation. Information about the vector spatial objects in the dataset

Voice. Telephone number by which individuals can speak to the responsible organization or individual

Geographic bounding box - West bound longitude. Western-most coordinate of the limit of the dataset extent, expressed in longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)