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A Publication Featuring The Information Services
Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume VIII, Issue 1 | January/February 2005 |
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By Kate King
The Maine Office of Geographic Information Systems (MEGIS) has applied for and won a 2004 Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) grant for "Metadata Trainer and Outreach Assistance".
2004 FGDC CAP grants support the implementation of six basic building blocks, common elements, for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI): metadata, clearinghouse, standards, framework, geospatial data, and partnerships.
Maine GIS users, through the Maine GIS Executive Council and the Maine Library of Geographic Information, have supported MEGIS in the development of these common elements for the Maine GIS database, a geospatial library of thematic data layers for Maine. The collaborative effort has made GIS data, and technical support for the use of GIS, available to all levels of government, universities, private and public enterprise, and the general public.
Don’t Duck Metadata! |
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So what is metadata? What is FGDC metadata? And what does it mean for Maine GIS users? |
Metadata is "data about data" or documentation. FGDC metadata is a standardized format for documentation of geospatial data. This standardized format helps to ensure that metadata content is searchable and answers the questions, who, what, when, where, how and why. |
Maine GIS data layers are documented with FGDC metadata and published, through MEGIS, in the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog. FGDC metadata for Maine GIS data layers also makes them accessible to the national clearinghouse nodes of the NSDI. |
MEGIS provides technical support to state agencies and the public for Maine GIS data and FGDC metadata. You are invited to call MEGIS for assistance with FGDC metadata, at (207) 624-9403.
For more information on the Maine GIS FGDC metadata initiative see http://megis.maine.gov/standards . View FGDC metadata and search Maine GIS data layers from the Maine GIS Internet Data Catalog at http://megis.maine.gov/catalog and http://megis.maine.gov/metaweb/smms.asp , or search the Maine GIS Clearinghouse from NSDI clearinghouse nodes nationwide at http://edcw2ks15.cr.usgs.gov/fgdc/EDCgateway.html or http://edcw2ks15.cr.usgs.gov/servlet/FGDCServlet .
A graduate of the University of Maine Farmington in Interdisciplinary Geography and Geology, Kate King has worked as a GIS Coordinator for the Maine Office of GIS since 1996. Kate can be reached via email at kate.king@maine.gov or by phone at (207) 624-9403.
