OSGeodata metadata exchange model

Proposal of an information model to exchange spatial metadata

Initial version by S.F.Keller. See also OSGeodata.

Idea: Take the smallest possible information model for geo-metadata which describes data. Dublin Core (DC) is the most well known model.

This is the full list of (possibly repeatable) attributes from DC together with its semantic interpretation and/or enumeration list:

• Relation: reference - Reference to other metadata records - especially useful for map service types (WxS) pointing to data service types (= file, database?)
• Type: text or enum - Protocol type, e.g. file, WMS, WFS, etc...
• Identifier: string - Unique id to identify an object in a certain context (URL or URN).
• Title: string - Title
• Coverage.box: - Rectangular box (mandatory) in WGS84
• Coverage.name: String - (optionally) a geographic name
• Description: string - Some free text
• Subject: enum - Classification from ISO 19115 as enum type
• Language: enum - ISO Code
• Format: string - File type or name of originating source system
• Source: string - Lineage information
• Date: date - Publication date or date of last change
• Creator: string - Data owner, else: data capturer
• Publisher: string - Distribution informatione
• Rights: string - License information about the data
• Contributor: string - Leave unused?
• Audience: string - Not used or 'GIS' as a constant

Attributes to discuss further (all are probably enums): Type (protocol), Identifier, Coverage.box and Coverage.name and Subject.