FGDC - www.fgdc.gov
The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is tasked by Executive Order 12906 to develop procedures and assist in the implementation of a distributed discovery mechanism for digital geospatial data. Using the data elements defined in the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata, governmental, non-profit, and commercial participants worldwide can make their collections of spatial information searchable and accessible on the Internet using free reference implementation software developed by the FGDC. The Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is a collection of over 100 spatial data servers, that have digital geographic data primarily for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), image processing systems, and other modelling software. In April, 2000 the FGDC announced the availability of a free Metadata Workbook.

FGDC CSDGM Metadata Workbook V.2.0 May 1, 2000 (PDF, 1 Mb)- The workbook complies with the latest version of the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), FGDC-STD-001-1998 and contends both textual and color graphical information about the FGDC CSDGM including background information, how to read and use the Standard, a color graphical and textual representation of the content information of the Standard, a description of Profiles and User-defined metadata extensions, and some metadata examples.

What is Metadata?
Simply defined, metadata is "data about data." Used in the context of digital spatial data, metadata is the background information which describes the content, quality, condition, and other appropriate characteristics of the data. Paper maps contain metadata, primarily as part of the map legend. In this form, metadata is readily apparent and easily transferred between map producers and map users. When map data are in a digital form, metadata is equally as important, but its development and maintenance often require a more conscious effort on the part of data producers and the chain of subsequent users who may modify the data to suit their particular needs.(from " Metadata Primer -- A "How To" Guide on Metadata Implementation")

For an excellent tutorial on implementing metadata, the USGS has provided a section titled "an approach for creating metadata". The document helps you to correctly answer the following regarding your data:

• What does the data set describe?
• Who produced the data set?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
• Who wrote the metadata?

FGDC - Hydrographic Data Standards
The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) has released the Hydrographic Data Content Standard for Coastal and Inland Waterways for a period of public review ending August 31, 2000. This public review provides software vendors and data users and producers in all segments of the geospatial community with an opportunity to comment on this standard in order to ensure that it meets their needs.

The Hydrographic Data Content Standard for Coastal and Inland Waterways was developed by the FGDC Bathymetric Subcommittee. The objective of this standard is to develop a nationally focused hydrographic data content standard for spatial data that supports safety of navigation. This standard will provide a consistent catalog of terms and definitions (semantics) to ensure uniform interpretation of information across a variety of organizations that develop and use hydrographic feature data and applications.

Persons interested in reviewing the Hydrographic Data Content Standard may download the public review draft from the FGDC Standards page at www.fgdc.gov/standards/status/sub5_5.html. All reviewers are strongly urged to use the Review Comment Template at www.fgdc.gov/standards/directives/dir2d.html when preparing and submitting comments. Reviewers may send their comments to gdc-hydro@www.fgdc.gov.

Update from the FGDC, May 19, 2000
The FGDC has released the Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization for a period of public review ending September 15, 2000. This public review provides software vendors and data users and producers in all segments of the geospatial community with an opportunity to comment on this standard in order to ensure that it meets their needs.

The Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization was developed by the FGDC Geological Data Subcommittee. This draft standard is intended to provide to the Nation's producers and users of geologic-map information a single, modern standard for the digital cartographic representation of geologic features. The draft standard provides descriptions, examples, cartographic specifications, and notes on usage for a wide variety of symbols that may be used on a typical digital geologic map or related product (for example, cross sections). The standard is scale-independent, meaning that the symbols are appropriate for use on geologic maps at any scale. It applies to geologic-map information published by the Federal government in both offset-print and plot-on-demand formats. It also is suitable for use in electronic publications (for example, Portable Document Format (PDF) documents) and for display by computer monitors. Non-Federal agencies and private companies that produce geologic-map information are encouraged to adopt the standard once the FGDC endorses the standard. Persons interested in reviewing the Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization may download the public review draft, in Portable Document Format (PDF), from the FGDC Geological Data Subcommitee web page. Reviewers are strongly urged to use the Review Comment Template when preparing and submitting comments. Reviewers may send their comments by E-mail to mapsymbol@geology.usgs.gov.

SMMS3 oh! for publishing FGDC Compliant metadata
SMMS is user friendly and will help users become familiar with FGDC standards. The software creates data that can be easily updated, supplemented, shared and published. In addition, SMMS has import features that allow bulk loading of datasets. The product makes it easy for anyone, regardless of prior knowledge of the FGDC standard, to create, manage and publish FGDC compliant metadata. SMMS 3.1 ties data and metadata by allowing you to associate a SMMS metadata record with the actual GIS data layer it describes. The MetaGate data catalog is a new tool that bridges the gap between data and metadata and provides a new level of access to and control over your GIS data library. With MetaGate, you can view SMMS metadata side-by-side with the GIS data layer it describes, open SMMS records using a Windows™-style tree view and quickly locate metadata records using a powerful yet simple Search interface.

What is MetaGate? MetaGate is a complete feature set that ships with SMMS that allows users to view, search and evaluate GIS data and metadata simultaneously. The MetaGate viewer presents the location of a given dataset on a network, a map image of the dataset and summary metadata for the dataset all on one screen. MetaGate also allows you to search for a dataset using keywords, time period or by dragging your mouse pointer over a map to select a geographic search area. MetaGate saves GIS analysts hours they would otherwise spend searching for the dataset that best suits their needs.

Once you've associated a SMMS record with a GIS data layer, you can extract metadata elements like bounding coordinates, point and vector object counts, native data environment and enity/attributes directly from the GIS data into SMMS fields. Support for coverages, shapefiles, GeoMedia Access, and major image formats.

SMMS 3.1 Features:

• Advanced Searching
• User Defined Fields
• Publish Browse Graphics to the Web
• Context-sensitive Online Help
• Multi-User Access
• Data Re-Use
• Metadata Templates
• Re-usable Keyword Lists
• Import
• Metadata Publishing
• Biological Profile

A Site For Your Bookmarks!
If your searching for international data you might consider clearinghouse4.fgdc.gov/registry/clearinghouse_sites.html browsing the extensive list of participating FGDC websites. There are a large number of organizations listed here that make spatial data and metadata available via the internet.

Metadata Tutorials:

• Formal Metadata Information from the USGS
• BLM Tutorial
• Metatdata Primer
• Wisconsin CSDGM Metadata Tool Exercise
• Instructions For Implementing Metadata

UC Berkeley - A Brief Introduction to Metadata for GIS Data