Differences between ArcGIS metadata and FGDC metadata

There are a few differences between the metadata content that is supported and stored in ArcGIS and the metadata content that is allowed by the FGDC CSDGM standard. By following some best practices, the metadata that you create and maintain in ArcGIS will be accurate and easier to maintain, and will transition seamlessly to the ISO metadata formats. The FGDC now recommends transitioning to the ISO metadata format as soon as it is appropriate for your organization.

Allow ArcGIS to automatically update an item's metadata

ArcGIS must be set to automatically update an item's metadata. This is required to ensure that an item's properties are included in its metadata when content is exported to the CSDGM XML format. If an item's metadata has not been automatically updated by ArcGIS 10, the item's coordinate system will not be included in the item's metadata.

Also, the feature count, feature type, raster size, and attribute field information should be exclusively derived from the item's properties to ensure they are accurate.

Some content is defined by the metadata style

ArcGIS metadata is an internal storage format that supports the FGDC CSDGM and ISO 19139 metadata standards, the INSPIRE Metadata Directive, and the North American Profile of ISO 19115. The metadata style determines how ArcGIS is configured to support a specific standard or profile. As a result, several pieces of information that are traditionally recorded within an item's metadata are now added at the time that metadata is exported based on the metadata style that is being used. They include:

A few elements are not supported

There are a few CSDGM metadata elements that are not kept when metadata is upgraded or imported to ArcGIS.

Some elements have standardized content

There are some metadata elements for which free-form values are supported in the CSDGM standard. Many times people write different text in these elements that are intended to have the same meaning. These values are standardized in ArcGIS.

Some content is reorganized

Some information is organized differently in ArcGIS metadata than in the CSDGM standard. These changes were made to streamline metadata content in a manner that is consistent with how organizations generally do business today.

Related Topics

7/31/2012