The NGDF Metadata Project

A major NGDF project under way is the NGDF Metadata project, which will set up a directory service to bring together through the Internet those who are providers of geospatial data with the users of such data. This project is funded by the Treasury Invest to Save Budget with a remit to develop the service by the end of March 2000. It is anticipated that beyond that date the service will expand and more data providers and therefore data users will become involved. The project and the service are seen as central to government's role in making geospatial information more widespread.

The NGDF Gateway is a pivotal component of the NGDF Metadata Project and is designed to co-ordinate direct access to the distributed network of NGDF directory systems throughout UK. These individual directory systems or "nodes" can be implemented by any organisation (public or private) willing to provide on line access to their directory of Geographic Information data holdings. Directories may be for the exclusive use of an organisation, be a collective resource for an industry sector or be provided as a commercial service for users to 'advertise' their data holdings.

The Aim of the Project is:

To oversee the technical and commercial development of the first version of the metadata gateway and associated support services by March 2000
To create linkages with other metadata services
To promote NGDF-compliant metadata services

The Objectives are divided into three areas:

Development of Gateway

to develop the first version of the NGDF Metadata Gateway;
to establish a mechanism for centrally managing metadata where required;
to ensure that the NGDF Metadata Gateway satisfies the top level information needs of the UK's community;
to develop a structure in which the NGDF Metadata Gateway could become commercially self sustaining in the future;
to facilitate the development of links with other metadata services both Nationally and Internationally.

Development of Discovery Metadata

to promote and develop the guidelines for discovery metadata;
to encourage the development of tools to facilitate and simplify the collection and maintenance of metadata;
to promote the use of lookup tables to facilitate spatial and thematic searches through the development of guidelines, these guidelines to be included in the discovery metadata guidelines;
to promote the development of other NGDF compliant metadata services.

General Objectives

to develop a strategy to promote awareness of the NGDF Metadata Gateway and the Discovery Guidelines;
to monitor the business environment and development of metadata services in UK;
to monitor European and International developments and seek participation in these developments where beneficial to NGDF.

Proposed Metadata Infrastructure

The Project Board chairman is Michael Nicholson , Property Intelligence Plc.

The Working Group chairman is Les Rackham , Ordnance Survey.

Metadata Working Group Documents

Members can access the working group documents by clicking the button below. Only members of the working group may access these - a username and password is required.