Metadata

One of the fundamental requirements of the MERMAID system was the metadata – that is the information that describes the datasets themselves. This metadata is used by the broker to search for and extract the required dataset. The metadata structure was investigated during workpackage 3. The final structure used was based on the existing EDMED definition, as used in the Sea-search project, although this was expanded and more tightly defined to meet the projects requirements.

It is felt that the project has made a positive contribution in the field of environmental data exchange and particularly in the area of metadata. The project has moved a step closer to realising a formalised international metadata standard.

To download the Metadata Specification (in pdf format), click here