Research:
Deliverables: D3.5 DESIRE Metadata Registry Framework
Metadata registries enable authoritative information about metadata schemes to be declared and thus support the extensibility and evolution of element sets and provide some basis for interoperability. The DESIRE metadata registry demonstrates how a metadata registry might work. Elements from several different metadata element sets, including Dublin Core, have been added. This report gives a detailed technical overview of the DESIRE metadata registry implementation and its data model, additional information on the element sets (namespaces) included in the registry and some comments on metadata mappings and cross-walks.
The report is available in the following formats:
Comprehensive Peer reviews for this deliverable are also available:
- Makx Dekkers, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Technology Consultants, Luxembourg
(HTML), (RTF)
- Tom Baker, GMD Library, Schloss Birlinghoven, Germany (HTML), (RTF)
Abstract
Metadata registries are formal systems that can disclose authoritative information about the semantics and structure of the data elements that are included within a particular metadata scheme. Registries would typically define the semantics of metadata elements, give information on any local extensions in use, and provide mappings to other metadata schemes.
This information would ideally need to be stored in a syntax that is machine-readable (e.g. in XML/RDF) as well as in human readable form so that information can be disclosed to both:
- Humans who want to create metadata according to defined standards; those who want to discover whether appropriate metadata element sets already exist for their purpose; those who wish to align their metadata sets with those that exist for other purposes.
- Software that wants to manipulate metadata and needs to know its structure and semantics; metadata creation tools which need to validate and present helpful user interfaces; conversion tools that need reference to mapping tables.
In order to demonstrate the feasibility of creating useful and scalable metadata registries, the DESIRE project has developed a prototype metadata registry. The registry has been implemented using a relational database (mySQL) but a standard Web browser provides both administrative and user interfaces. Access to the registry is available from:
http://desire.ukoln.ac.uk/registry/
Keywords
Metadata registries, Dublin Core, ISO/IEC 11179
|
