Without metadata, this information is known only to those who acquired or modified the data and the data lose value as the information is lost. With metadata, prospective users can determine what data exist, the fitness of these data for their applications, and the conditions for accessing these data. Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata was applied.
Metadata standards facilitate data sharing through time and space.
The standard establishes the names of data elements and groups of data elements, the definitions of these data elements and groups, and information about the values that are to be provided for the data elements. Examples include the title, the geographic area covered, currentness, and rules for acquiring or using the data. Data Quality Information - an assessment of the quality of the data set. Examples include the positional and attribute accuracy, completeness, consistency, the sources of information, and methods used to produce the data. Spatial Data Organization Information - the mechanism used to represent spatial information in the data set.