Thursday, June 21, 2012

Metadata, what beautiful art!


I just used wordle to create this word cloud from the following metadata training invitation (you're invited, by the way!):
 
The Iowa GIS Service Bureau would like to invite you to attend a Metadata Training Day on Thursday, July 19, 2012 from 9:30am-2:30pm.  This workshop is an opportunity to create new or upgrade incomplete metadata files for any GIS data that your agency may be interested in sharing with the public or with other agencies. Metadata gives GIS data power by providing background information (the who, what, where, why and how) on the data set as well as helping to describe and decode attribute information stored in the attribute table. By taking the time to create this interpretive file you will reduce questions and confusion from users, provide a better product to the GIS community, and contribute to greater professionalism in Iowa’s GIS network.  The metadata files will also allow the data to be searchable on the Iowa’s GIS data clearinghouse.  We hope you will be able to join us.

The workshop is being presented by the Iowa GIS Service Bureau with a grant from the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and hosted by the Iowa State University GIS Facility.  There is no fee to attend the training.  Lunch will be provided for a fee of $6 (catered by Hickory Park).

The purpose of the training is to provide an overview of how to create metadata as well as to highlight tools and best practices to create more informative metadata.  This will be an opportunity to learn by doing - so bring your files that need metadata and you will have time to work.   There will be trainers available to answer any questions you might have as you are working. After the metadata has been created we will include it in the state metadata clearinghouse. During the workshop participants are encouraged to create metadata for web services and online applications produced by their agencies, so that others can easily find these products in the clearinghouse. The training is also intended to allow data creators and other parties with an interest in GIS, an opportunity to network, exchange information, and share best practices directly with one another.
 
You can provide wordle with any text or a website and it will create for you a sweet word cloud too!

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