Commission Regulation (EC) No 1205/2008 of 3 December 2008 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards metadata (Text with EEA relevance)

Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation sets out the requirements for the creation and maintenance of metadata for spatial data sets, spatial data set series and spatial data services corresponding to the themes listed in Annexes I, II and III to Directive 2007/2/EC.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, in addition to the definitions laid down in Article 3 of Directive 2007/2/EC, the definitions set out in Part A of the Annex shall apply.

Article 3

Creation and maintenance of metadata

The metadata describing a spatial data set, a spatial data set series or a spatial data service shall comprise the metadata elements or groups of metadata elements set out in Part B of the Annex and shall be created and maintained in accordance with the rules set out in Parts C and D thereof.

Article 4

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX

METADATA IMPLEMENTING RULES

PART A

Interpretation

PART B

Metadata elements

The following metadata elements shall be provided:

This a characteristic, and often unique, name by which the resource is known.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

This is a brief narrative summary of the content of the resource.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

This is the type of resource being described by the metadata.

The value domain of this metadata element is defined in Part D.1.

The resource locator defines the link(s) to the resource and/or the link to additional information about the resource.

The value domain of this metadata element is a character string, commonly expressed as uniform resource locator (URL).

A value uniquely identifying the resource.

The value domain of this metadata element is a mandatory character string code, generally assigned by the data owner, and a character string namespace uniquely identifying the context of the identifier code (for example, the data owner).

If the resource is a spatial data service, this metadata element identifies, where relevant, the target spatial data set(s) of the service through their unique resource identifiers (URI).

The value domain of this metadata element is a mandatory character string code, generally assigned by the data owner, and a character string namespace uniquely identifying the context of the identifier code (for example, the data owner).

The language(s) used within the resource.

The value domain of this metadata element is limited to the languages defined in ISO 639-2.

The topic category is a high-level classification scheme to assist in the grouping and topic-based search of available spatial data resources.

The value domain of this metadata element is defined in Part D.2.

This is a classification to assist in the search of available spatial data services. A specific service shall be categorised in only one category.

The value domain of this metadata element is defined in Part D.3.

If the resource is a spatial data service, at least one keyword from Part D.4 shall be provided.

If a resource is a spatial data set or spatial data set series, at least one keyword shall be provided from the general environmental multilingual thesaurus (GEMET) describing the relevant spatial data theme as defined in Annex I, II or III to Directive 2007/2/EC.

For each keyword, the following metadata elements shall be provided:

The keyword value is a commonly used word, formalised word or phrase used to describe the subject. While the topic category is too coarse for detailed queries, keywords help narrowing a full text search and they allow for structured keyword search.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

If the keyword value originates from a controlled vocabulary (thesaurus, ontology), for example GEMET, the citation of the originating controlled vocabulary shall be provided.

This citation shall include at least the title and a reference date (date of publication, date of last revision or of creation) of the originating controlled vocabulary.

The requirement for geographic location referred to in Article 11(2)(e) of Directive 2007/2/EC shall be expressed with the metadata element geographic bounding box.

This is the extent of the resource in the geographic space, given as a bounding box.

The bounding box shall be expressed with westbound and eastbound longitudes, and southbound and northbound latitudes in decimal degrees, with a precision of at least two decimals.

This metadata element addresses the requirement to have information on the temporal dimension of the data as referred to in Article 8(2)(d) of Directive 2007/2/EC. At least one of the metadata elements referred to in points 5.1 to 5.4 shall be provided.

The value domain of the metadata elements referred to in points 5.1 to 5.4 is a set of dates. Each date shall refer to a temporal reference system and shall be expressed in a form compatible with that system. The default reference system shall be the Gregorian calendar, with dates expressed in accordance with ISO 8601.

The temporal extent defines the time period covered by the content of the resource. This time period may be expressed as any of the following:

— an individual date,

— an interval of dates expressed through the starting date and end date of the interval,

— a mix of individual dates and intervals of dates.

This is the date of publication of the resource when available, or the date of entry into force. There may be more than one date of publication.

This is the date of last revision of the resource, if the resource has been revised. There shall not be more than one date of last revision.

This is the date of creation of the resource. There shall not be more than one date of creation.

The requirements referred to in Article 5(2) and Article 11(2) of Directive 2007/2/EC relating to the quality and validity of spatial data shall be addressed by the following metadata elements:

This is a statement on process history and/or overall quality of the spatial data set. Where appropriate it may include a statement whether the data set has been validated or quality assured, whether it is the official version (if multiple versions exist), and whether it has legal validity.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

Spatial resolution refers to the level of detail of the data set. It shall be expressed as a set of zero to many resolution distances (typically for gridded data and imagery-derived products) or equivalent scales (typically for maps or map-derived products).

An equivalent scale is generally expressed as an integer value expressing the scale denominator.

A resolution distance shall be expressed as a numerical value associated with a unit of length.

The requirements referred to in Article 5(2)(a) and Article 11(2)(d) of Directive 2007/2/EC relating to the conformity, and the degree of conformity, with implementing rules adopted under Article 7(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC shall be addressed by the following metadata elements:

This is a citation of the implementing rules adopted under Article 7(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC or other specification to which a particular resource conforms.

A resource may conform to more than one implementing rules adopted under Article 7(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC or other specification.

This citation shall include at least the title and a reference date (date of publication, date of last revision or of creation) of the implementing rules adopted under Article 7(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC or of the specification.

This is the degree of conformity of the resource to the implementing rules adopted under Article 7(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC or other specification.

The value domain of this metadata element is defined in Part D.

A constraint related to access and use shall be either or both of the following:

— a set of conditions applying to access and use (8.1),

— a set of limitations on public access (8.2).

This metadata element defines the conditions for access and use of spatial data sets and services, and where applicable, corresponding fees as required by Article 5(2)(b) and Article 11(2)(f) of Directive 2007/2/EC.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

The element must have values. If no conditions apply to the access and use of the resource, ‘no conditions apply’ shall be used. If conditions are unknown, ‘conditions unknown’ shall be used.

This element shall also provide information on any fees necessary to access and use the resource, if applicable, or refer to a uniform resource locator (URL) where information on fees is available.

When Member States limit public access to spatial data sets and spatial data services under Article 13 of Directive 2007/2/EC, this metadata element shall provide information on the limitations and the reasons for them.

If there are no limitations on public access, this metadata element shall indicate that fact.

The value domain of this metadata element is free text.

For the purposes of Article 5(2)(d) and Article 11(2)(g) of Directive 2007/2/EC, the following two metadata elements shall be provided:

This is the description of the organisation responsible for the establishment, management, maintenance and distribution of the resource.

This description shall include:

— the name of the organisation as free text,

— a contact e-mail address as a character string.

This is the role of the responsible organisation.

The value domain of this metadata element is defined in Part D.

For the purposes of Article 5(1) of Directive 2007/2/EC the following metadata elements shall be provided:

This is the description of the organisation responsible for the creation and maintenance of the metadata.

This description shall include:

— the name of the organisation as free text,

— a contact e-mail address as a character string.

The date which specifies when the metadata record was created or updated.

This date shall be expressed in conformity with ISO 8601.

This is the language in which the metadata elements are expressed.

The value domain of this metadata element is limited to the official languages of the Community expressed in conformity with ISO 639-2.

PART C

Instructions on multiplicity and conditions of the metadata elements

The metadata describing a resource shall comprise, as regards a spatial data set or a spatial data set series, the metadata elements or groups of metadata elements listed in Table 1 and, as regards a spatial data set service, the metadata elements or groups of metadata elements listed in Table 2.

Those metadata elements or groups of metadata elements shall be in accordance with the expected multiplicity and the related conditions set out in Tables 1 and 2.

When no condition is expressed in relation to a particular metadata element, that element shall be mandatory.

The tables present the following information:

— the first column contains the reference to the paragraph in Part B of the Annex defining the metadata element or group of metadata elements,

— the second column contains the name of the metadata element or group of metadata elements,

— the third column specifies the multiplicity of a metadata element. The expression of the multiplicity follows the unified modelling language (UML) notation for multiplicity, in which: — 1 means that there shall be only one instance of this metadata element in a result set, — 1.. means that there shall be at least one instance of this element in a result set, — 0..1 indicates that the presence of the metadata element in a result set is conditional but can occur only once, — 0.. indicates that the presence of the metadata element in a result set is conditional but the metadata element may occur once or more, — when the multiplicity is 0..1 or 0..*, the condition defines when the metadata elements is mandated,

— the fourth column contains a conditional statement if the multiplicity of the element does not apply to all types of resources. All elements are mandatory in other circumstances.

Reference	Metadata elements	Multiplicity	Condition
1.1	Resource title	1
1.2	Resource abstract	1
1.3	Resource type	1
1.4	Resource locator	0..*	Mandatory if a URL is available to obtain more information on the resource, and/or access related services.
1.5	Unique resource identifier	1..*
1.7	Resource language	0..*	Mandatory if the resource includes textual information.
2.1	Topic category	1..*
3	Keyword	1..*
4.1	Geographic bounding box	1..*
5	Temporal reference	1..*
6.1	Lineage	1
6.2	Spatial resolution	0..*	Mandatory for data sets and data set series if an equivalent scale or a resolution distance can be specified.
7	Conformity	1..*
8.1	Conditions for access and use	1..*
8.2	Limitations on public access	1..*
9	Responsible organisation	1..*
10.1	Metadata point of contact	1..*
10.2	Metadata date	1
10.3	Metadata language	1
Reference	Metadata element	Multiplicity	Condition
---	---	---	---
1.1	Resource title	1
1.2	Resource abstract	1
1.3	Resource type	1
1.4	Resource locator	0..*	Mandatory if linkage to the service is available.
1.6	Coupled resource	0..*	Mandatory if linkage to data sets on which the service operates are available.
2.2	Spatial data service type	1
3	Keyword	1..*
4.1	Geographic bounding box	0…*	Mandatory for services with an explicit geographic extent.
5	Temporal reference	1..*
6.2	Spatial resolution	0..*	Mandatory when there is a restriction on the spatial resolution for this service.
7	Conformity	1..*
8.1	Conditions for access and use	1..*
8.2	Limitations on public access	1..*
9	Responsible organisation	1..*
10.1	Metadata point of contact	1..*
10.2	Metadata date	1
10.3	Metadata language	1

PART D

Value domains

Where specified in the description of the metadata elements in Part B, the value domains described in Part D.1 to D.6 shall be used with the multiplicity expressed in Tables 1 and 2 of Part C.

In relation to a particular domain, each value is defined by:

— a numerical identifier,

— a textual name for humans which may be translated in the different Community languages,

— a language neutral name for computers (the value expressed between parenthesis),

— an optional description or definition.

1.1. Spatial data set series (series)

1.2. Spatial data set (dataset)

1.3. Spatial data service (service)

Rearing of animals and/or cultivation of plants.

This category applies to Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data theme Annex III(9) Agricultural and aquaculture facilities.

Flora and/or fauna in natural environment.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex III(17) Bio-geographical regions, Annex III(18) Habitats and biotopes, Annex III(19) Species distribution.

Legal land descriptions.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex I(4) Administrative units, Annex III(1) Statistical units.

Processes and phenomena of the atmosphere.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex III(13) Atmospheric conditions, Annex III(14) Meteorological geographical features.

Economic activities, conditions and employment.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex III(20) Energy resources, Annex III(21) Mineral resources.

Height above or below sea level.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data theme: Annex II(1) Elevation.

Environmental resources, protection and conservation.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data theme: Annex I(9) Protected sites.

Information pertaining to earth sciences.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex III(3) Soil , Annex II(4) Geology, Annex III(12) Natural risk zones.

Health, health services, human ecology, and safety.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data theme: Annex III(5) Human health and safety.

Base maps.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex II(3) Orthoimagery, Annex II(2) Land cover.

Military bases, structures, activities.

This category does not apply specifically to any Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes.

Inland water features, drainage systems and their characteristics.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data theme: Annex I(8) Hydrography.

Positional information and services.

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex I(3) Geographical names, Annex I(5) Addresses.

Features and characteristics of salt water bodies (excluding inland waters).

This category applies to the following Directive 2007/2/EC spatial data themes: Annex III(16) Sea regions, Annex III(15) Oceanographic geographical features.