Cartographers and hydrographic surveyors are tasked with processing and then disseminating hydrographic information to the mariner and to the public in the form of navigational charts and other digital and paper publications. The data distributed must be of the highest quality and meet standards set forth by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in order to be considered safe for navigation. In order to prove these data are of the highest quality and standard, it is necessary to be able to trace, query and qualify details pertaining to the data. Metadata, or data about data, therefore plays a key role in this information discovery and traceability. Metadata provide invaluable information to assist the mariner in safety of navigation, while providing the distributing organizations (usually hydrographic organizations) with the ability to store, retrieve and manage these data.
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