Using XML-encoded Metadata as a Basis for Advanced Information Systems for Ecological Research

摘要

Metadata provide information on the structure and meaning of data. It is one of the most basic components for building a scalable, networked infrastructure for accessing ecological data. Several partnering groups from ecology have collaborated to define a standardized format for metadata that is machine-parseable and extensible. This has enabled new projects focusing on the development of tools for managing metadata archives and for accessing and processing the datasets they describe. Ecological Metadata Language and its associated tools will have a significant impact on the integration and synthesis of ecological data at a global level.