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Development and implementation of automatic metadata generation framework for SDI using OSS: a case study of Indian NSDI

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Abstract

Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is a framework of geospatial data, metadata, and users that primarily function for the production and sharing of large geospatial data. Metadata refers to “data about data” and the metadata related to spatial data contains information like projection, scale, resolution, reliability, data provider, and distribution policy. Metadata is a key component of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) of all nations as this aims to provide data discovery and access. The metadata standard of Indian NSDI is based upon standards taken from existing international standards like FGDC, ANZLIC, Dublin Core, and CSDGM. The drawbacks faced by Indian NSDI include duplication of metadata elements; non-availability of automatic metadata generation capability and metadata standard template; duplication of effort and time in the generation of metadata over the data server and catalogue server separately; and catalogue repository updates in future. To address challenges faced in Indian NSDI and the existing research gap, the present study is undertaken to develop novel metadata standard and framework for modifying and generation of metadata elements automatically using Open Source Software (OSS) for Indian NSDI. The proposed Indian NSDI metadata standard is more efficient as well as the modified metadata elements are more compatible with the other metadata standards. The developed framework for automatic metadata generation is based on the principle of three tier client–server architecture. These concepts are then implemented efficaciously for developing a prototype model of public health SDI for Prayagraj city (acronym GeoMeta4Health) using OSS. The functionality of GeoMeta4Health will help in the search, discovery, access, and visualization of geospatial data and metadata. This research will help geospatial communities not only to generate metadata automatically but also to expand and exchange their geospatial data in a wider domain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geographic Information System (GIS) Cell, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj, 211004, India

    Sonam Agrawal, Ashutosh Kumar Tripathi & Rajan Dev Gupta

  2. Civil Engineering Department, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj, 211004, India

    Rajan Dev Gupta

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  1. Sonam Agrawal
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  2. Ashutosh Kumar Tripathi
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Correspondence to Sonam Agrawal.

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Agrawal, S., Tripathi, A.K. & Gupta, R.D. Development and implementation of automatic metadata generation framework for SDI using OSS: a case study of Indian NSDI. Arab J Geosci 15, 408 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09635-w

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