Meta Data Management

What is Meta Data Management?
Meta Data Management is the process of managing and organizing data about data. It involves the collection, organization, storage, and retrieval of information about data and its associated metadata. Essentially, it is a way to keep track of the various types of data that are collected, organized, stored and used in an organization or system. This includes information such as the source, type, purpose, ownership and usage of data. Meta Data Management also helps organizations to maintain consistency in their data management processes by allowing them to track changes to their data over time.

Why Metadata Management is important?
Metadata management is important because it helps organizations capture, store, and maintain information about data assets. This information is critical for understanding the current state of an organization’s data and its usage. Metadata management also helps organizations make better decisions when it comes to data governance, compliance, security, analytics, and more. By having an organized system for managing metadata, organizations can optimize their data assets and ensure that they are making the most of them. Additionally, metadata management can help organizations reduce costs by finding duplicate records and avoiding redundant data storage.

What are the risks of not doing Metadata Management?

• Poor decision-making due to inadequate understanding of data sources and their contents
• Difficulty in locating and accessing data when needed
• Difficulty in understanding the context in which data is created and used
• Potential for introducing errors into data processing due to inconsistent or incomplete metadata
• Reduced trust in the accuracy of data results due to lack of confidence in the underlying metadata
• Increased time and cost incurred in managing and maintaining data due to lack of standard definitions or procedures
• Reduced ability to comply with regulatory requirements or industry standards due to inadequate metadata management systems

Type of Meta Data?
There are several types of meta data, including descriptive metadata (which describes the content of a file or resource), structural metadata (which describes how the components of a file or resource are organized), administrative metadata (which is used to manage a resource, such as its access rights and ownership), and technical metadata (which describes the technical aspects of a file or resource).

Descriptive Metadata
Descriptive metadata is a type of metadata that describes a resource, such as a document, image, or video. This type of metadata typically includes information such as the title, author, publisher, and subject of the resource. Descriptive metadata can also include keywords and other descriptors that help identify and classify the resource.

Descriptive metadata is used to discover and identify resources for retrieval. It helps users locate relevant information by providing an organized structure for searching and sorting data. It can also be used to provide statistics on resources, such as the number of times an item has been viewed or downloaded. Descriptive metadata can be stored in any type of database or system, from a library catalog to an online search engine.

Structural Metadata
Structural metadata is a type of metadata that describes the structure of a resource, such as the physical components or logical elements that make up the resource. This type of metadata is most commonly used in digital documents or multimedia files. For example, in an audio file, structural metadata would describe how the file is divided into channels and tracks, while in a video file it would describe how the video is broken up into frames and sequences.

Structural metadata can help users identify and access specific parts of a resource. It also helps preserve the integrity of digital documents by allowing users to verify that all components are intact and unaltered. Structural metadata can be stored in a variety of formats, such as XML or RDF.

Administrative Metadata
Administrative metadata is a type of metadata that describes the management, organization, and storage of a resource. This type of metadata typically includes information such as when the resource was created, who created it, when it was last modified, and where it is stored. Administrative metadata can also include rights management data, which describes any restrictions that are placed on the resource and who can access it.

Administrative metadata is used to manage resources throughout their lifecycle. It helps users identify and locate resources by providing information about where they are stored and how they are organized. It also helps ensure that resources are properly managed and preserved over time by providing a record of changes and updates. Administrative metadata can be stored in any type of database or system, from a library catalog to an online content management system.