Metadata in QGIS
An Overview
Jo Cook | Astun Technology | @archaeogeek
What do we mean when we talk about metadata in QGIS?
Human Metadata: info humans need, like who to contact, when the data was created, what is it for...
What use cases are there?
Creating Metadata: using QGIS to create metadata, for example for INSPIRE...
QGIS has plugins to suit all these uses...
... but are they any good?
A JNCC report from 2014 (jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6762) assessing QGIS's suitability for replacing proprietary alternatives highlighted metdata as an area of weakness
“metadata management functionality was extremely limited in QGIS”
tl;dr there's room for improvement!
Overview of existing plugins
Layer Metadata Dock
Does what it says on the tin- provides quick access to layer metadata such as extent, attribute fields, CRS, available actions
Customisable- choose which metadata elements you want to display
Has options to copy elements to clipboard but no obvious way of exporting the information (eg to xml)
Development
Has a github repository at github.com/stevefaeembra/LayerMetadata
Most recent commit was 7 months ago
1 contributor
Metatools
Good bits
Metadata browser and editor for QGIS. Supports both vector and raster layers
Supported metadata standards: ISO19115/ISO19139 and FGDC
Can associate, view and edit metadata in other schemas
Not so good bits
Validation is only possible in FGDC
Editing is limited, as there are no controlled text lookups
Documentation is sometimes confusing- text in images is in Cryllic!
Development
Has a github repository at github.com/nextgis/metatools
Most recent commit was 1 month ago
5 contributors, developed by NextGIS for Linfiniti Consulting
QSphere
Good bits
Metadata browser and editor for QGIS
Supports ISO19139/INSPIRE
Can connect to remote servers for CSW and lookup tables
Not so good bits
Trouble installing (had to install manually)
No obvious english-language repository or bug tracker
The 80s called- they want their interface back!
XML capabilities slightly limited (XPath 1.0, no nilreason, href etc)
Development
Has a code repository at qgis.projets.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/projects/qsphere but versions don't match
Most recent commit was 3 weeks ago (maybe?)
2 contributors, developed for French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable development and Energy
Layer Metadata Search
Search tool for data stored in PostGIS database
Search on title and abstract
Help documentation currently on private intranet!
Development
Has a github repository at github.com/lutraconsulting/qgis-geocat-plugin
Most recent commit was 5 months ago
1 contributor, developed by Lutra Consulting for Dartmoor National Park Authority
MetaSearch
Search tool for metadata/data stored on remote CSW servers
Choose from pre-loaded CSW servers (eg data.gov.uk) or connect to your own
Load data directly if metadata permits it
Development
Now part of QGIS Core, so code is available at github.com/qgis/QGIS/tree/master/python/plugins/MetaSearch
Most recent commit was 4 weeks ago
Main developer is Tom Kralidis
INSPIRE Atom Client
Search tool for metadata/data sourced from an INSPIRE Atom download URL
Choose from pre-loaded URL or connect to your own
Load data directly if metadata permits it
Could not get any UK Atom URLs to work!
Development
Experimental plugin, GitHub repository available at github.com/JuergenWeichand/qgis-inspire-atom-client-plugin
Most recent commit was 6 months ago
2 Developers
And finally, what about INSPIRE Phase 2?
eg data file format, geometric, and schema transformations
QGIS can handle some of these natively, but there's no obvious way of working with the INSPIRE data schemas for data transformations
Support for viewing Complex GML and/or WFS 2.0 is covered by plugins
It would be nice if it was possible to download the schema here: inspire.ec.europa.eu/schemas/elu/4.0/ExistingLandUse.xsd for use inside QGIS
Currently external packages are needed for this
If you have FME then you're sorted, but of the available open source packages Hale Studio fits the bill
Thoughts
Every existing plugin/tool has bugs so there's plenty of room for development in this area
QSphere and MetaTools should combine to make a single plugin
Thanks!
archaeogeek.github.io/qgis-uk-glasgow-2016-metadata
Jo Cook | Astun Technology | @archaeogeek