Sample Metadata
Each sample or sampling feature that is registered in the SESAR Sample Catalog and assigned an IGSN is described in an IGSN Metadata Profile. The IGSN Metadata Profile contains geospatial information about the object (latitude, longitude and geographical names), classification, a description, and information about its current location (archive). These metadata are provided by the registrant of the object.
View IGSN Metadata Profiles of different sample types (coming soon).
Best Practice
Due to the diversity of samples that SESAR tries to accommodate, including historic samples with a very limited set of available metadata, the only mandatory metadata in an IGSN Metadata Profile are the sample name and the sample type. Nevertheless, SESAR highly recommends to include, at a minimum, the following metadata when you register your samples:
- Latitude
- Longitude
- Elevation (or water depth)
- Material
- Classification (if applicable)
- Age
- Field Program (cruise or land-based expedition)
- Collection date
- (Parent IGSN, if applicable)
Extended IGSN Metadata Profiles
Registrants can extend IGSN Metadata profiles in MySESAR by adding custom metadata fields, documents such as images, map, or scanned field notes, and links to publications. We plan to add functionality to MySESAR that will allow registrants to choose if custom metadata and documents should be private or public.
