• Home

• News & Events

• Still Image Working Group
  • Participating Organizations
  • Advisory Board
  • Sub-Groups
  • Documents and Guidelines
  • Resources and Industry Standards
  • Papers & Presentations
  • Provide Comments

• Audio-Visual Working Group

Related Resources

• Glossary of Terms
• Sustainable Formats

RSS     E-Mail

Project Charter

BACKGROUND

Metadata plays a critical role in the management and use of digital content. Comprehensive and consistent metadata allows users to find the content they are seeking, to identify, understand, and differentiate the content, and to know whether restrictions apply to its use. Technical metadata can provide information on the technical characteristics of the digital object (pixel dimensions, file encoding and compression, etc.),as well as some information on how it was created. Technical information increases interoperability of the content and provides a basis for evaluating the viability of a digital object or its suitability for reformatting.

EMBEDDED METADATA

While metadata is most commonly thought of as existing in a system external to the content (such as a library online catalog), it can also be included as part of the digital content file itself. Metadata contained within the file is referred to as embedded metadata. The Still Image Working Group formed a sub-group specifically to deal with guidelines for embedded metadata.

The Still Image Working Group identified embedded metadata as a high priority based on the important role of metadata in the management, use and sustainability of digital assets, and the lack of clear, comprehensive, and uniform guidelines in this area. Having the metadata embedded in the digital image file makes the file self-describing. If the digital image file becomes separated from the external source of metadata, a user can still know certain basic information about the original object, such as rights and restrictions on usage, and technical characteristics of that object. In addition, systems can use that metadata to inform them how to use that object (such as proper display), to support interoperability, and to support continued access through the transformations of the digital object over time – supporting the objective of sustainability.

 Back to Top

EMBEDDED METADATA SUB-GROUP OBJECTIVES

The objectives and expected outcomes are more fully described in the project charter, drafted by this sub-group. Below is a brief summary:

Objectives of the Embedded Metadata Sub-group

• Content – Identify or establish common guidelines for embedded metadata fields or elements in digital image files as well as the format of the metadata in those fields. The recommendations regarding content will inform the method used for embedding the content.
• Method – Investigate and draft recommendations for a common method (format) for embedding a metadata model or schema that is able to represent diverse metadata, and is supported by all digital image file formats commonly used in cultural heritage, archival, or historical digitization activities. The format should be based on an open standard or openly documented and widely used specification.
• Tools – Research applications and tools for:
  
  * Managing the embedded metadata. The tool(s) should support the operations of batch embedding, editing, appending, deleting, or overwriting metadata. Performing such operations should not compromise the validity or integrity of the data model.
  
  * Validating the embedded metadata. The tools should validate the structure required by the metadata schema, the existence of required fields or elements of the schema, and the values and format of data in those fields. The validation tool should be flexible and customizable with regard to expected fields and data values.

Expected Outcomes

Guidelines for embedded metadata will enhance the usability and sustainability of digitized image content. More specifically, the guidelines are expected to result in:

• Self-describing digital content –
  * providing a high-level description of the object being digitally represented
  * providing the technical characteristics of the digital object
  * providing information on the permissions and restrictions on the use of the object
• A format for embedding metadata that is compatible with all common digital file formats used for digital still imaging
• An ability to accommodate a wide variety of metadata types (technical, administrative, descriptive) in a single schema
• A method to link embedded metadata to external master or authoritative metadata via a persistent, resolvable URL
• A metadata schema that supports a wide variety of content categories (digitized maps, books, photographs, etc.)
• Uniformity of embedded metadata between master files and derivatives
• Noncomplex methods to migrate metadata between image formats
• Embedded metadata that is human and machine readable
• Enhanced interoperability of the digital content
• Improved capabilities and efficiencies of digital file management
• A format and schema for embedding metadata that allows for validation the metadata format, content and values.