Design principles for a unified statistical data/metadata system
Peter Kenneth Gillman, Martin V. Appel, William P. LaPlant · 2002
This paper discusses a design proposal for a uniJied statistical data and metadata system at the U S. Bureau of the Census and the principles guiding that design.Many statistical agencies have begun to disseminate their data via the internet.All the major program areas within the Bureau of the Census have begun internet data dissemination projects.r f each data dissemination system is developed and implemented independenti), then the statistical agency runs the risk that people seeking datu will need to learn several different systems.Worse, it might be dificult t o j n d and combine data fiom drfferent sources because of incompatibilities among the systems.Through cooperation, the use of metadata standards, and the use of common (itzternet) tools, it should be possible to provide a common 'look and feel" and seamless access to all agency data: a unrJied statistical datdmetadata system.The paper will describe the principles used to guide the design, necessary standards, software tools, and architecture of the proposed system.