Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NOAA Geospatial Metadata
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Commerce wants to keep track of information about where things are located on maps and how to use this data. They're asking people from schools and companies to help them by telling them how they describe their data, and they want to make sure this information is easy to find on websites like data.gov. They're letting people say what they think about this plan for 30 days, and it's up to people if they want to help or not.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce plans to submit an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, relating to NOAA geospatial metadata tools. This submission is a revision and extension of a current collection, which involves obtaining metadata information from various data producers like universities and private industries. The goal is to ensure that the data is well-documented with descriptive information to enhance usability and discoverability across multiple platforms like data.gov. Comments on this request are open for 30 days, and the collection is voluntary, primarily affecting businesses, non-profit institutions, and various government bodies.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document at hand is an official notice from the Department of Commerce, particularly concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It relates to the submission of an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding NOAA's geospatial metadata tools. This action is part of a continuation and expansion of current efforts to collect detailed metadata about various data sets, which are essential for their use in scientific analysis and data management.
General Summary
The primary aim of this document is to notify the public and relevant stakeholders that the Department of Commerce is submitting a revised and extended request to gather information about geospatial metadata. This collection involves contributors from universities, private industry, and government agencies across various scientific disciplines. The collected metadata helps provide important contextual information about data sets, such as their scope, limitations, and usage instructions. This metadata collection underpins broader data discoverability through platforms like data.gov and enhances the longevity and utility of data across multiple fields.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several issues emerge upon review of this document:
Unclear Rationale for Extended Comment Period: The document does not clearly explain why an additional 30 days for public comments is necessary after a previous 60-day period.
Specialized Language: Terms like 'geospatial metadata,' 'NESDIS,' and 'InPort' are used without context or definitions, making the content potentially difficult for the lay audience to grasp.
Abstract Field Absence: The metadata section lacks an abstract or summary, making it harder for readers to quickly understand the document's purpose and significance.
Form Changes Lacking Clarity: The document mentions minor changes to existing forms but does not elaborate on their purpose or benefits, leaving readers uncertain about their impact.
Undefined 'Response Burden': The term 'response burden' is used without explanation, causing potential confusion regarding what is expected from respondents.
Voluntary Participation Limitations: Although participation is noted as voluntary, there is no discussion around the potential repercussions for those who choose not to participate.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the document's procedures and policies have implications for multiple sectors involved in data production and utilization. The collection of comprehensive geospatial metadata is projected to facilitate better data management and accessibility, thereby enhancing research outcomes and technological advancements.
However, for the general public, especially entities unfamiliar with technical terms or engaged in non-data-centric industries, the direct impact may seem minimal unless these organizations are contributing data to NOAA's systems.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impact: For scientific and academic communities, the continued and enhanced collection of metadata can lead to improved data sharing, more accessible scientific analyses, and greater contributions to public data domains.
Negative Impact: The requirements of detailed metadata documentation can impose additional administrative tasks on data producers, potentially raising operational costs and time commitments. Furthermore, unclear documentation and expectations may lead to confusion or apprehension about participation, especially if the benefits are not clearly communicated.
This document represents a crucial step towards ensuring robust data documentation standards but could benefit from clearer communication and consideration of participants' contexts and needs.
Issues
• The document does not provide a clear explanation of why an additional 30 days for public comments is necessary beyond the previous 60-day comment period.
• The abstract field in the metadata section is null, which might indicate a lack of summary or abstract provision that could aid understanding.
• The document uses specialized language ('geospatial metadata', 'NESDIS', 'InPort') which might be difficult for the general public to understand without additional context or definitions.
• The document mentions minor changes to forms but does not provide clarity on the nature or purpose of these changes and how they improve the information collection process.
• The phrase 'response burden' is used without a clear explanation of what it entails for the respondents.
• While it's stated that the metadata collection is voluntary, the document does not address potential impacts or consequences for those who choose not to participate.