Collaborative Metadata for Geographic Information

Abstract

Retrieval of web-based geographic information (GI) for spatial decision- making processes can benefit from emerging semantic technologies. Ontology-supported metadata, collaboratively created by a social network of spatially-aware users, ensures efficient and precise discovery of maps published with the help of catalogs. The creation and maintenance of the metadata is driven by two forces: on the one hand experienced catalogers who ensure consistency and quality, on the other hand catalog users who continuously adapt and extend the metadata. We discuss the requirements for a catalog for GI which is able to capture the semantics emerging within a community and apply the results to the registered metadata.