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Table of Contents

Element Description

Note: this wiki page is a draft/ work in progress

The Spatial Representation Information element..Information element stores information about the reference frame from which horizontal and vertical spatial domains are measured. The horizontal reference frame includes fields for Geodetic Model, Geographic Coordinates, and Local Coordinates. The Vertical reference frame includes fields for altitudes (elevations) and depths.

Best Practices

There are eighteen sub-elements that comprise Spatial Representation Information:

Providing Spatial Information is optional, but encouraged. This element can be used to provide horizontal and/or vertical coordinate system information.

The Spatial Coverage Type field is required for Spatial Information.

Spatial Coverage Type: Denotes the type of SpatialCoverageType: Denotes whether the spatial coverage of the collection is horizontal, vertical, horizontal and vertical, orbit, or vertical and orbit.

VerticalCoordinate System/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DatumName: The identification given to the level surface taken as the surface of reference from which measurements are compared.

VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits: The units in which altitude measurements are recorded.

VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod:

VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/Resolutions: The minimum distance possible between two adjacent values, expressed in distance units of measure for the collection.

VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/DatumName: The identification given to the level surface taken as the surface of reference from which measurements are compared.

. While this field is not currently controlled, recommend providing one of the spatial coverage type enumeration values: EARTH/GLOBAL, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, ORBITAL, HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL, ORBITAL_VERTICAL, HORIZONTAL_ORBITAL, HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL_ORBITAL, LUNAR

Vertical Spatial Information

The following sub-elements can be used to describe Vertical Coordinate Systems.

There are 2 categories for Vertical Coordinate Systems including:

(1) Altitude System Definition

Altitude System Definition should be used to describe data with a vertical component that is above-ground. Sub-elements under Altitude System Definition are summarized below:

- - Datum Name: The name of the vertical datum the data is encoded in. Vertical datums define a level reference surface from which vertical measurements are compared. There are many standard vertical datums. If a standard vertical datum is used, it is recommended that the EPSG vertical datum name be provided.
  - Distance Units

VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits

- - : The units in which altitude measurements are recorded.

VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod:

VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/

- - This field is controlled and must be selected from one of the following values: HectoPascals, Kilometers, Millibars

- - Resolutions: The minimum distance possible between two adjacent values, expressed in distance units of measure for the collection.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/HorizontalDatumName: The identification given to the reference system used for defining the coordinates of points.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/EllipsoidName: Identification given to established representation of the Earth's shape. HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/SemiMajorAxis: Radius of the equatorial axis of the ellipsoid.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/DenominatorOfFlatteningRatio: The ratio of the Earth's major axis to the difference between the major and the minor.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateUnits: Units of measure used for the geodetic latitude and longitude resolution values (e.g., decimal degrees).

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LatitudeResolution: The minimum difference between two adjacent latitude values in the Geographic Coordinate System, expressed in Geographic Coordinate Units of measure, expressed as a two-digit decimal number, e.g., 0.01.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LongitudeResolution: The minimum difference between two adjacent longitude values in the Geographic Coordinate System, expressed in Geographic Coordinate Units of measure, expressed as a two-digit decimal number, e.g., 0.01.

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/GeoReferenceInformation: The information provided to register the local system to the Earth (e.g. control points, satellite ephemeral data, and inertial navigation data).

HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/Description: A description of the Local Coordinate System and geo-reference information.

Examples:

SpatialCoverageType: "Horizontal"

DistanceUnits: "Kilometers"

GeoReferenceInformation: "Control Points"

(2) Depth System Definition

Depth System Definition should be used to describe data with a vertical component that is below-ground. Sub-elements under Depth System Definition are summarized below:

- - Datum Name: The name of the vertical datum the data is encoded in. Vertical datums define a level reference surface from which vertical measurements are compared. There are many standard vertical datums. If a standard vertical datum is used, it is recommended that the EPSG vertical datum name be provided.
  - Distance Units: The units in which depth measurements are recorded. This field is controlled and must be selected from one of the following values: Fathoms, Feet, HectoPascals, Meters, Millibars
  - Resolutions: The minimum distance possible between two adjacent values, expressed in distance units of measure for the collection.

Element Specification

Providing Spatial Information

Element Specification

Providing the Spatial Representation Information element is optional (Cardinality: 0..1)


Model	Element	Type	Usable Valid Values	Constraints	Required?	Cardinality	Notes
UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/SpatialCoverageType	String	EARTH/GLOBAL, HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, ORBITAL, HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL, ORBITAL_VERTICAL, HORIZONTAL_ORBITAL, HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL_ORBITAL, LUNAR	1 - 80 characters	Yes, if applicable	1
UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DatumName	String	n/a	1 - 80 characters	No	0..1	Recommend providing EPSG vertical datum names
UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits

Enumeration

HectoPascals

Kilometers

Millibars

n/a

No

0..1

UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/

EncodingMethod

Resolutions

No0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/ResolutionsArray

Number	n/a	n/a	No	0..*
UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/DatumName	String	n/a	1 - 80 characters	No	0..1	Recommend providing EPSG vertical datum names
UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits

Enumeration

Fathoms

Feet

HectoPascals

Meters

Millibars

No0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod

n/a

No

0..1

UMM-C

SpatialRepresentationInfo

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/Resolutions

ArrayNo0..*UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/HorizontalDatumNameString

1 - 80 charactersNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/EllipsoidNameString1 - 255 charactersNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/SemiMajorAxisNumberNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/DenominatorOfFlatteningRatioNumberNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateUnitsEnumeration

Decimal Degrees

Kilometers

Meters

No0..1

Number

n/a

No

0..*

UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LatitudeResolution

Number

No0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LongitudeResolutionNumberNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/GeoReferenceInformationString1 - 2048 charactersNo0..1UMM-CSpatialRepresentationInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/DescriptionString1 - 2048 charactersNo0..1

Metadata Validation and QA/QC

All metadata entering the CMR goes through the below process to ensure metadata quality requirements are met. All records undergo CMR validation before entering the system. The process of QA/QC is slightly different for NASA and non-NASA data providers. Non-NASA providers include interagency and international data providers and are referred to as the International Directory Network (IDN).

Lucidchart

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name	Copy of Wiki Page Metadata Evaluation Workflow-1939-51df84
width	1102
pages-to-display
id	98e5dc28-3252-4209-953f-66f1378e1cf4
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Please see the expandable sections below for flowchart details.

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title	GCMD Metadata QA/QC

Manual ReviewAutomated Review
- Identify errors, discrepancies or omissions.
- Proof all content for conciseness and readability.

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title	CMR Validation

<>None

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title	ARC Metadata QA/QC

ARC Priority Matrix

Priority Categorization	Justification
Red = High Priority Finding	This element is categorized as highest priority when: The information provided is not related to the element. The descriptions are inaccurate for the data set. The "Reference/Online_Resource" URL can not be accessed. This element is categorized as medium priority when: The description is missing. The "Reference/Publication_Date" does not comply with the appropriate format. Spatial Information is provided but the required 'Spatial Information Type' field is not included. An invalid value is provided for 'Distance Units' ('DistanceUnits' must be selected from an enumeration list). An invalid value is provided for 'GeographicCoordinateUnits' ('GeographicCoordinateUnits' must be selected from an enumeration list). The information provided is incorrect for the dataset.
Yellow = Medium Priority Finding	Not Applicable
Blue = Low Priority Finding	This element is categorized as low priority when: The Reference descriptions includes spelling or grammatical errors. A recommendation is made to provide any additional information to existing Spatial Information provided in the metadata.
Green = No Findings/Issues	The element is provided and follows all applicable criteria specified in the best practices section above.

ARC Automated Rules

If novalue is provided, return is "np."

Otherwise, return is "OK."

Dialect Mappings

Checks

ARC uses the pyQuARC library for automated metadata checks. Please see the pyQuARC GitHub for more information.

Dialect Mappings

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title	DIF 9

DIF 9 ^{(Note: DIF-9 is being phased out and will no longer be supported after 2018)}

Expand

title	DIF 10

DIF 10

Providing the Spatial_Coverage element Info is optional in DIF 10 (Cardinality: 0..1).

Note: There are no Vertical Coordinate System fields in DIF 10 - vertical information can be provided in the Vertical_Spatial_Info element. For details on Vertical_Spatial_Info please see the Spatial Extent wiki page.

DIF 10 also supports an element called Data_Resolution which cross-walks to Spatial Representation information when being converted from DIF 10 to the UMM. Providing the Data_Resolution element is optional (Cardinality: 0..*).
does not currently map to the UMM, however, there are plans to support it in the future.

UMM-C Element	DIF 10

Specification

Path	Type	Constraints	Required in DIF 10?	Cardinality	Notes

DIF 10

SpatialInformation/SpatialCoverageType

Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Spatial_Coverage_Type

StringYes1DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geodetic_Model/Horizontal_DatumNameStringNo0..1DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geodetic_Model/Ellipsoid_NameStringNo0..1DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geodetic_Model/Semi_Major_Axis

Enumeration	Earth/Global, Horizontal, Vertical, Orbit, HorizontalVertical, Orbital_Vertical, Horizontal_Orbital, Horizontal_Vertical_Orbital, Lunar	Yes, if applicable	1	Horizon&Vert has been deprecated, use HorizontalVertical instead
n/a	Data_Resolution/Vertical_Resolution	String		No	0..1

DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geodetic_Model/Denominator_Of_Flattening_Ratio


n/a	Data_Resolution/ Vertical_Resolution_Unit	String		No	0..1

DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geographic_Coordinate_System/GeographicCoordinateUnitsString


n/a	Data_Resolution/Vertical_Resolution_Range	String	KMS controlled	No	0..1

DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geographic_Coordinate_System/LatitudeResolution

Recommend selecting a value from the GCMD Vertical Data Resolution keywords to populate this field
n/a	Data_Resolution/Temporal_Resolution	String		No	0..1	Note: this field does not map to any other metadata elements and is unique to DIF 10.

Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Geographic_Coordinate_System/LongitudeResolutionStringNo0..1DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Local_Coordinate_System/GeoReference_InformationStringNo0..1

n/a

Data_Resolution/Temporal_Resolution_Range

String

KMS controlled

DIF 10Spatial_Coverage/Spatial_Info/Horizontal_Coordinate_System/Local_Coordinate_System/DescriptionString

No

0..1

DIF 10Data_Resolution/Latitude_ResolutionStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/Longitude_Resolution

String

No0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/Horizontal_Resolution_RangeStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/Vertical_ResolutionStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/ Vertical_Resolution_UnitStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/Vertical_Resolution_RangeStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/ Temporal_ResolutionStringNo0..1DIF 10Data_Resolution/ Temporal_Resolution_Range StringNo0..1

Recommend selecting a value from the GCMD Vertical Data Resolution keywords to populate this field

Note: this field does not map to any other metadata elements and is unique to DIF 10.

Enumeration Mapping

DIF 10	Translation Direction	UMM
Earth/Global	↔	EARTH/GLOBAL
Horizontal	↔	HORIZONTAL
HorizontalVertical	↔	HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL
Orbit	↔	ORBITAL
Vertical	↔	VERTICAL
Horizon&Vert	→	HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL
Orbital_Vertical	↔	ORBITAL_VERTICAL
Horizontal_Orbital	↔	HORIZONTAL_ORBITAL
Horizontal_Vertical_Orbital	↔	HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL_ORBITAL
Lunar	↔	LUNAR

Example Mapping

Section

Column

width	50%

DIF 10

No Format

ADD EXAMPLE

<Spatial_Coverage> 
  <Spatial_Info>
    <Spatial_Coverage_Type>Horizontal</Spatial_Coverage_Type>
  </Spatial_Info>
</Spatial_Coverage>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Data_Resolution>
  <Temporal_Resolution>Hourly - < Daily</Temporal_Resolution>
</Data_Resolution>

Column

width	50%

UMM

No Format
ADD EXAMPLE"SpatialInformation": [ { "SpatialCoverageType": "HORIZONTAL", } ]

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title	ECHO 10

ECHO 10

Publication Reference does not map to ECHO 10.

Providing the Spatial Info element is optional in ECHO 10 (Cardinality: 0..1)

UMM-C Element	ECHO 10

Specification

Path	Type	Constraints	Required in ECHO10?	Cardinality	Note

ECHO 10

SpatialInformation/SpatialCoverageType	SpatialInfo/SpatialCoverageType	String	1 - 80 characters	Yes, if applicable	1	This attribute denotes whether the collection's spatial coverage requires horizontal, vertical, or both in the spatial domain and coordinate system definitions. This field is not controlled in ECHO 10, however, it is recommended that one of the UMM SpatialCoverageType enumeration values be provided in order to reduce translation errors (HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, ORBITAL, HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL, ORBITAL_VERTICAL)
SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DatumName	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DatumName	String	1 - 80 characters	No	0..1

ECHO 10

Recommend providing EPSG vertical datum names
SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/DistanceUnits	String	1 - 80 characters	No	0..1

ECHO 10


SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod	String	1 - 2048 characters	No	0..1

ECHO 10

The means used to encode measurements.
SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/Resolutions	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/AltitudeSystemDefinition/Resolutions/Resolution	Decimal	n/a	No	0..*

	This entity stores the minimum distance possible between two adjacent values, expressed in the distance units of measure for collection. A list of vertical resolutions may be provided here.
SpatialInformation

ECHO 10SpatialInfo

/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/DatumName

No0..1

ECHO 10

SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/

DistanceUnits

DatumName

No

String

0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod

1 - 80 characters

No

0..1

ECHO 10SpatialInfo

Recommend providing EPSG vertical datum names

SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/

Resolutions/ResolutionNo0..*ECHO 10

DistanceUnits

SpatialInfo/

HorizontalCoordinateSystem

VerticalCoordinateSystem/

GeodeticModel

DepthSystemDefinition/

HorizontalDatumName

DistanceUnits

No

String

0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/EllipsoidName

1 - 80 characters

No

0..1

ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/SemiMajorAxisNo0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeodeticModel/DenominatorOfFlatteningRatioNo0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem


SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/EncodingMethod	String	1 - 2048 characters	No	0..1

ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateUnitsNo0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LatitudeResolutionNo0..1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/GeographicCoordinateSystem/LongitudeResolution

The means used to encode measurements.
SpatialInformation/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/Resolutions	SpatialInfo/VerticalCoordinateSystem/DepthSystemDefinition/Resolutions/Resolution	Decimal	n/a	No	0..

1ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/DescriptionNo0..1

*	This entity stores the minimum distance possible between two adjacent values, expressed in the distance units of measure for collection. A list of vertical resolutions may be provided here.

ECHO 10SpatialInfo/HorizontalCoordinateSystem/LocalCoordinateSystem/GeoReferenceInformationNo0..1

Example Mapping

Section

Column

width	50%

ECHO 10

No Format

ADD EXAMPLE <SpatialInfo>
  <SpatialCoverageType>HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL</SpatialCoverageType>
  <VerticalCoordinateSystem> 
    <AltitudeSystemDefinition> 
      <DatumName>North American Vertical Datum 1988</DatumName>
      <DistanceUnits>Kilometers</DistanceUnits>
      <Resolutions>
	    <Resolution>10</Resolution>
      </Resolutions>
    </AltitudeSystemDefinition>
  </VerticalCoordinateSystem>
</SpatialInfo>

Column

width	50%

UMM

No Format
ADD EXAMPLE

Expand

title	ISO 19115-2 MENDS

ISO 19115-2 MENDS

Providing the Publication Reference element is not required (Cardinality: 0..*)

SpecificationPathTypeNotesISO 19115-2 MENDSN/AN/ANot represented in the schemaExample Mapping

Section

Column

width	50%

ISO 19115-2 MENDS

No Format
N/A

Column

width	50%

UMM

No Format
N/A

Expand

title	ISO 19115-2 SMAP

ISO 19115-2 SMAP

Providing the Publication Reference element is not required (Cardinality: 0..*)

SpecificationPathTypeNotesISO 19115-2 SMAPN/AN/ANot represented in the schemaExample Mapping

Section

Column

width	50%

ISO 19115-2 SMAP

No Format
N/A

Column

width	50%

UMM

No Format
N/A

UMM Migration

UMM Version 1.9.0Translation DirectionUMM Version 1.10.0

Future Mappings

Expand

title	ISO 19115-1

ISO 19115-1

Providing the Publication Reference element is not required (Cardinality: 0..*)

SpecificationPathTypeNotesISO 19115-1N/AN/ANot represented in the schemaExample Mapping

"SpatialInformation": {
  "SpatialCoverageType": "HORIZONTAL_VERTICAL",
  "VerticalCoordinateSystem": {
    "AltitudeSystemDefinition": [
      {
        "DatumName": "North American Vertical Datum 1988",
        "DistanceUnits": "Kilometers",
        "Resolutions": "10"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Version	Date	What Changed
1.18.0	2024-03-18	Updated Spatial Coverage Type enumeration list for 1.18.0
1.15.5	2020-12-03	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.15.4 to 1.15.5
1.15.4	2020-09-18	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.15.3 to 1.15.4
1.15.3	2020-07-01	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.15.2 to 1.15.3
1.15.2	2020-05-20	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.15.1 to 1.15.2
1.15.1	2020-03-25	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.15.0 to 1.15.1
1.15.0	2020-02-26	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.14.0 to 1.15.0
1.14.0	2019-10-21	The Horizontal Coordinate System element and all supporting elements were either removed or renamed and moved to the SpatialExtent element.
1.13.0	2019-04-11	No changes were made for Spatial Information during the transition from version 1.12.0 to 1.13.0
1.12.0	2019-01-22	No changes were made for Spatial

Page tree

Versions Compared

Old Version 11

New Version Current

Key

Element Description

Best Practices

Element Specification

Element Specification

Metadata Validation and QA/QC

Dialect Mappings

Dialect Mappings

DIF 10

ECHO 10

ISO 19115-2 MENDS

UMM Migration

Future Mappings

ISO 19115-1

UMM Migration

History

UMM Versioning

History

UMM Versioning

ARC Documentation

Information during the transition from version 1.11.0 to 1.12.0.
1.11.0	2018-11

Information during the transition from version 1.10.0 to 1.11.0.
1.10.0	2018-05