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Intern: Scott Crosier,Geography, UCSB Faculty Supervisor: Mike Goodchild Department: Geography

Metadata for computer models.

In 1989, Science Magazine had an article titled "Is it real or is it Crazy?" (Pool, 1989) in which they were introducing a whole new field of science referred to as computer experimentation. At that time only a handful of laboratories across the globe had the "super computers" large enough and /or powerful enough to operate computer models. Now, nearly 12 years later, computer models can be transferred "over the web" or "burned" onto a plastic disk, and downloaded into a palm-held computer. As technology continues, I'm sure that in the near future we'll look back at today's greatest technology as if were archaic. This sudden boom in technology has been paralleled by a sudden influx of computer models into the scientific community. Models are being used for research and understanding of everything from Hydrology to Yarn manufacturing, from gold deposits to survival rates in ICU's. With this sudden flux, comes a bit of confusion. The problem that arises is that, to date, there has been no standard method for one person to communicate with another about the model that they have, and with this breakdown in communication, there lies a breakdown in the ease of sharing knowledge and experience. For this cause, a Computer Model Metadata Standard has been needed. The driving force behind this effort to develop a computer model metadata standard, is the increasing number of digital libraries, registries, and clearinghouses, and the need (and desire) to be able to catalog computer models in these sources. It is through these sources that the knowledge and experience gained in model technology can be shared and distributed. The effort of creating a model metadata standard is taking place in the academic arena. The academic community has a vested interest in computer models. Not only are models used both in instruction and research, but also it is through said research that many models are developed. The academic circle will be able to develop standards that will be useful for academia, yet applicable and accepted to those both in government and industry.

What is Metadata?
Quite simply put, Metadata is Data about data. (Clarke, 1999) Metadata is the descriptors of a particular data set or object. I like to use the idea of a painting to describe metadata. Lets take for example the painting in figure 1. One of the first things we can tell about this painting is that it was painted by Picasso. (The Play-do head gives that one away). What else can be said about this painting? Well, with a little research we can find out the title [(A portrait of E. M. Walter (Meme)] and that it was painted on October 21st, 1939. So we have three "elements" of the painting's "metadata." What else would someone care about?
A picture framer or a gallery would want to know the size. The size is 41cm X 33cm. An artist might be interested in how it was done. It was a pencil and oil done on canvas. An art critic or art history student might even be interested in how others interpret the painting. (By the way, they say that it reflects the love that he had for her?) All of these elements describe the picture. If I saw the picture in a gallery or museum and I had a pretty good understanding of Art History, I might be able to deduce all of this, but what if I couldn't see the painting, or I needed to catalog this painting? That is where the painting's metadata comes in helpful, if not necessary.

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