ArcGIS Bathymetry allows you to add new or retire existing metadata fields and values in the Bathymetry Information System (BIS). This can be done from the Manage Collections and Add Bathymetry dialog boxes and the Explore Bathymetry and Compose Surface windows.
The BIS manages metadata at three different levels.
- Collection metadata—Allows you to define the necessary attributes for a collection of bathymetry data. A collection may consist of all bathymetry data holdings in a common geographic area, represent the bathymetry data acquired during a survey, or any other logical grouping of datasets that is defined by your organization. The metadata you associate with a collection is linked to all bathymetry datasets registered with the collection.
- Extended metadata—Allows you to associate metadata with raster and point datasets that have been added to the BIS geodatabase. By default, the Bathymetry Solution includes the following metadata fields: IHO Survey Order, Sensor make and model, Vessel, and Data type. These fields are provided as examples of the types of fields you can add to the BIS, and can be customized or replaced with more applicable fields and definitions to meet the needs of your organization.
- Internal metadata—Allows you to display metadata embedded in Bathymetric Attributed Grid (BAG) datasets. BAG files contain many embedded metadata fields that you can configure to be displayed in the Bathymetry Solution. Internal metadata is read only and only available for BAG datasets.
Metadata fields appear in the following dialog boxes and windows in the Bathymetry Solution:
- Add Bathymetry dialog box
- Manage Collections dialog box
- Explore Bathymetry window
- Compose Surface window
Collection and extended metadata fields are completely configurable using the Metadata Configuration Editor available from the Manage BIS Settings window.
Internal metadata is read only. A subset of the metadata fields available in the BAG file format is exposed by default. Additional metadata fields can be exposed by modifying the ONSBagInternalMetadataDef.xml file manually.
Learn more about internal metadata configuration within the ONS BAG dataset
XML configuration files for metadata can be found in the Metadata settings location that was defined on the Create BIS Database dialog box when the BIS was created.
These XML files include:
- BisCollectionExtMetadataDef.xml—Controls the Collection Metadata fields displayed in the Manage Collections and Add Bathymetry dialog boxes and the Explore Bathymetry and Compose Surface windows. You can edit the collection metadata configuration file using the Metadata Configuration Editor available from the Manage BIS Settings window.
- BisDatasetExtMetadataDef.xml—Controls the Extended Metadata fields displayed in the Add Bathymetry dialog box and the Explore Bathymetry and Compose Surface windows. You can edit the extended metadata configuration file using the Metadata Configuration Editor available from the Manage BIS Settings window.
- ONSBagInternalMetadataDef.xml—Controls the Internal Metadata fields displayed in the Add Bathymetry dialog box and the Explore Bathymetry and Compose Surface windows. You can change the fields displayed in the Bathymetry Solution by manually editing the ONSBagInternalMetadataDef.xml file. It is strongly recommended that you make a backup copy of the file before making changes.