National Elevation Dataset Metadata

The Federal Geographic Data Committee's content standard for digital geospatial metadata (http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/contstan.html) is used to document NED data. Metadata about the individual source datasets used to assemble NED is presented in a spatially-referenced form. The polygonal footprint of each portion used from a source dataset is retained during NED assembly to provide the spatial context. The attributes of each source dataset, such as original resolution, production method, and date entered into NED, are linked to this polygonal footprint. All of these source polygons together form a seamless National coverage. Through this spatially-referenced metadata, the information is made available to the user regarding the source data used for any area of NED. For example, a NED user might use the spatially-referenced metadata to identify the portions of a study area that were produced by obsolete production methods. National Elevation Dataset FGDC compliant metadata

(Template, spatial coverage information added when data is extracted)

Steps to acquire metadata for a particular area.

1. Go to the United States Viewer on SDDS
2. At the map interface, zoom to the area of interest. (zoom in is the default)
3. From the Misc. category on the left tool bar, click on the m.
4. Below the map a drop down area will be displayed, chose the desired dataset.
5. Using the mouse click on the map. A window will pop up with FGDC metadata, including source DEM information.

Spatial Metadata located on FTP site: http://ned.usgs.gov/Ned/downloads.asp

NED Data Dictionary