A user-friendly framework for metadata and microdata documentation based on international standards and the PCBS experience

Abstract

This paper discusses the experience of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) (1) in designing a user- friendly framework for metadata and microdata documentation. The PCBS uses two metadata specifications: the Data Docu- mentation Initiative (DDI) (2) and the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) (3). Both are defined in the Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) and the Resource Description Framework (RDF). This paper focuses also on the DDI and DCMI as well as its relationship to other relevant metadata standards (e.g., The Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX)) (4 )a nd the semantic web technologies. We address the features of these standards as Richer content, Coverage, On-line analytical capability, Search capability and Interoperability since these standards are defined in the Extensible Mark-up Language (XML).