Synchronising Spatial Metadata Records and Interfaces to Improve the Usability of Metadata Systems

Mohsen Kalantari,Hannah Hubbard,Abbas Rajabifard,Syahrudin Syahrudin

doi:10.3390/ijgi10060393

Abstract

The spatial data infrastructure literature reveals significant gaps in metadata systems concerning their efficiency and effectiveness for end-users. The literature proposes improvements to make the metadata systems more user-friendly. These improvements include new metadata elements and user interfaces that are in concert with each other. In this paper, we implement the proposed improvements in a prototype system and engage with end-users to assess if the proposals help users’ expectations. The prototype is evaluated by conducting think-aloud protocol (TAP) usability testing and semi-structured interviews with end-users. The result demonstrates an increased level of satisfaction about existing systems and some more areas to improve. We conclude that a synchronised development approach for the spatial metadata and the user interface will increase the usability of the metadata for data discovery and selection.

Highlights

Records and Interfaces to Improve the Spatial data custodians design and develop metadata systems, including standards and user interfaces, to manage the data and make its sharing, discovery and use possible for end-users
We implemented a think-aloud protocol (TAP), interviews and surveys as empirical user-centred design (UCD) methods to observe the interaction of users with metadata systems, evaluate usability, identify usability problems and gather users’ needs and expectations
By conducting protocol analysis for the TAP data and script analysis for the interview data, the results indicated that the usability of the prototype for both spatial data discovery and selection is higher than the usability of the established metadata systems

Summary

Introduction

Records and Interfaces to Improve the Spatial data custodians design and develop metadata systems, including standards and user interfaces, to manage the data and make its sharing, discovery and use possible for end-users. There is existing research on the involvement of users in metadata creation and on improving the discovery of spatial data using semantics and ontologies [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22] These papers take state-of-the-art approaches to the level. Research into user-centric spatial metadata systems has identified problems with the user experience [23] and metadata standards [24]

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion