Geospatial technologies are revolutionizing the way we use geospatial information systems in today's digital age. The value of geospatial information is increasing, leading to significant growth in local and regional economies. As a result, there is a growing need for reliable and up-to-date geospatial data. To that end, it requires a solid framework such as Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for acquisition, analysis, and sharing. Geospatial data standards are crucial to ensure the success of (SDI). Internationally recognized standards have been developed to improve the production, management, and access to geospatial information. Metadata, which describes data and provides information about its content, quality, and accessibility, is an essential part of SDI. Creating a metadata profile helps ensure consistency in describing geospatial datasets. Different countries have established geospatial metadata profiles based on international standards, such as the North American metadata Profile (NAP) and the Australian and New Zealand metadata profile (ANZLIC).
In the Palestinian Territories, a wealth of geospatial data is collected by different organizations, but a national SDI still needs to be established. Investigating this data and creating metadata is essential to developing a successful National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI); it would improve government services and processes that rely on geographic information. Developing a framework for simplified data sharing would also facilitate collaboration on a national level. This research aims to create a geospatial metadata profile for the Palestinian Territories by utilizing ISO standards. Through this endeavor, the study seeks to identify the available data, determine appropriate spatial data themes, and establish a governmental framework for managing spatial data themes. Considering the Palestinian Territories' unique situation, a metadata profile based on ISO standards has been defined. The implementation of this profile is explored using advanced technologies.
Analysis of the current Palestine's geospatial data has been conducted. As a result, the geospatial data has revealed sixteen distinct fundamental data themes, ranging from common ones like transportation and land use to unique themes specific to Palestine's context. Moreover, the researcher has identified the roles and responsibilities necessary for maintaining high-quality geographic information, as well as criteria for determining appropriate access levels. Then, a proposed Palestine metadata profile has been developed based on the „ISO 19115-1:2014“standard that meets the country's specific needs. One notable change is including additional elements to an existing standard, allowing for more detailed and accurate descriptions. This customization ensures that the metadata aligns with the Palestinian context and supports effective management and utilization of geospatial data. Furthermore, the proposed profile was implemented based on the XML schema implementation “ISO19115-3:2016” standard. A new (ISO19115-3.2018.pal) schema plugin was built that has all the XSD files for the profile elements. GeoNetwork web catalog tool was adopted to implement the (ISO19115-3.2018.pal) schema plugin, and it was highly effective and successful, so much so that it was deemed suitable for sharing and using the docker platform.
Implementing a geospatial metadata profile in Palestinian organizations poses significant challenges, but it is possible to implement. Several crucial factors must be considered during the implementation process to ensure success. These factors encompass economic, organizational, social, cultural, and institutional issues. Neglecting any of these factors could lead to the failure of the project. Therefore, it is imperative to carefully analyze and address these aspects to establish a successful geospatial metadata profile in Palestine. This initiative is considered unique in the Arab region. It can be adapted and adopted in neighboring countries, thus fostering regional cooperation in the geospatial data by promoting a common metadata framework, facilitating seamless data exchange, and enhancing interoperability among the nations.
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Geospatial technologies are revolutionizing the way we use geospatial information systems in today's digital age. The value of geospatial information is increasing, leading to significant growth in local and regional economies. As a result, there is a growing need for reliable and up-to-date geospatial data. To that end, it requires a solid framework such as Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for acquisition, analysis, and sharing. Geospatial data standards are crucial to ensure the success of (S...
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