OpenGeoMetadata Aardvark: A new geospatial metadata application profile

Abstract

In this article, we introduce OpenGeoMetadata (OGM) Aardvark, a metadata application profile designed to describe digital resources that are spatial in nature, including geospatial data, digitized maps, scanned aerial imagery, interactive web maps, and more. OGM Aardvark was originally developed for GeoBlacklight software to facilitate discovery with map interfaces and normalized text faceting. However, the schema’s flat structure and human-readable JSON format can be adapted to other platforms to power advanced keyword and spatial searches. We encourage everyone working with geospatial resources to consider using OGM Aardvark to describe these assets, either as the primary profile or to supplement a preservation metadata standard. We review how OGM Aardvark came to be, from its inception in 2014 as the “GeoBlacklight metadata schema” (GBL 1.0) to its current expanded form, and how it compares to other common metadata frameworks, such as MARC, DCAT, or ISO. Examples from GeoBlacklight instances demonstrate how OGM Aardvark enables patrons to discover geospatial resources.