Metadata and Quality

A primary purpose of the System of Registries is to support data quality throughout the EPA. Quality is determined by six measures –

  1. Consistency
  2. Timeliness
  3. Accuracy
  4. Validity
  5. Uniqueness
  6. Completeness

The System of Registries plays a role in each of these areas.

Management structures inherent in the System of Registries contribute to quality assurance.  The capability of the Registries to supply translation and automatic data validation is used in quality control.


Metadata and Quality

Comprehensive metadata reduces redundancy and improves accuracy as well as ensuring understanding of data.  Complete documentation of information about EPA data and its meaning makes the data valid, accurate, and understandable.  Thus, comprehensive metadata is used in measuring consistency, accuracy, uniqueness, and completeness.


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Reusability and Quality

Comprehensive information about EPA information assets allows them to be reused appropriately.  Reuse increases efficiency and helps to assure accuracy.  Automated translation and validation of data reduces errors in data received by EPA.  This reduces costs associated with the need to correct poor quality data after receipt.  Since such services are automated, delays are minimized, and timeliness is increased.  Thus, reusability is used to measure consistency, accuracy, validity, and completeness.


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Systems Development and Quality

The Registries facilitate reuse and ease of access to EPA information assets.  Reuse of metadata, models, tools, and services by EPA staff, contractors, and partners reduces time, cost, and error in the system’s development process.  Thus, use of the Registries in systems development can provide measures of consistency across systems, timeliness and accuracy in communications between systems, and validity and completeness of information contained within systems.


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