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System of Registries Conference
May 20, 2009
Agenda
Bringing Meaning to Data: Terminology and Metadata Services Today
Location : George Washington University's Cafritz Conference Center in Washington D.C.
Purpose :
Access to high quality information is an important part of the mission of the EPA Office of Mission Support (OMS). The Data Standards Branch supports that goal by providing registration services for important metadata (data about data) that describes systems, data, terminology, and technology components that can be used for understanding, building, transporting, and validating environmental information. Subject matter experts in metadata management provide guidance in how to implement best practices and automated services within environmental business processes.
The System of Registries (SoR) conference is an opportunity for members of the Data Standards Branch and their contractors to interact with the scientists, regulators, and decision makers that use environmental information as well as the information technology managers, oversight officials, and developers that use the registries and their services in a more direct way. Over the past several years all of the registries and services have undergone major enhancements and new registries are being added. This is a chance for trendsetters to evaluate how you might use the new capabilities in your program and in support of your mission.
Please register early to assure your spot at this interesting and no-cost event.
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Time |
Track 1 Fostering Access |
Track 2 Improving Transparency
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8:00 – 8:30 |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
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8:30 – 8:45 |
Welcome, Logistics, Introductions |
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8:45 – 9:15 |
Bringing Meaning to Data: Terminology and Metadata Services Today
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9:15 – 9:45 |
Keynote Address
: “Environmental Information: New Administration’s Approach to Quality, Access, and Understanding” |
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9:45 – 10:00 |
Break |
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10:00 – 10:45 |
Presentation : How Metadata Can Support New Science As a relatively new science, nanotechnology produces materials and byproducts that may impact the environment and thus require regulation. These substances currently have no universally accepted naming conventions. This presentation will lay out the issues and discuss possible solutions. It will also present the potential role of the SoR registries and services in facilitating the metadata development for nanotechnology regulation and science. |
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Panel : The Challenges of Machine to Machine Information Transfer
This panel will address the effect of multiple exchange standards and suggest potential criteria for determining the appropriate standard. Highlighted standards are the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) and the Staged Electronic Data Deliverable (SEDD) schema with an example of a method for implementation: CDX. |
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10:45 – 11:00 |
Break |
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11:00 – 12:15 |
Panel : Use of Controlled Vocabularies in the Federal Government This panel will explore the role of controlled vocabularies across the Federal Government and how they are used to enable search and retrieval of data. An example of a federated search across vocabularies will be demonstrated. An example of how the EPA’s Web taxonomy can be used to conduct search and retrieval across the Agency’s Web sites will also be explored. |
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Panel : Bringing Structured & Unstructured Data Together: How USEPA is Meeting the Challenge EPA’s Access initiative and content management are key examples of where the Agency is moving forward to bring structured and unstructured data together. This aggregation is facilitated by standard terminologies and taxonomies to enable retrieval. Examples of current initiatives will be discussed, including web cataloging, ECMS (e-mail content management), and the services within the Reusable Component Services registry that could facilitate the process. |
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12:15 – 1:15 |
Lunch: Everyone on their own |
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1:15 – 2:30 |
Panel : Use of Controlled Vocabularies at USEPA Environmental indicators cross all Agency media and programs. By creating quality, controlled vocabularies (such as topic areas, conceptual categories, and keywords) the Agency is able to bring meaning to data so that there is a common understanding. This, in, turn, enables appropriate aggregation of data. A real world example will be illustrated. The panel will also present the SoR registries and services that can enable this work to be more effective thus showing how Terminology Management can help meet new challenges. |
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Presentation : Improving Data Quality Using Metadata Tools Metadata can improve data quality through using standards for validation and the use of centralized management of value lists / code sets which are embedded in the business processes. A short demonstration of the new Data Standards Web site, the Data Registry, and the Geospatial Metadata Gateway will be presented. |
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2:30 – 2:45 |
Break |
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2:45 – 3:30 |
Presentation : Social Bookmarking: Sharing Information on the Web Through Terminology Social bookmarking is an example of a new technology that permits interactive collaboration and may challenge how the Agency traditionally has conducted its business. This presentation will be a discussion of social bookmarking, a demonstration of a software product in use by others, and explore ideas for incorporating social bookmarking into the Agency’s information management. |
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Presentation : How SRS Supports Programs Through Standardization and Better Understanding of Chemicals This presentation highlights an implementation of using metadata in the challenging area of managing chemicals of interest to the Agency. Stewardship is a vital component to ensuring quality at the chemical list level. A short demonstration of the new Substance Registry Services will be included. |
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3:30 – 4:15 |
Bringing it all Together – Reflections and New Direction
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4:00 – 4:15 |
Feedback and wrap-up |
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