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Research on Application of the Method-Metadata in Resources & Environment Information System


2.2 Relationship between Method-Metadata and Data, Model-Metadata

2.2.1 Method-Metadata and Data-Metadata
Data-Metadata refers to the metadata, which is used to manage and index the data and dataset in the REIS, while Method-Metadata is the description about the methods, so their researching objects are difference. But through some data interfaces, such as MD_method parameter class, the Method-Metadata can interchange with the Data-Metadata and operate the dataset together.

2.2.2 Method-Metadata and Model-Metadata
There are differences as well as relationships between Method-Metadata and Model-Metadata. The main relationship is that Model and Method-Metadata are both serve for the Data-Metadata in order to realize the sharing and analyzing of the integrated information, while the differences between them are as following:
  • The model, which is the object of the Model-Metadata, is mainly used to simplify the real world’s problem by abstraction, so that it can serve for the people to analysis the problem well. It may not give some methods through which may solve some specific problems, such as sand plate model, hydrological model. On the other hand, the method, which is the object of the Method-Metadata, is to give the steps to solve some model and problems and get the results of them.
  • The Model-Metadata may be corresponding to many methods in the Method-Metadata, that is to say that one model may have many solving methods, such as: in the environment assessment model, we may use AHP Analysis Hierarchy Progress , plurality regression analysis methods to resolve the same model. As for a method, it can be used in different models, which belong to various fields. The relationship between Model-Metadata and Method-Metadata is shown as Figure 2.

Figure 2 Structure Relationship between Model-Metadata and Method-Metadata

According to the Fig. 1, the Method-Metadata class inherited from the metadata class which is defined by the ISO. With the relationship between Method-Metadata and data, Model-Metadata, as well as the series attributes the Method-Metadata has, it can describe and search for the difference methods in the REIS.

3. Standard Framework’s Structure of Method-Metadata
The static structure figure of Method-Metadata in UML is showed as Fig. 3.


Figure 3 Static Structure of Method-Metadata in UML

According to Fig. 3, seven different classes as following aggregate the Method-Metadata class in REIS:
  1. Identification Including: method’s name, the abstract description of the theory, the origination of the method, the store location of some code about the method realization and the contact information, MD_Method Metadata may aggregate one or more Identification classes.
  2. Adaptation Scope Including: the application fields of methods, the adaptation scope of the method’s results, and the error of the method’s solutions. MD_Method Metadata may aggregate one or more Adaptation Scope classes.
  3. Parameter of Method Including: the input parameter set and the output parameter set which the method needs; the meaning of the input and output parameters; the value’s effective digits of the input and output parameter. MD_Method-Metadata may aggregate one or more Parameter of Method classes.
  4. Running Condition Including: the operation environment of method realization, such as all kinds of soft and hard environments, equipments, method’s program code and the version and status of the program. MD_Method-Metadata may aggregate zero or more Running Condition classes.
  5. Management Information Including: the brief introduction of the method’s founders; the name, address, contact information of the programming person of the methods, the copyright and the usage information of the program. MD_Method Metadata may aggregate zero or one Management Information classes.
  6. Method’s Resolution Including: the error’s level of the method result; the effective digits of input parameter and result. MD_Method Metadata may aggregate zero or more Method’s Resolution classes.
  7. Method Instance Including: the application purpose of the method, the realization code of the method, the resolution process and the result description of the method. MD_Method Metadata may aggregate one or more Method Instance classes.
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