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EIMS Content Organization |
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| How is the content of the EIMS database organized? |
| Much as a library has different sections for different types of publications (e.g., books, newspapers, periodicals, etc.), the content of the EIMS metadata repository is separated into different types of Information Objects, the elements of which are logically grouped into Information Components for data entry and presentation. |
| A Data Set is defined as a freestanding collection of information not included in a formal database management application. |
| A Database is defined as a collection of data residing in a database management application. |
| A Document is defined as any type of text-based information product (e.g., memorandum, book, article, report, etc.). |
| A Meeting is defined as an organized assembly of people brought together for a pre-determined purpose. |
| A Model is defined as a set of algorithms used to calculate a derived quantity or predict a future state. |
| Multimedia is defined as information products that are not based upon text (e.g., maps, images, sound files, and videos). |
| A Project is defined as any type of delimited, focused activity with a pre-determined outcome. A project gives rise to all other types of Information Objects. For example, a project to assess the impact of dioxins on aquatic wildlife might engender a data set of collected information, a model to forecast future impact, and a journal article reporting the project's findings. In this example, the EIMS entries for the project, data set, model, and article would all refer to each other as related entries in the metadata. |
| Spatial Data is defined as environmental information that incorporates geographic identifiers, which reference locations on the earth's surface using a standard set of coordinates. |
| A Web Site is defined as a collection of related web pages accessed through a common URL root (e.g., "http://www.epa.gov/epahome/recentadditions.htm", "http://www.epa.gov/epahome/comments.htm", and "http://www.epa.gov/epahome/aboutepa.htm" are all web pages within the "http://www.epa.gov" web site). |
What are Information Components? |  |
The EIMS application further divides the database content by grouping the various pieces of information about each Information Object into the metadata Information Components described in the table below.
Each type of Information Object has a unique metadata structure; therefore, EIMS presents the user with tailored screens for adding, editing, or reviewing each type (e.g., the metadata record for a Meeting would not have a link for the Data Elements Information Component).
Each Information Component has a screen in the EIMS application for entry of related data. However, not all of the Information Components apply to all types of Information Objects. Accordingly, the EIMS Navigation Sidebar only displays links to the relevant Information Components for each different type of Information Object.
The Information Components common to multiple Information Types include: Administrative Details, Access Policy, Acronyms, Citation, Contacts, Data Elements, Downloads / URL Links, Geographic Area, GPRA, Keywords, Methods, Objectives, Quality Assurance, References, Related Entries, and Time Frame. Additional Information Components apply to individual Information Types: Project Attributes, Project Tracking, Project Details, Data Set Details, Database Details, Document Details, Meeting Details, Model Details, Multimedia Details, Spatial Details, Web Site Details, and Geospatial Data Set.
Each Information Component is described below.
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| The Administrative Details Information Component contains miscellaneous information about the EIMS record, which the system uses for record maintenance. For example, the Administrative Details Information Component stores the date that the record was entered into EIMS, each time the record was modified, and when the records was reviewed and released by the applicable Librarian. |
| The Access Policy Information Component contains information about who has access to the EIMS metadata record and describes the procedure (and associated constraints) authorized people can use to access the actual Information Object described by the EIMS metadata record.
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| The Acronyms Information Component contains a listing of acronyms employed in the Information Object and/or the metadata record describing it. |
| The Citation Information Component contains the formal citation for the Information Object. For example, if an author wanted to use an EIMS Information Object in a journal article, he/she could copy the Citation from the Information Object's metadata record to include in the bibliography of the article. |
| The Contacts Information Component contains information about the people and organizations associated with an Information Object |
| The Data Elements Information Component contains information about the definition and structure of each data element. This information can help EIMS user understand the meaning of the data contained in the Information Object (data set, database, model, or spatial data) and its suitability for use in other contexts. |
| The Download / URL Information Component contains information about the format and location of files and/or web addresses for material related to the Information Object. For example, if the EIMS metadata record has a product (e.g., document file, database file, etc.), it could, potentially, be stored within the Download / URL Information Component. |
| The Geographic Area Information Component contains information describing the geographic area or extent associated with the Information Object. |
| The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Information Component contains information related to GPRA goals and objectives, which provide a crosswalk to the GPRA management system as well as reports to EPA senior management, Congress, and the public. |
| The Keywords Information Component contains keywords associated with the metadata record. This information can assist others when searching for EIMS records. |
| The Methods Information Component contains information about the methods utilized in the Information Object. |
| The Objectives Information Component contains information about the purpose associated with the Information Object. This information can help establish the context of the Information Object and its relationships with other data and/or events. |
| The Quality Assurance Information Component contains information about data use and constraints. |
| The References Information Component contains bibliographic citations of works that have used the Information Object. For example, if a specific data set were used in an assessment that resulted in the creation of a publication, the bibliographic reference for that publication may be cited in the References Information Component of the metadata for that data set. |
| The Related Entries Information Component contains information about other EIMS content that pertains to the viewed record. Related entries could be parents or children of the current record (e.g., a separate entry for the journal article that resulted from a pesticide research project) or simply similar in scope or content (e.g., 2 spearate journal articles that resulted from separate projects that both pertain to drinking water). |
| The Time Frame Information Component contains information about the time frame applicable to the Information Object. For example, the beginning and end dates of a Project. |
| The Project Attributes Information Component contains administrative information about a project (e.g., status, costs, FTEs, and clients). |
| The Project Details Information Component contains information peculiar to project Information Objects (e.g., project start and end dates). |
| The Project Tracking Information Component (which is only used for projects) allows the user to provide project-tracking information drawn from other major management systems (e.g., MS Project). This creates a cross-reference between EIMS and the other system to assist in project management, monitoring, and analysis. |
| The Data Set Details Information Component contains information peculiar to data set Information Objects (e.g., sampling start and end dates). |
| The Database Details Information Component contains information peculiar to database Information Objects (e.g., sampling start and end dates). |
| The Document Details Information Component contains information peculiar to document Information Objects – e.g., type of document (journal article, thesis, etc.), status (draft, final, published, etc.), and Peer Review Category. |
| The Meeting Details Information Component contains information peculiar to meeting Information Objects (e.g., meeting start and end dates). |
| The Model Details Information Component contains information peculiar to model Information Objects (e.g., model publication date). |
| The Multimedia Details Information Component contains information peculiar to multimedia Information Objects (e.g., publication date). |
| The Spatial Details Information Component contains information peculiar to spatial data set Information Objects (e.g., sampling start and end dates). |
| The Geospatial Data Set Information Component contains more refined data set descriptives for spatial data Information Objects (e.g., purpose, time differential, cloud cover). |
| The Web Site Details Information Component contains information unique to web sites (e.g., URL, hosting organization, and publication date). |
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