Customer outreach using an authoritative hydrographic survey metadata database

Hydrographic survey metadata development at NOAA´s Hydrographic Surveys Division (HSD) Data Acquisition and Control Branch (DACB) has evolved from a localized method to an open and integrated approach in cooperation with NOAA´s National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). In the near future, this effort will produce a user download and query interface that will enhance metadata access. The interface will offer previously unavailable hydrographic survey data, data products, and metadata conveniently and freely over the Internet. This paper tracks the development of the Hydrographic Survey Metadata Database (HSMDB) from multiple local Microsoft Access data tables to an authoritative Oracle™ database. It also describes the role of the Interface Data Base (IDB) management utility in enabling simple, remote access to the survey metadata and data products. The continuing metadata effort will address current hydrographic survey issues, including survey productivity, survey vertical and horizontal accuracy, bottom sample inventories, and the creation of Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) child metadata records. These developments will increase the exposure of valuable data and metadata to a new audience of potential users and improve service to the current customer base.