Edinburgh Napier University

  This report is the collaborative product of a workgroup convened under the auspices of Data and
Information Technology Section (ABJ00) of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The Lilbrary and
Information Science Committee (ABG40) from the Research and Education Section (ABG00) was a full
partner. At the Section meeting on January 12, 2005, data committee chairs agreed to examine options
for a Section-level focus on metadata. Shortly thereafter, this workgroup was convened. It was
comprised of eight members representing the variety of providers, users, and uses of metadata in the
larger transportation community (as reflected in the committees of the Data Section and related TRBcommittees).
The workgroup was charged with recommending a plan of action for the Section. Which
type of institutional mechanism, under the Section umbrella, should be given authority for dealing with
metadata issues? What should be this entity’s mission? This document provides a brief introduction to
the definition and value of metadata, identifies challenges in addressing metadata issues, and presents
options, as well as recommendations, for the Section focus on metadata.