Navigating the Perils and the Pitfalls of Metadata A Critical Examination of Hydrographic Data Challenges
Presentation Type: Presentation (30 minutes)
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Intended Audience: GIS User, GIS Builder, GIS Developer, GIS Instructor, Management, Other
Abstract
Metadata is critical to the integrity of geospatial data but is often overlooked. As the geospatial industry depends on data-driven analysis and decision-making, a thorough understanding of metadata is essential for appropriate, accurate, and efficient data use. In today’s era of democratized data collection and widespread data sharing, ensuring data quality has become increasingly critical. Hydrographic datasets, for example, require detailed contextual information such as instrument calibration, tidal influences, seasonal changes, and time of data was collected. However, inconsistent, incomplete, or missing metadata, can severely compromise the reliability and applicability of geospatial analyses. This presentation explores the opportunities and challenges of providing robust metadata for hydrological data collected along the Kankakee River in Illinois. The case study is discussed in context of the U.S. Geological Survey’s ongoing development of a nationwide 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP), highlighting broad
Presenter(s)
Dr. Avantika Ramekar, Ph.D.
, PE-PC
Scott Perkins, GISP has 40 years of experience collecting, processing and delivering geospatial data from air, land and water.His experience with bathymetry includes serving on the Federal Advisory Committee to NOAA for Hydrographic Surveying. Scott was elected as chair of the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) committee and during his term the HSRP held public meetings at major US Ports and Harbors to meet with local stake holders and learn about their safety of navigation concerns and bathymetry needs. HSRP travels took Scott to the Ports of Anchorage, Honolulu, New York-New Jersy, Long Beach, Houston, New Orleans, Charleston and Galveston.Scott is a recreational paddler who has participated six times in the MR-340, a three hundred a forty-mile-long paddle race from KC to STL on the Big Muddy Missouri River.
Avantika Ramekar
GIS Analyst, Prairie Engineers
Avantika Ramekar, PhD, joined Prairie Engineers in 2024 as a Geospatial Scientist. Avantika has served on a committee with the American Association of Geographers (AAG), where she actively contributed to advancing geospatial knowledge and research. At Prairie Engineers, she applies her expertise in GIS across a range of projects for teams specializing in natural resources, hydrology, and civil engineering. Her past research has taken her to rural areas of Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, gaining valuable field experience. Currently, she is engaged in projects involving key agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and others.