ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by defining the difference between data and information. It explains the importance of how adequately applied data formats, standards, and principles, transform useful data into valuable information. The chapter illustrates how these data procedures fit into the enterprise Geographic Information Systems geodatabases and practices. Data architecture plays a significant role in managing, organizing, and converting data into information. The data architecture will develop data standards, principles, methods, and governance policy. There are many different formats for data. It is effortless for people to “personalize” data formatting by simplifying using whatever format is comfortable. Metadata files can be customized to fit an organization’s needs. A metadata synopsis can provide a quick evaluation to any user as to whether or not the data will be useful to their project. Data standards establish the rules and procedures on how data is collected, defined, and recorded.
