- About the Defra Data Services Platform (DSP)
- Registering: Who can register on the Defra Data Services Platform (DSP)
- Registering: How to create an account on Defra Data Services Platform (DSP)
- Searching for Data on the Defra Data Services Platform (DSP)
- Searching: Why is my search taking a long time to return results?
- Metadata: Understanding information provided with each Defra Data Services Platform (DSP) dataset
- Metadata: Understanding the metadata dates displayed for datasets on the Defra Data Services Platform (DSP) and Data.Gov.Uk
- Downloading Data by Area of Interest
- Downloading Survey Data
- Downloading Data as a Contractor
- Downloading Large Datasets
- Web Services: Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards
- Web Services: How do I use Web Feature Service (WFS) layers?
- Web Services: Why is my existing Web Feature Service (WFS) request no longer returning any features?
- Web Services: Why can’t I see any layers listed underneath the WMS I have added in QGIS?
- Web Services: I am using a BBOX request when adding my Web Feature Service (WFS) to a map but it's still drawing all the features
- Web Services: Why do I get an error message when loading WMS or WFS data?
- Web Services: I have confirmed I am using the correct typeName, but I’m still not seeing any features in my map?
- Why clearing cache in a browser is important and how to do it
Metadata: Understanding information provided with each Defra Data Services Platform (DSP) dataset
Created: 31 October 2023 Updated: 17 November 2023
Every dataset published on the DSP is provided to our users with accompanying metadata record.
Metadata means information about data. It’s a set of attributes that describe data, help users understand what data is about, how it should be used and whether there are any limitations to what it can be used for.
The purpose of metadata is to to help you better understand the dataset and its uses.
DSP metadata is provided as the following attributes:
Summary | Description of the data including any information that has be excluded and any known data quality issues. |
Categories | These are used as a way of classifying a dataset and making it easier to find. |
Keywords | These descriptive words are used to used make the dataset easier to find. |
Use Limitation Statement | Statement outlining any use limitations relevant for the specific data. |
Licence | Name of the relevant data licence, usually represented as a link to detailed description of the licence used. The provided link allows access to an online version of the data sharing licence (where applicable). |
Attribution Statement | Any copyright or third-party attribution statements for the data. |
Use Constraints | Use constraints field outlines any specific conditions applying to the access and reuse of data where appropriate. |
Technical Information | Update frequency: indication how often the dataset is updated. Lineage: how the dataset was created and any third party data referenced/used. |
Spatial Information | Coordinate reference system; spatial reference system used, where applicable. Geographic extent of the data. |
Metadata Information | Language of the metadata Metadata identifier |
Data and Supporting Information | Data services and download by area of interest This section displays links to the Download by area of interest functionality and to the data services available for the specific dataset (e.g. WMS (Web Map Service) or WFS (Web Feature Service)). Using the ‘Copy link’ will copy the underlying WMS or WFS link which can then be used within a relevant GIS application/software (e.g. ArcMap or QGIS). Please note: WMS/WFS links will not work if opened directly in a web browser (they will display an error in the browser). Full downloads and supporting documentation For majority of datasets, this section will provide access to full extent downloads of the selected dataset. This is also where users can access any supporting information relevant to the published dataset, etc. |
Published by | Published by section outlines which organisation is responsible for the given dataset. It also provides relevant contact details which can be used to enquire further about the dataset. |
Dataset References | Creation Date: The date when the data was first created. Publication Date: The date the dataset was published for the first time. Revision Date: The date the data was most recently updated. Period The beginning and end date which the data is relevant for. |