FAQ
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Note (September 2007): The Go-Geo! FAQ webpages updated with the new Interface design launch (18/09/07) and new FAQs.
New FAQs Relating to the new Go-Geo! Interface Design & Navigation
Why are some of the maps different over the new Go-Geo! Website?Where has 'My-Go-Geo!' and all my Athens logged in functionality gone?
Can you explain to me about the Icons on the new website?
Can you support me in generating my metadata?
Why would I link to GRADE (Geospatial Repository for Academic Deposit & Extraction) - Tell me more about sharing my datasets?
Where have the BGS (British Geological Society) images gone?
How can I find out about Geospatial Metadata Workshops run by EDINA in my area?
What is an Institutional / Local node - How do I know if I can access one?
FAQs Relating to service & Functionality of Go-Geo!
The Go-Geo! Portal
What is a portal?What will Go-Geo! do?
What are geo-spatial data?
What does 'metadata' mean in the context of this portal?
Who is developing this portal?
What metadata standards are used for this portal?
How can I find out more about the portal project?
Finding Information
What information can you find by searching the portal?How can I search for data?
How can I broaden or narrow my search query?
How can I save my search results?
How can I access the actual datasets?
Why are some of the display records incomplete?
How can I find information on GIS training courses?
How can I find out more about the data producers and sources of data?
Terminology
How can I find help understanding the terminology used?How can I find out more about the elements on the search record?
Access to the Portal
Who can use the portal?Contributing to the Portal
How can I add my metadata or other information to this portal?Making a Complaint
How do I report inappropriate content?What happens after I report inappropriate content?
The Go-Geo! Portal
What is a portal?
A portal is an online service that provides a personalised, single point of access to resources that support the end-user in one or more tasks (resource discovery, learning, research). The resources made available via a portal are typically brought together from more than one source.What does Go-Geo! do?
This portal is an online resource discovery tool that allows for the identification and retrieval of metadata records. These metadata records describe the content, quality, condition and other characteristics of geo-spatial datasets. The Go-Geo! portal will allow you to access geo-spatial metadata records by cross-searching a number of databases. As well as searching for datasets held within the UK higher and further education community, you will be able to search the NGDF GIgateway and its directory services. This will give you access to other GI communities in the UK.Other features offered by the portal add value to the data identified and retrieved. A key feature will be the ability to find other related resources such as books, photographs, learning resources and articles. These will be found by searching the JISC Information Environment and/or other online information services.
What are geo-spatial data?
Geo-spatial data is a term used to cover any data with geographic references, for example, Ordnance Survey national grid references, postal addresses, place names or the names of administrative areas.What does 'metadata' mean in the context of this portal?
'Meta' is a common prefix meaning "about". Metadata, therefore means data that describe other data. In the context of the Go-Geo! portal, the metadata contains elements which describe a dataset. The elements include the title and coverage of the dataset, when it was created, how to gain access to the dataset and its' quality. Metadata reveal information that isn‘t apparent when looking at dataset files in a directory. The details of a dataset are embedded in the metadata file and often address the following questions:- what is the purpose of the dataset?
- where did the dataset originate?
- what attribute information does it contain?
- what processes or algorithms were employed to create it?
- what spatial reference system does the dataset use?
- what is the granularity of the data?
- when was the dataset created?
- what time period does the dataset content cover?
- what geographic area or extent does it cover?
- whom do I contact for more information or access to the dataset?
- how do I obtain the dataset?
- what are the access and use restrictions and how much will it cost?
- who is responsible for creating the metadata record for the dataset?
Who is developing this portal?
This portal is being developed by EDINA, University of Edinburgh. The portal is the culmination of a series of Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funded projects.What metadata standards are used for this portal?
The Go-Geo portal uses the Academic Geospatial Metadata Application Profile (AGMAP) Guidelines.How can I find out more about the portal project?
Further information about the portal project can be found through the Go-Geo! Home Page or by contacting usBack to Top
New FAQs Relating to the new Go-Geo! Interface Design & Navigation
Why are some of the maps different over the new Go-Geo! Website?
Go-Geo! Mapping uses the Google maps API - an open source map layer. We believe this to be a more familiar and easy to use interface for the user. The old mapping will slowly be replaced, where it still exists.Where has 'My-Go-Geo!' and all my Athens logged in functionality gone?
This has not disappeared. You can now access all of the My-Go-Geo! Functionality via the 'Login' button on the Home Page (far right of the top Navigation Bar). This will ask for your Athens Login. For more information about this see the mygogeo help page.Can you explain to me about the Icons on the new website?
There are 2 types of Icon on the new Go-Geo! Website. The first are the large navigation Icons, these tell you which web resource section you are in, i.e. Online Resources, or Software, etc. The second types of Icons are the small 'descriptive' record Icons. These are Icons attached to a particular record to give a quick snap-shot of the basic/ key features of that resource, i.e. Cost-scale, or Windows/Unix operating, etc. To see what an Icon means you can 'Hover-over' the icon picture with your mouse and a label should be visible. You can also see the icon legend help page.Can you support me in generating my metadata?
Of course! The website contains lots of resources for helping you use the 'Metadata Creator Tool' and understanding Geospatial Metadata Standards - for this view the AGMAP introduction Help page. You can also take a look at the Resources for Geospatial Metadata channel. From here you can also find out more about Metadata Workshops running in your area. And if you still would like some advice or help please do contact the Go-Geo! Support Team directly.Why would I link to GRADE (Geospatial Repository for Academic Deposit & Extraction) - Tell me more about sharing my datasets?
The GRADE GIS Repository is an online repository for derived research geospatial datasets for sharing and reuse within the UK HE-FE academic community. You have to register separately for GRADE, and you must first be registered for Digimap. To do this go to: http://edina.ac.uk/digimap. But then you have permission to upload your own research GIS data and download others GIS data. The repository also contains boundary datasets from the Great Britain Historical GIS Project, and Sample datasets from The Environment Agency among many others. For more information visit the project website or the actual repository, and also see the Help Pages.Where have the BGS (British Geological Society) images gone?
This is temporally unavailable and will be back on the website shortly, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.How can I find out about Geospatial Metadata Workshops run by EDINA in my area?
Go to the Geospatial Metadata Workshops Page. From here you can view the list of up-coming planned and previous workshops dates and locations, download the workshop flyer and other materials, and Request a workshop at your own Institution.What is an Institutional / Local node - How do I know if I can access one?
Institutional - Local nodes are now available for Edinburgh University, The University of Cambridge, Kingston University, and Sheffield University. This is currently part of pilot work at these institutions. The idea of an Institutional node is that local metadata can be created and viewed and searched via a local go-geo! Site, which is not publicly viewable on the global Go-Geo! Network. It is accessed via Athens. We are happy for other institutions to also create their own Institutional nodes, and if you are interested contact the Go-Geo! Support Team directly.Back to Top
Finding Information
What information can you find through searching the portal?
In Go-Geo! the records retrieved by searches are metadata records. Metadata can be described as data which provide information about other data. Go-Geo! provides information about datasets such as the time period it covers, its' quality and how to gain access to the dataset. All Metadata Searches start at the Go-Geo! Home Page.How can I search for data?
You will be able to search by:
- free text;
- subject/topics;
- geographic locations using an interactive map;
- place names;
- dates;
- resource types;
How can I broaden or narrow my search query?
To broaden your search use the Boolean operator OR:OR e.g. woodland or forest
which will retrieve records which contain both or either of the terms
To narrow your search use the Boolean operators AND & NOT to connect words and phrases:
AND e.g. social and exclusion
will retrieve records which contain both the words social AND exclusion
NOT e.g. gender not sex
will find records containing only the word gender and exclude those that contain sex
How can I save my search results?
Results of searches can be printed or emailed to you. Using the 'My Go-Geo!' login you can also save your search results.How can I access the actual datasets?
Information on how to access the datasets can be found on the 'who' tab located on the metadata record screen.Why are some of the display records incomplete?
Some of the records retrieved by your search query come from databases held on remote machines, which may be holding incomplete records.How can I find information on GIS training courses?
Go-Geo! also provides information on geographically-related resources. These resources provide further information on software, training courses, organisations and discussion groups which are related to geographic information. The resources can be found on the left-hand side of the Go-Geo! homepage. Information on GIS training courses can be found in the Training courses section, linked to from the Go-Geo! Home Page.How can I find out more about the data producers and sources of data?
Go-Geo! uses multiple databases to collate its information. These are listed on the data sources help page. Geospatial data sources for personal use (e.g. downloading map / satellite data) are listed within the left menu of the Go-Geo! home page under ‘Major Data Providers‘.
Terminology
How can I find help understanding the terminology used?
A good GIS glossary can be found at http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/agidict/welcome.html. Links to other sources of geoterminology can be found on the Geoterminology channel, and also linked to from the Go-Geo! Home Page.How can I find out more about the elements on the search record
Definitions under the UK Academic Geospatial Metadata Application Profile (AGMAP) Guidelines list all the metadata terms for the search record. It is also possible to click on each term individual in the search record, to bring up the AGMAP definition for that term alone.Back to Top
Access to the Portal
Who can use the portal?
The portal is for use by the academic community, which means anyone who is a student, researcher or lecturer at a university or college of higher and further education.Back to Top
Contributing to the Portal
How can I add my metadata and other information to this portal?
To include metadata about your dataset in this portal, please use the metadata creation tool. To learn more about how to create metadata for the portal, please contact Tony Mathys, Metadata Officer at Edina. To suggest new resources for Go-Geo! fill in the online Suggest A Resource form.Back to Top
Making a Complaint
How do I report inappropriate content?
By submiting a completed complaints form.What happens after I report inappropriate content?
On receipt of a notice of complaint regarding content in the Go-Geo! portal, a Go-Geo! staff member will:- establish that it is not a spurious complaint (and document any decision to the contrary).
If this is a valid complaint:
- acknowledge receipt of the complaint by email
- remove from the the Go-Geo! portal the item that is subject to complaint
- if necessary, refer the complaint to our legal advisors for comment and advice
- send full details of the complaint to the content provider and advise the content provider that this content will no longer be made available through the Go-Geo! protal.
If the content provider refutes the complaint (and e.g. requires that the content be put back into the collection), Go-Geo! staff will seek advise of our legal advisors.
Content that is subject to complaint will not be made available in the Go-Geo! portal again until the depositor has proven to the satisfaction of the University of Edinburgh Legal Advisor that it does not breach any law.
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