1. Introduction

1.1      Background

Statistical metadata systems (SMS) should serve statistical organizations as tools for the efficient management and performance of statistical information systems. Globalization has brought several issues in statistical production to greater prominence. There is an increasing user need to make official statistics comparable and easily available both at national and international levels. Clearly, the SMS has a lead role in this endeavour.  The SMS efficiency in this respect is significantly influenced by the standards methods and techniques used.

The Common Metadata Framework (CMF) initiative aims to assist statistical organizations in the adoption, modelling, usage, and implementation of statistical metadata systems and practices across all phases of their statistical business process.  Since the process for statistical surveys is generally the same everywhere, it is possible to build a common business process model for survey work.  As a result, the Generic Statistical Business Process Model was developed and is presented in Part C of the CMF: "Metadata and the Statistical Business Process".

While Part A of the CMF, "Statistical Metadata in a Corporate Context: A guide for managers", is focused on the corporate governance of metadata projects and its target audience is senior managers in statistical organizations, the target audience for Part B is SMS designers and experts responsible for SMS implementation.

The issue of standardization of metadata has already been on the agenda of various international groups and organizations for many years (examples include the development of the ISO/IEC 11179 standard, the Data Documentation Initiative, and, the SDMX standard - ISO 17369). Based on requests from UNECE member countries, there has also been an on-going discussion regarding many aspects of international standards for statistics and related metadata within the Joint UNECE/Eurostat/OECD Work Sessions on Statistical Metadata.

There is a common understanding in statistical organizations that the use of common standards related to statistics and metadata is indispensable. The number and diversity of existing standards, however, makes it a challenge for statistical experts to understand them and incorporate them efficiently in the SMS global architecture.

The aim of Part B is therefore to offer SMS designers an overview of existing statistical metadata standards, concepts, models, best practices and other methodological materials, which are likely to be applicable when designing and implementing SMS. It is designed primarily as an Internet publication, so that it can be kept as up to date as possible.

When designing a SMS at the national level, both national and international standards should be taken into consideration. Bearing in mind that national standards often address very specific requirements, this publication is focused on international standards. However, it also includes information on some of the more important internationally available and/or applicable national models and practices.

1.2      Justification

**to be provided by Dan**  

1.3 Scope

This publication is a unique source of information on existing statistical metadata standards. It aims to provide a single point of reference, giving SMS designers and other potential SMS users basic information about standards related to statistical metadata, as well as links to more detailed materials and resources.

The basic functions of the SMS in the statistical information system are:

to uniquely and formally define the content and links between  statistical objects;

(ii) to uniquely and formally describe the  content and links between statistical processes; and

(iii) to determine all related technical parameters.

These functions are explained in more detail in Part A - Statistical Metadata in a Corporate Context of the Common Metadata Framework.

An identical framework is well founded as a basis for the use of  standards relevant to statistical metadata. To facilitate SMS designers their decisions in which  areas of the statistical information system should be metadata standards  implemented,  the overview  of existing statistical metadata standards  is presented in the following structure:

• Statistical concepts,
• Technical standards,
• Models and statistical practices,
• Methodological guidelines and  recommendations.

All above mentioned  groups of standards should be taken into the consideration when designing and implementing an SMS. Making links to the Generic Statistical Business Process (in more detail see CMF-Part C...), the integration of standards into the SMS should  be ensured in the following phases of a Generic Statistical Business Process Model: (i)phase 1- Specify Needs, (ii) phase 2- Design, (iii) phase 3-Build.
                        The focus in the publication is on the following chapters:
 a)         Statistical Concepts
Metadata standards, in this chapter refer to  the content of the statistics. The group encompasses  internationally accepted statistical  standards and/or recommendations which  refer to the concepts and definition used for compiling statistics. International  standards on statistical classifications, statistical units, statistical subject matter domains and other standards, related to statistical contents are introduced in this chapter.      
 b)         Technical Standards
Metadata standards, in this chapter  provide technical specifications for  statistical  data and metadata exchange, their storage, documentation, retrieval and other ICT supported activities dealing with the use of metadata for the production of statistics. ISO  international standards on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX), metadata registries, Data Documentation Initiative (DDI),  Geographical information system (GIS) and other standards are introduced in this chapter.
 c)                  Models and  Statistical Practices
Internationally developed statistical metadata standard models as well as those nationally developed and internationally  recognized and/or applicable are presented in this chapter. Neuchatel model on statistical classifications and variables, Corporate Metadata Repository model, Special Data Dissemination Standards and other standard metadata models are presented in this chapter.
 d)                  Methodological Guidelines and Recommendations
A lot of methodological materials and recommendations related to statistical metadata have been developed in the framework of international cooperation organized by the UNECE  together with OECD, Eurostat and other international organizations. Those materials have proved already many times to be an asset  for  many national and international statistical institutes when  building  their SMS. Guidelines for Statistical Metadata on Internet, Best Practices in Designing Websites for Dissemination of Statistics are examples of such documents. Those and many others are introduced in this chapter.
  Detailed structure of  the four chapter above is presented in the Figure 1.