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2. BACKGROUND 
In GIS literature the metadata concept has been developed to describe data quality aspects in 
GIS. As well known, the quality is described by 5 (DCDSFT, 1988) or 6 parameters: geometric, attribute 
and temporal accuracy, logical consistency, completeness, lineage, currency. In the European context, 
metadata is a relevant issue in defining requirements to be filled in, in order to have a unique, consistent 
database through Europe related to each sector of study. In both cases the first task to be accomplished is 
the settlement of the frame of parameters able to describe data in the second case or errors in the first one. 
In our case, the purpose is to set one comprehensive frame of parameters able to analyze, 
describe and organize all kinds of data existing on the lagoon. The user of such a metadata database is 
supposed to be any person interested on the lagoon problems; not a particular specialist, but just anyone 
should know if data existing are useful to their study. It is supposed to be interested in spatial data or 
localized data. 
Unlike people considering only homogeneous and standard set of data, we have tried to conceive 
a scheme fitting for heterogeneous data where a large place is given to the accuracy description as well as 
to the context in which the data has been collected. Context in both sense of the purpose of the project for 
which data has been collected and of methodology of collecting data. Practical data about availability and 
format are also included. 
3. THE METADATA QUESTIONNAIRE 
The metadata frame had to be presented to data owners in a simple form, understable and easy to 
complete, thus a questionnaire (fig. la, lb). At the same time as the data concerning the lagoon result to 
be a quite large amount, it was necessary to design an appropriate database. As a first step we decided to 
use a very simple database software, the File Maker Pro of Claris Inc., which was available and well 
known, having already been experienced at our University. Among its characteristics: flexibility.' and user 
friendly in input of data as well as in the query functions. 
A specific card displaying in an appropriate manner the frame of metadata has been designed. 
The application developed includes an interface allowing to introduce the data easily and 
speedily, the second interface for queering, where hypertextual links allow access to hidden cards: an 
interface for printing function. 
The card can be printed to be fulfilled manually or displayed on the screen to be fulfilled by 
computer keyboard. The input of data result to be very simple and feasible by everyone 
Most of the data we were supposed to review and analyze comes from Planning Projects made by 
different Territorial Authorities and is recorded in map documents. We paid particular attention in finding 
convenient descriptions of all the aspects of information recorded in map documents (digital or analogic). 
The questionnaire consists of 9 groups of questions related to: 
1) the nature of data: image or text, that means if data is spatially referenced and structured or not: 
2) geographical area interested and the scale of reasoning; 
3) name of data and elements defining data: classification (nominal, discrete, continuous): finality' 
(descriptive or management), spatial settlement (point, line, area); localization accuracy, measurement 
accuracy; 
4) temporal attribute; 
5) quality' assessment; 
6) sources of data and methodology of acquisition; 
7) kind of medium and format if it is an informatic medium; 
8) availability of data: 
9) any other information of data.