class - MD_Constraints

When constraints are palced on a spatial resource or its metadata, it is important to document these.. Potential users need to be informed of rights, restricutions and responsibilities (or lack thereof) that apply to the use of such resources.

Governance - ISO, National
Metadata Type - structural
ICSM Level of Agreement - ⭑⭑

Definition

restrictions on the access and use of a resource or metadata.

ISO Associations (May be found in)

MD_Metadata.metadataConstraints
MD_Identification.resourceConstraints
MD_BrowseGraphic.imageConstraints

Attributes -

useLimitation - (type - charStr) [0..*] limitation affecting the fitness for use of the resource or metadata. Example, “not to be used for navigation”
constraintApplicationScope - (class - MD_Scope) [0..1] the target resource and physical extent for which information is reported
graphic - (class - MD_BrowseGraphic) [0..*] graphic /symbol indicating the constraint
reference - (class - CI_Citation) [0..*] citation/URL for the limitation or constraint, eg. copyright statement, license agreement, etc
releasability - (class - MD_Releasability) [0..1] Requires an addressee or statement - information concerning the parties to whom the resource can or cannot be released
- addressee - (class - CI_Responsibility) [0..*] party to which the release statement applies
- statement - (type - charStr)) [0..1] release statement
- disseminationConstraints - (codelist - MD_RestrictionCode) [0..*] component in determining releasability.
responsibleParty - (class - CI_Responsibility) [0..*] party responsible for the resource constraints

Associated Classes, Codelists and Unions

MD_RestrictionCode - codelist

The name of the handling restrictions on the resource

unclassified - information applies to the dataset
restricted - information applies to the series
confidential - information applies to non-geographic data
secret - information applies to a dimension group
topSecret - information applies to a feature
sensitiveButUnclassified - although unclassified, requires strict controls over its distribution
forOfficialUseOnly - information applies to the characteristic of a feature
protected - information applies to the collection hardware class
limitedDistribution - information applies to the collection session

MD_Scope - class

See MD_Scope

MD_BrowseGraphic - class

fileName - (type - charStr) Mandatory when using MD_BrowseGraphic - name of the file that contains a graphic that provides an illustration of the resource.
linkage - (class - CI_OnlineResource) 0 to many - link to browse graphic.
imageConstraints - (class - MD_Constraints) 0 to many - restriction on access and/or use of browse graphic
fileType - (type - charStr) f0 to 1 - format in which the illustration is encoded (e.g.: EPS, GIF, JPEG, PBM, PS, TIFF, PDF)
extent - (class - Extent) Information about the horizontal, vertical and temporal extent of the resource specified by the scope

Generalisations of MD_Constraints

MD_Constraints may be expressed as:

MD_LegalConstraints
MD_SecurityConstraints

Discussion

Information about constraints on the access and use of a resource or its metadata is of high importance to document as this information strongly impacts on the usability of the resource to the user. Constraints may be security (MD_SecurityConstraints), legal (MD_LegalConstraints) or other (MD_Constraints).

A restriction may be applicable to a particular aspect of the resource. In this case capture this scope in constraintApplicationScope using a value from MD_Scope

Outstanding Issues

Best Practice examples lacking There is a need to gain greater consensus as to the general use of MD_Constraints across its instances by the MDWG.

Distribution Constraints Currently there are no clear methods to apply different constraints to different distributions. This may be an ISO issue to address. We should develop use cases.

Best Practice Recommendations

Crosswalk considerations

ISO 19139

MD_BrowseGraphic.imageConstraint - This new element was added in order to allow the specification of constraints on a browse graphic associated with a resource.
MD_Constraints.constraintApplicationScope - This new element was added in order to allow description of constraints on a resource that vary in space and/or time and/or level.
MD_Constraints.graphic - This new element was added in order to allow inclusion of a logo or other graphic that is associated with a particular constraint.
MD_Constraints.reference - This new element was added in order to allow inclusion of a reference to more detailed information about a constraint.
MD_Constraints.releasability - This new element was added in order to allow specification of constraints that apply to specific people or organizations.
MD_Constraints.responsibleParty - This new element was added in order to allow specification of people or organisations responsible for the constraints.
MD_Releasability - This new class was added to provide information about resource release constraints

**MD_LegalConstraints An extension to MD_Constraints for constraints applied for legal reasons.
**MD_SecurityConstraints An extension to MD_Constraints for constraints applied for security purposes.

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UML diagrams

Recommended elements highlighted in yellow

MD_Constraints