[IGS-DCWG-105] IGS metadata exchange via XML - next steps

[Fran Boler]

Dear Colleagues-

Once again thanks for all of the thoughtful contributions so far.

The challenge we have before us is how best to move forward with this 
effort. Our choices do not include a face to face workshop, at least not 
in the short term (more on this below); teleconferences are an 
alternative, but selecting a time that allows the full participation of 
all is not practical given our time zone distribution. Therefore I am 
proposing that we try moving ahead using electronic, asynchronous tools 
through google docs. We will see if this works, and if not we can try to 
come up with an alternative that works better in the future.

I suspect that on many issues raised, we may already have substantial 
agreement. As a means to find out how much agreement we have, I have 
taken the various comments and suggestions provided through Friday March 
13 and compiled them into a DRAFT ballot, with the object of gathering 
votes on scope of our effort, general questions, and specifics of 
suggestions for amendments to the SOPAC site log XML schema. So far what 
I have is a DRAFT ballot. I would like participants to have the 
opportunity to reframe questions to better represent your submitted 
comments thus far. I invite everyone to improve the framing of the 
questions until March 27. I will then finalize the ballot and we can 
vote by April 3. Voting should go quickly as everyone will have seen 
evolution of the ballot.

Here is the link to the draft ballot:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AX1gX-8fxdO8z1ljdU398tYoIO7f-MMEH1tgtkOUKKA/edit

I have a copy of the original, as does google docs. In order to allow 
all to see the original questions, please highlight questions or 
phrasing you wish to reword and add your thoughts using the comment 
button. If you think the question should be deleted highlight it and add 
a comment to that effect. If you want to add questions, do this with a 
comment in the vicinity of where the question should be inserted.

Let’s not engage in discussion of the particulars for now. What I 
envision is that through the voting we will see that we have a lot of 
agreement and we will narrow down the issues that need deeper discussion.

Looking ahead, there may be an opportunity for a face-to-face workshop 
addressing metadata for GGOS in July/August this year, location TBD. The 
goals of the proposed workshop would be broader than our currrent 
discussion, but would be a great opportunity to examine our current 
effort at a fairly early stage to harmonize with this larger context.

Kind regards,
Fran