# Module Documentation: eml-dataset | Back to EML Contents

### The eml-dataset module - Dataset specific information

The eml-dataset module contains general information that describes dataset resources. It is intended to provide overview information about the dataset: broad information such as the title, abstract, keywords, contacts, maintenance history, purpose, and distribution of the data themselves. The eml-dataset module also imports many other modules that are used to describe the dataset in fine detail. Specifically, it uses the eml-methods module to describe methodology used in collecting or processing the dataset, the eml-project module to describe the overarching research context and experimental design, the eml-access module to define access control rules for the data and metadata, and the eml-entity module to provide detailed information about the logical structure of the dataset. A dataset can be (and often is) composed of a series of data entities (tables) that are linked together by particular integrity constraints.

The eml-dataset module, like other modules, may be "referenced" via the <references> tag. This allows a dataset to be described once, and then used as a reference in other locations within the EML document via its ID.

## Module details

Recommended Usage: | all datasets
Stand-alone: | yes
Imports: | eml-documentation, eml-resource, eml-party, eml-access, eml-entity, eml-dataTable, eml-project, eml-methods, eml-spatialRaster, eml-spatialVector, eml-storedProcedure, eml-text, eml-view, eml-literature
Imported By: |
View an image of the schema: | eml-dataset image

## Element Definitions:
#### dataset | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: DatasetType
| The dataset field encompasses all information about a single dataset. A dataset is defined as all of the information describing a data collection event. This event may take place over some period of time and include many actual collections (a time series or remote sensing application) or it could be just one actual collection (a day in the field).
#### purpose | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: txt:TextType
| A description of the purpose of this dataset. Note that this element requires DocBook style formatting. See eml-text for more information.
#### maintenance | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: MaintenanceType
| A description of the maintenance of this data resource. This includes information about the frequency of update, and whether there is ongoing data collection.
#### contact | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: rp:ResponsibleParty
| The contact field contains contact information for this dataset. This is the person or institution to contact with questions about the use, interpretation of a data set.
#### publisher | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: rp:ResponsibleParty
| The publisher of this data set. At times this is a traditional publishing house, but it may also simply be an institution that is making the data available in a published (ie, citable) format.
#### pubPlace | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: res:NonEmptyStringType
| The pubPlace field is the location where the resource was published, which may be different from where the resource was created. Example(s): San Francisco, CA, USA New York, NY, USA
#### methods | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: md:MethodsType
| The methods field documents scientific methods used in the collection of this dataset. It includes information on items such as tools, instrument calibration and software.
#### project | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: proj:ResearchProjectType
| The project field contains information on the project in which this dataset was collected. It includes information such as project personnel, funding, study area, project design and related projects. The project description can also contain documentation on subprojects.
#### dataTable | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: dat:DataTableType
| The dataTable field documents the dataTable(s) that make up this dataset. A dataTable could be anything from a Comma Separated Value (CSV) file to a spreadsheet to a table in an RDBMS.
#### spatialRaster | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: sr:SpatialRasterType
| The spatialRaster field describes any spatial raster images included in this dataset.
#### spatialVector | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: sv:SpatialVectorType
| The spatialVector field describes any spatial vectors included in this dataset.
#### storedProcedure | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: sp:StoredProcedureType
| The storedProcedure field contains information about any stored procedures included with this dataset. This usually implies that the dataset is stored in a DBMS or some other data management system capable of processing your dataset.
#### view | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: v:ViewType
| The view field contains information about any view included with this dataset. This usually implies that the dataset is stored in a DBMS or some other data management system capable of processing your dataset.
#### otherEntity | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: ent:OtherEntityType
| The otherEntity field contains information about any entity in the dataset that is not any of the preceding entities. (i.e. it is not a table, spatialRaster, spatialVector, storedProcedure or view.) OtherEntity allows the documentation of basic entity fields as well as a plain text field to allow you to type your entity.
#### citation | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: cit:CitationType
| A citation to articles or products in which the dataset is used or referenced. The citation element contains general information about a literature resource that has used or references this dataset resource.
#### description | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: txt:TextType
| A text description of the maintenance of this data resource. Note that this field must be marked up using DocBook like tagging. See eml-text for more information.
#### maintenanceUpdateFrequency | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: MaintUpFreqType
| Frequency with which changes and additions are made to the dataset after the initial dataset is completed. The values for this field must come from the enumeration MaintUpFreqType.
#### changeHistory | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Elements: | Use: | How many:
A sequence of (
changeScope | required |
oldValue | required |
changeDate | required |
comment | optional |
)
| A description of changes made to the data since its release.
#### changeScope | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: res:NonEmptyStringType
| The expression should unambiguously identify the entity(s) and attribute(s) that were changed.
#### oldValue | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: res:NonEmptyStringType
| The previous value or an expression that describes the previous value of the data.
#### changeDate | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: xs:date
| The date the changes were applied.
#### comment | This element has no default value.
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Type: res:NonEmptyStringType
| Explanation or justification for the change made to the data.
## Attribute Definitions:
#### id
Type: res:IDType Use: optional
#### system
Type: res:SystemType Use: optional
#### scope
Type: res:ScopeType Use: optional Default value: document
## Complex Type Definitions:
#### DatasetType |
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Elements: | Use: | How many:
A choice of (
A sequence of (
res:ResourceGroup |  |
purpose | optional |
maintenance | optional |
contact | required | unbounded
publisher | optional |
pubPlace | optional |
methods | optional |
project | optional |
A choice of (
dataTable | required |
OR
spatialRaster | required |
OR
spatialVector | required |
OR
storedProcedure | required |
OR
view | required |
OR
otherEntity | required |
)
citation | optional | unbounded
)
OR
res:ReferencesGroup |  |
)
Attributes: | Use: | Default Value:
id | optional
system | optional
scope | optional | document
| DatasetType is the base type for the dataset element. The dataset field encompasses all information about a single dataset. A dataset is defined as all of the information describing a data collection event. This event may take place over some period of time and include many actual collections (a time series or remote sensing application) or it could be just one actual collection (a day in the field).
#### MaintenanceType |
Content of this field: | Description of this field:
Elements: | Use: | How many:
A sequence of (
description | required |
maintenanceUpdateFrequency | optional |
changeHistory | optional | unbounded
)
| The maintenance type defines the fields for the maintenance element.
## Simple Type Definitions:
### #### MaintUpFreqType
Derived from: xs:string (by xs:restriction) Allowed values: annually asNeeded biannually continually daily irregular monthly notPlanned weekly unkown otherMaintenancePeriod
## Group Definitions:

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