Metadata and website design for statistical data dissemination
Dissemination of statistical data targeting to web-based audience is one of inevitable requirements for statistical organisations. This poses a significant challenge to the statistical organisation to provide the suitable web page format, accuracy, timeliness, and reliability of data and especially metadata. Descriptive metadata are strongly content oriented and their aim is to ensure a correct interpretation of presented data on the website and to avoid the misuse. Metadata assisting the search and navigation give general view of the statistical website and help users to understand the general website structure. The form of metadata and data presentation facilitates legibility and apprehensibility of the disseminated data meaning. The aim of this paper is to present experience in the design of websites for statistical purposes with emphasis on metadata, data and the appropriate form of data dissemination related to territorial units. These important factors for website design are analysed, and discussed on examples of following websites: MOÊ/MIS (Urban and Municipal Statistical Project and Information System of the Slovak Republic), Urban Audit for selected Slovak towns and Censuses (Population and housing censuses in Slovakia). Each of these projects has its own requirements, goals and user groups as well as common features which are highlighted. The common features of these websites are researched to obtain as unified presentation of information and navigation structure as possible. The purposes and goals of each website are preserved in unchanged form.