Iowa Tracking Program

What is Metadata?

Metadata is “data about data.” Metadata describe the content, quality, and context of a dataset.

How is Metadata used on the Tracking Network?

Descriptive metadata is the “Backbone” of the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Its creation and maintenance is essential for the success of the Network. As a result, many of the early grant efforts have focused on its development. Metadata is important to the Tracking Network for two reasons.

It allows Network users to locate resources through a variety of means including keywords, geographic boundaries, and date and time.
A Network user can determine the content of a resource, why created, how it was created, any limitations, access and use restrictions, data quality, and contact information. It helps a user to decide if a resource found on the Network is appropriate for the proposed use.

More information on Tracking Network metadata can be found in this Metadata Content Guidance Document.

Tracking Metadata Guidance

What are Tracking Indicators?

An environmental public health indicator provides information about a population's health status with respect to environmental factors. Tracking Indicators were developed in collaboration with national, state, and local environmental health partners. Here you can access detailed information about each indicator available on the Tracking Network.

Data and information for this site are still being developed and added. We welcome your comments and feedback.

This effort is supported by funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Cooperative Agreement Number 5U38EH000619-02. The contents of this Website are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.