ba3de8b8_eral_Geographic_Data_Committee__Abstract
[Author] Geo-Enabling Business Workgroup [Factsheet] Documenting Tabular Geospatial Data [PDF 55.6KB] [Date] 2008 [Abstract] 
The term 'geospatial data' is most commonly used to reference maps, photographs, satellite images and Geographic Information System (GIS) products. However, vast amounts of geospatial data are collected in common tables and databases. This tabular data may include a specific column for geographic coordinates but it is far more common that geospatial location is referenced by street address, administrative boundaries such as school districts, geophysical features such as watersheds and other "mappable" attributes. At some level, most tabular data is geospatial. Though the geospatial character of the dataset features may reference an area rather than a specific point, the data can, none the less, be tied to a location on the earth. This guidance describes tabular data in the sense of geospatial metadata, refers to the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, provides a quick reference to methods and tools, applies the CSDGM to tabular data, and documenting tabular attributes in metadata.
Factsheets — Federal Geographic Data Committee
Abstract