IdentificationRemarks

IdentificationRemarks is a metadata element used to store miscellaneous notes about the identification of a geographic data resource. It is part of the identification information in metadata schemas such as ISO 19115 and related profiles. The element provides a dedicated place for notes that help identify the resource but do not fit other predefined fields such as title, abstract, purpose, or citation.

Typical content includes statements about alternative identifiers, provenance or lineage related to identification, revisions to how the resource is identified, scope clarifications, or cross references to other records. It can also note historical changes to the dataset’s identification or explain how multiple identifiers relate to the same resource. The content is intended to support clarity and interoperability when records are compared or linked.

Implementation and use are generally as free text, potentially spanning one or more lines depending on the schema or metadata editor. IdentificationRemarks is often optional; when present, it should be concise, accurate, and non-redundant with information found in other fields. Good practice is to avoid sensitive or duplicated details and to ensure that remarks help end users and data custodians understand how the dataset is identified and how its identifiers relate across catalogs and systems.

See also: identificationInfo, ISO 19115 metadata standards, and related identification fields in geographic information metadata.