Which standard would likely be referenced for understanding the metadata of geospatial data?

The choice of ISO 19115-3:2016 as the standard for understanding the metadata of geospatial data is highly relevant because this standard specifically addresses the structure and content of metadata for geographic information. ISO 19115-3 is an international standard that builds upon the foundations laid by previous versions of ISO 19115, which focused on the overall requirements for geographic information metadata, providing a framework to enable consistent and interoperable metadata.

Metadata is crucial in the geospatial context because it provides essential information about the data, such as its source, quality, accuracy, and how it can be used. ISO 19115-3 further emphasizes the need for metadata in digital human environments and outlines best practices for documenting and sharing this information. By following this standard, users can ensure that the metadata they create or reference facilitates better data discovery, evaluation, and integration.

In contrast, other options like the Open GIS Consortium (OGC) and its variations primarily focus on interoperability standards for geospatial services and data formats, which are essential for enabling the use of geospatial data across different systems but do not specifically address metadata in the same structured way that ISO 19115-3 does. Similarly, ISO 19115-2, while also related to