USGS will soon transition to the international metadata standards known collectively as ISO 19115. The open-ended nature of ISO benefits with much greater flexibility and vocabulary to describe research products. However, that flexibility means few constraints that can guide authors and ensure standardized, robust documentation across the bureau. This project proposed that the USGS data community develop content specifications to define standard USGS ISO metadata content requirements. These specifications would be modular in order to meet documentation needs of the diverse range of research data that USGS produces. Using the specifications, metadata authors will be guided to include appropriate metadata fields for...