Metadata guided statistical information processing

Metadata may be used for handling of statistical information. Some metadata standards have already emerged as guiding lines for information processing within statistical information systems. Conceptual models for metadata representation have to address beside the dataset itself additional data objects occurring in connection with a dataset. A unified description framework for such data objects is discussed with respect to metadata handling. Basic ideas on integration and translation of metadata standards are given with a focus on the framework. Hereby principles of ontology engineering play a key role as starting point.