Which data standard defines standardized geographic metadata for risk analyses and supports data quality and lineage tracking?

• A. ISO 19115 defines standardized geographic metadata, enabling interoperability, discoverability, data quality assessment, and lineage tracking
• B. ISO 9001 defines metadata standards for quality management
• C. GDPR governs data privacy and has no metadata topic
• D. COPERNICUS is a satellite program; metadata standard not included

Answer: (A)

Geographic metadata standards describe what the data are, where they come from, how they were produced, and how reliable they are. ISO 19115 is the standard that defines standardized geographic metadata. It provides a structured set of metadata elements for geographic information, including identification, extent, quality information, and lineage. This enables interoperability across systems, makes data easier to discover, and allows users to assess quality and trace data provenance and transformations over time. That combination—interoperability, discoverability, data quality assessment, and lineage tracking—is why this standard is used in risk analyses and related workflows. Other options don’t fit: ISO 9001 focuses on quality management systems, GDPR is about data privacy, and COPERNICUS is an earth-observation program rather than a metadata standard.