Definition

The ensemble of some products or auxiliary data having a common focus or theme or purpose (e.g. collection of land photos)

A collection is a grouping of environmental data or products that share common characteristics, is represented by a single metadata record, and consists of one or more granules. Collections are also referred to as datasets.; A type of Package Description that is specialized to provide

information about an Archival Information Collection for use by Access Aids.

Comments

Note that in these definitions of “collection” and “granule” that a collection is the minimum citable unit of data, akin to a journal article.  This approach helps align data citation and publication with the much more mature practices surrounding journal article publication.  In this alignment, granules can be thought of as the words in that article.  This functional definition allows for flexibility as well; just as current science domains have their own standards for what qualifies as a minimally citable body of work that can go into a single journal article, different data domains across NOAA can do the same and determine what makes sense to go into one of their collections.  If NOAA should ever reach a more detailed definition, adjustments can be made to align the collection metadata with that new definition.

Source

 CEOS/WGISS/DSIG/GLOS

ESA PDGS Glossary, PGSI-GSEG-EOPG-LI-13-0033 (MM-PDGS Glossary Issue 2.0_forReview.docx)

This term and functional definition emerged from an ESIP session on collections and granules in the mid-2010’s.; Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS), Recommended Practice CCSDS 650.0-M-2, Magenta Book 2012

NESDIS Data Management Lexicon and Related Terms

Category

4. Data Stewardship words