Metadata Management: A Requirement for Web Warehousing and Knowledge Management

Abstract

This chapter introduces the need for the World Wide Web to provide a standard mechanism so individuals can readily obtain data, reports, research and knowledge about any topic posted to it. Individuals have been frustrated by this process since they are not able to access relevant data and current information. Much of the reason for this lies with metadata, the data about the data that are used in support of Web content. These metadata are non-existent, ill-defined, erroneously labeled, or, if well-defined, continue to be marked by other disparate metadata. With the ever-increasing demand for Web-enabled data mining, warehousing and management of knowledge, an organization has to address the multiple facets of process, standards, technology, data mining, and warehousing management. This requires approaches to provide an integrated interchange of quality metadata that enables individuals to access Web content with the most relevant, contemporary data, information, and knowledge that are both content-rich and practical for decision-making situations.