C.1. Data and metadata warehousing[1]
21.25. With well-designed data and metadata warehouses, the dissemination of data and metadata becomes integrated with the collection and processing components of the statistical production process. Use of a centralized data warehousing system for data and metadata can make creating, maintaining and accessing data and metadata more efficient and can contribute to the integration of economic statistics, as well as help to bring together the various set of statistics that respond to user needs with respect to the international supply of services.
21.26. As better information technology tools have become available, many statistical agencies are moving towards the development and population of such data warehouses. A data warehouse should establish a simple and efficient process for accessing data to provide the following:
(a) Comprehensive metadata to facilitate understanding and analysis;
(b) Consistent and coherent long-term time series;
(c) Reliable information about the availability of data;
(d) Information about the availability of updated versions of published series;
(e) Contact details for the people who can provide more information about a statistical output.
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[1] See chapter 18 for more information on data and metadata warehouses.