What is the main goal of exporting metadata?

The primary goal of exporting metadata is to maintain consistency across related feature classes. Metadata serves as a comprehensive description of the data, including its origin, structure, and relationships to other datasets. By ensuring that metadata is consistent, organizations can effectively manage and interpret the datasets they work with, which is vital for data integration, sharing, and retrieval.

When metadata is consistently documented, it enhances usability for various stakeholders—ensuring that users understand exactly what the datasets contain, how to use them, and their limitations. This is particularly important in complex GIS projects where multiple datasets interact, as it provides a clear framework for understanding how each piece fits into the bigger picture.

In contrast, the other options do not fully capture the essence of metadata's purpose. For instance, while preventing data loss during transfer, consolidating datasets, and enhancing visual representation are important aspects of data management and presentation, they are not the primary focus of metadata exportation. Metadata is fundamentally about providing context and clarity around data rather than directly influencing how data is represented or transferred.