# metadata.parse_survey_metadata { #soildb.metadata.parse_survey_metadata }

```python
metadata.parse_survey_metadata(xml_content, areasymbol=None)
```

Parse XML metadata from sacatalog.fgdcmetadata column.

Args:
    xml_content: Raw XML metadata string from fgdcmetadata column
    areasymbol: Optional area symbol for reference

Returns:
    SurveyMetadata object with parsed information

Raises:
    MetadataParseError: If XML parsing fails

Example:
    >>> xml_data = client.get_sacatalog(areasymbol='IA015')['fgdcmetadata'].iloc[0]
    >>> metadata = parse_survey_metadata(xml_data, areasymbol='IA015')
    >>> print(metadata.title)
    Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database for Iowa County, Iowa