EN ISO 19101-1:2014

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2015
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN ISO 19101:2005
*HRJUDIVNHLQIRUPDFLMH5HIHUHQþQLPRGHOGHO2VQRYH,62
Geographic information - Reference model - Part 1: Fundamentals (ISO 19101-1:2014)
Geoinformation - Referenzmodell (ISO 19101-1:2014)
Information géographique - Modèle de réference - Partie 1: Principes (ISO 19101-
1:2014)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 19101-1:2014
ICS:
07.040 Astronomija. Geodezija. Astronomy. Geodesy.
Geografija Geography
35.240.70 Uporabniške rešitve IT v IT applications in science
znanosti
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 19101-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
November 2014
ICS 35.240.70 Supersedes EN ISO 19101:2005
English Version
Geographic information - Reference model - Part 1:
Fundamentals (ISO 19101-1:2014)
Information géographique - Modèle de référence - Partie 1: Geoinformation - Referenzmodell - Grundsätze (ISO 19101-
Principes de base (ISO 19101-1:2014) 1:2014)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 July 2014.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 19101-1:2014 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 19101-1:2014) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 211 "Geographic
information/Geomatics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 287 “Geographic Information” the
secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2015, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the
latest by May 2015.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 19101:2005.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 19101-1:2014 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 19101-1:2014 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19101-1
First edition
2014-11-15
Geographic information — Reference
model —
Part 1:
Fundamentals
Information géographique — Modèle de référence —
Partie 1: Principes de base
Reference number
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
©
ISO 2014
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
© ISO 2014
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
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E-mail copyright@iso.org
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Conformance . 1
3 Normative references . 1
4 Terms, definitions, and abbreviated terms . 1
4.1 Terms and definitions . 1
4.2 Abbreviated terms . 6
5 Interoperability . 8
5.1 Interoperability of geographic information . 8
5.2 Interoperability of geographic information in e-government .11
6 Interoperability foundations and scope for the reference model .11
6.1 Foundations .11
6.2 Scope in the ISO geographic information standards .13
7 Abstraction of the real world .13
7.1 General .13
7.2 Conceptual formalism .13
7.3 Ontological languages .13
8 The ISO geographic information reference model .14
8.1 General .14
8.2 Reference model conceptual framework.15
8.3 Reference model — Semantic foundation .17
8.4 Reference model — Syntactic foundation .18
8.5 Reference model — Service foundation .19
8.6 Reference model — Procedural standards .20
8.7 Uses of the reference model .21
9 Profiles .21
9.1 Introduction to profiles .21
9.2 Use of profiles .21
9.3 Relationship of profiles to base standards .21
Annex A (normative) Abstract test suite .22
Annex B (informative) Layers of interoperability .26
Annex C (informative) Interoperability of geographic information in e-government .29
Annex D (informative) Foundation standards for SDI .33
Annex E (informative) Abstraction of the real world in geographic information.36
Annex F (informative) Overview of the ISO geographic information standards .41
Annex G (informative) Conceptual Schema Modelling Facility: a summary .45
Bibliography .47
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 211, Geographic information/Geomatics.
This first edition of ISO 19101-1, together with ISO/TS 19101-2:2008, cancels and replaces ISO 19101:2002.
ISO 19101 consists of the following parts, under the general title Geographic information — Reference model:
— Part 1: Fundamentals
— Part 2: Imagery [Technical Specification]
iv © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
Introduction
Beyond the needs within traditional applications of digital geographic information, users of information
technology recognize that indexing by location is fundamental in the organization and the use of digital
data. Nowadays, digital data from multiple sources of a wide variety are being referenced to locations
and used in various applications. Such data are now extensively distributed and shared over the Web. In
fact, the Web is an important source of knowledge in which geographic information plays a significant
role. Standardization in the field of geographic information is therefore imperative to support and
simplify the sharing and usage of geographic information of different sources, i.e. interoperability.
Standardization in geographic information is a complex task that addresses multiple aspects encompassing
the definition of interoperability of geographic information, fundamental data types such as for spatial
and temporal information, modelling rules, the semantics of real world phenomena, metadata, services,
etc. As such, a reference model is required in order to achieve this task in an integrated and consistent
manner. A reference model in geographic information consists of a comprehensive view providing an
abstract description of the elements that might compose the field of geographic information and their
interrelations. One of the primary goals of this reference model is to define and describe interoperability
of geographic information, addressing system, syntactic, structural, and semantic levels. The definition
of interoperability of geographic information will then serve as the underpinning for standardization in
geographic information. It contributes to
— increase the understanding and usage of geographic information,
— increase the availability, access, integration, and sharing of geographic information,
— promote the efficient, effective, and economic use of digital geographic information and associated
hardware and software systems, and
— enable a unified approach to addressing global ecological and humanitarian problems.
This part of ISO 19101 defines the ISO reference model dealing with geographic information. This
reference model provides a guide to structuring geographic information standards in a way that
it will enable the universal usage of digital geographic information. It sets out the fundamentals for
standardization in geographic information including description, management, and services, and how
they are interrelated to support interoperability within the geographic information realm and beyond
to ensure interoperability with other information communities. As such, this part of ISO 19101 develops
a vision for the standardization in geographic information from which it would be possible to integrate
geographic information with other types of information and conversely.
The description of the reference model is supported by a conceptual framework. The conceptual
framework is a mechanism to structure the scope of the standardization activity in geographic information
according to the interoperability description. It identifies the various facets of standardization and the
relationships that exist between them.
This reference model settles the role of semantics, how the new technologies such as the Web and many
emerging ways of accessing it, and how the Semantic Web can support interoperability in the field of
geographic information. It also provides an umbrella under which additional specific reference models
on particular facets of geographic information standardization would be required.
The reference model is organized in five clauses. Clause 5 describes interoperability in the context of
geographic information from a communication and an e-government perspective. Clause 6 identifies the
foundations of the reference model and sets the scope (requirements) for the ISO geographic information
standardization activities. Clause 7 identifies the requirement for the abstraction of the real world. The
reference model for ISO standardization in geographic information is specified in Clause 8 along with its
specific requirements. Finally, profiles related to ISO geographic information standards are introduced
in the Clause 9.
This part of ISO 19101 is the first part of the reference model. Additional parts can be developed to
address concerns, elements, and structures in distinct areas. As such, part 2 of the reference model
addresses specific aspects on imagery.
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
To achieve these goals, standardization of geographic information in the ISO geographic information
standards is based on the integration of the concepts of geographic information with those of information
technology. The development of standards for geographic information has to consider the adoption or
adaptation of generic information technology standards whenever possible. It is only when this cannot
be done that the development of geographic information standards becomes required.
This part of ISO 19101 identifies a generic approach to structuring the ISO geographic information
standards. This reference model uses concepts from the Open Distributed Processing – Reference Model
[17]
(RM ODP) described in ISO/IEC 10746-1 and other relevant International Standards and Technical
Reports. This part of ISO 19101 does not prescribe any specific products or techniques for implementing
geographic information systems.
This part of ISO 19101 is intended to be used by information system analysts, program planners,
and developers of geographic information standards that are related to ISO geographic information
standards, as well as others in order to understand the basic principles of this series of standards and
the overall requirements for standardization of geographic information.
This edition of the reference model differs from its previous edition by having a specific focus on the
semantic aspects related to interoperability of geographic information by the way of ontologies and
knowledge. As such, the definition of interoperability has been revisited in the context of communication.
Three foundations for interoperability of geographic information are identified. Based on these
foundations and the usual four levels of abstraction, a new conceptual framework is introduced to
support the organization of the reference model. The architectural aspect of the previous reference
model has been removed in this reference model and will be addressed more specifically in a revision of
ISO 19119:2005. This version of the reference model has no backward compatibility impact on the ISO
geographic information suite of standards.
vi © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
Geographic information — Reference model —
Part 1:
Fundamentals
1 Scope
This part of ISO 19101 defines the reference model for standardization in the field of geographic
information. This reference model describes the notion of interoperability and sets forth the fundamentals
by which this standardization takes place.
Although structured in the context of information technology and information technology standards,
this part of ISO 19101 is independent of any application development method or technology
implementation approach.
2 Conformance
General conformance and testing requirements for the ISO geographic information standards are
described in ISO 19105.
Any standards and profiles claiming conformance to this part of ISO 19101 shall satisfy all the
requirements described in the abstract test suites in Annex A.
Additional specific conformance requirements are described in individual ISO geographic
information standards.
3 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Not applicable.
4 Terms, definitions, and abbreviated terms
4.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
4.1.1
application
manipulation and processing of data in support of user requirements
4.1.2
application schema
conceptual schema (4.1.6) for data required by one or more applications (4.1.1)
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
4.1.3
base standard
ISO geographic information (4.1.18) standard or other information technology standard that is used as a
source from which a profile (4.1.27) might be constructed
[SOURCE: ISO 19106:2004, 4.2]
4.1.4
conceptual formalism
set of modelling concepts used to describe a conceptual model (4.1.5)
EXAMPLE 1 UML meta model.
[21]
EXAMPLE 2 EXPRESS meta model.
Note 1 to entry: One conceptual formalism can be expressed in several conceptual schema languages (4.1.7).
4.1.5
conceptual model
model that defines concepts of a universe of discourse (4.1.38)
4.1.6
conceptual schema
formal description of a conceptual model (4.1.5)
4.1.7
conceptual schema language
formal language based on a conceptual formalism (4.1.4) for the purpose of representing conceptual
schemas (4.1.6)
EXAMPLE 1 UML.
EXAMPLE 2 EXPRESS.
EXAMPLE 3 IDEF1X.
Note 1 to entry: A conceptual schema language can be lexical or graphical. Several conceptual schema languages
can be based on the same conceptual formalism.
4.1.8
coverage
feature (4.1.11) that acts as a function to return values from its range for any direct position within its
spatial, temporal, or spatiotemporal domain
EXAMPLE 1 Raster (4.1.30) image.
EXAMPLE 2 Polygon overlay.
EXAMPLE 3 Digital elevation matrix.
Note 1 to entry: In other words, a coverage is a feature that has multiple values for each attribute type, where
each direct position within the geometric representation of the feature has a single value for each attribute type.
[SOURCE: ISO 19123:2005, 4.1.7]
4.1.9
dataset
identifiable collection of data
[SOURCE: ISO 19115-1:2014, 4.3]
2 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
4.1.10
e-government
digital interaction between a government and citizens, government and businesses, and between
government agencies
4.1.11
feature
abstraction of real world phenomena
Note 1 to entry: A feature can occur as a type or an instance. Feature type or feature instance will be used when
only one is meant.
4.1.12
feature attribute
characteristic of a feature (4.1.11)
EXAMPLE 1 A feature attribute named “colour” can have an attribute value “green” which belongs to the
data type “text”.
EXAMPLE 2 A feature attribute named “length” can have an attribute value “82,4” which belongs to the
data type “real”.
Note 1 to entry: A feature attribute has a name, a data type, and a value domain associated to it. A feature attribute
for a feature instance (4.1.14) also has an attribute value taken from the value domain.
Note 2 to entry: In a feature catalogue (4.1.13), a feature attribute can include a value domain but does not specify
attribute values for feature instances.
Note 3 to entry: In UML, attributes, associations, and operations are representation types and are not fundamental
to the type of a characteristic nor to the type of feature. All three are equally capable of representing the same
characteristic of a feature. Every implementation of a characteristic is allowed to use the representation type that
is most appropriate and can use several different representations for a single characteristic if required. Feature
associations and feature operations (4.1.15), therefore, are different types of feature attribute, the distinction
between them being based on storage and access mechanisms rather than semantics.
4.1.13
feature catalogue
catalogue containing definitions and descriptions of the feature types (4.1.16), feature attributes (4.1.12),
and feature relationships occurring in one or more sets of geographic data, together with any feature
operations (4.1.15) that can be applied
4.1.14
feature instance
individual of a given feature type (4.1.16) having specified feature attribute (4.1.12) values
4.1.15
feature operation
operation that every instance of a feature type (4.1.16) can perform
EXAMPLE A feature operation upon a “dam” is to raise the dam. The results of this operation are to raise the
height of the “dam” and the level of water in a “reservoir”.
Note 1 to entry: Feature operations provide a basis for feature type definition.
[SOURCE: ISO 19110:2005, 4.5]
4.1.16
feature type
class of features (4.1.11) having common characteristics
[SOURCE: ISO 19156:2011, 4.7]
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
4.1.17
functional standard
existing geographic information (4.1.18) standard, in active use by an international community of data
producers and data users
[22]
EXAMPLE 1 GDF .
[15]
EXAMPLE 2 S-57 .
[6]
EXAMPLE 3 DIGEST .
4.1.18
geographic information
information concerning phenomena implicitly or explicitly associated with a location relative to the Earth
4.1.19
geographic information service
service (4.1.36) that transforms, manages, or presents geographic information (4.1.18) to users
4.1.20
geographic information system
information system (4.1.23) dealing with information concerning phenomena associated with location
relative to the Earth
4.1.21
graphical language
language whose syntax is expressed in terms of graphical symbols
4.1.22
grid
network composed of two or more sets of curves in which the members of each set intersect the members
of the other sets in an algorithmic way
Note 1 to entry: The curves partition a space into grid cells.
[SOURCE: ISO 19123:2005, 4.1.23]
4.1.23
information system
information processing system, together with associated organizational resources such as human,
technical, and financial resources, that provides and distributes information
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 2382-1:1993, 01.01.22]
4.1.24
lexical language
language whose syntax is expressed in terms of symbols defined as character strings
4.1.25
module
predefined set of elements in a base standard that can be used to construct a profile
[SOURCE: ISO/TR 19120:2001, 3.3]
4.1.26
ontology
formal representation of phenomena of a universe of discourse (4.1.38) with an underlying vocabulary
including definitions and axioms that make the intended meaning explicit and describe phenomena and
their interrelationships
4 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
4.1.27
profile
set of one or more base standards (4.1.3) or subsets of base standards, and, where applicable, the
identification of chosen clauses, classes, options, and parameters of those base standards, that are
necessary for accomplishing a particular function
[SOURCE: ISO 19106:2004, 4.5]
4.1.28
quality
degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements
Note 1 to entry: The term “quality” can be used with adjectives such as poor, good, or excellent.
Note 2 to entry: “Inherent”, as opposed to “assigned”, means existing in something, especially as a permanent
characteristic.
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2005, 3.1.1]
4.1.29
quality schema
conceptual schema (4.1.6) defining aspects of quality (4.1.28) for geographic data
4.1.30
raster
usually rectangular pattern of parallel scanning lines forming or corresponding to the display on a
cathode ray tube
Note 1 to entry: A raster is a type of grid (4.1.22).
[SOURCE: ISO 19123:2005, 4.1.30]
4.1.31
reference model
framework for understanding significant relationships among the entities of some environment, and for
the development of consistent standards or specifications supporting that environment
Note 1 to entry: A reference model is based on a small number of unifying concepts and can be used as a basis for
education and explaining standards to a non-specialist.
[SOURCE: ISO 14721:2012, 1.7.2, modified]
4.1.32
register
set of files containing identifiers assigned to items with descriptions of the associated items
[SOURCE: ISO 19135:2005, 4.1.9]
4.1.33
registry
information system (4.1.23) on which a register (4.1.32) is maintained
[SOURCE: ISO 19135:2005, 4.1.13]
4.1.34
schema
formal description of a model
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
4.1.35
Semantic Web
Web (4.1.40) of data with meaning
Note 1 to entry: The association of meaning allows data and information to be understood and processed by
automated tools as well as by people.
4.1.36
service
distinct part of the functionality that is provided by an entity through interfaces
[SOURCE: ISO 19119:2005, 4.1]
4.1.37
tessellation
partitioning of a space into a set of conterminous subspaces having the same dimension as the space
being partitioned
Note 1 to entry: A tessellation composed of congruent regular polygons or polyhedra is a regular tessellation.
One composed of regular, but non-congruent, polygons or polyhedra is a semi-regular tessellation. Otherwise, the
tessellation is irregular.
[SOURCE: ISO 19123:2005, 4.1.39]
4.1.38
universe of discourse
view of the real or hypothetical world that includes everything of interest
4.1.39
vector
quantity having direction as well as magnitude
Note 1 to entry: A directed line segment represents a vector if the length and direction of the line segment are
equal to the magnitude and direction of the vector. The term vector data refers to data that represents the spatial
configuration of features (4.1.11) as a set of directed line segments.
[SOURCE: ISO 19123:2005, 4.1.43]
4.1.40
World Wide Web
Web
universe of network-accessible information and services (4.1.36)
4.1.41
Web service
service (4.1.36) that is made available through the Web (4.1.40)
Note 1 to entry: A Web service usually includes some combination of programming and data. It can also include
human resources.
4.2 Abbreviated terms
COM Component Object Model
CORBA Common Object Request Broker Architecture
CSMF Conceptual Schema Modelling Facility
DL Description Language
DXF Drawing eXchange Format
6 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
ebXML RIM Electronic Business XML Registry Information Model
ebXML RS Electronic Business XML Registry Services
EIF European Interoperability Framework
FTP File Transfer Protocol
GeoRSS Geo Really Simple Syndication
GFM General Feature Model
GIS Geographic Information System
GML Geography Markup Language
HTML HyperText Markup Language
HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IDEF1X Integration DEFinition for Data Modelling
IDL Interface Definition Language
IT Information Technology
JDBC Java Database Connectivity
KML Keyhole Markup Language
MS Microsoft Corporation
OCL Object Constraint Language
ODBC Open Database Connectivity
ODL Object Definition Language
ODMG Object Data Management Group
ODP Open Distributed Processing
OMG Object Management Group
OWL Web Ontology Language
RDF Resource Description Framework
RM-ODP Reference Model – Open Distributed Processing
RPC Remote Procedure Call
SDAI Standard Data Access Interface
SDI Spatial Data Infrastructure
SQL Structured Query Language
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
UML Unified Modelling Language
URI Universal Resource Identifier
W3C SWEO World Wide Web Consortium Semantic Web Education and Outreach
XML eXtensible Markup Language
5 Interoperability
5.1 Interoperability of geographic information
5.1.1 Conceptual framework
Interoperability has been widely defined in various contexts related to information technology. The
most fundamental definitions come from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and
ISO/IEC 2382-1:1993.
— The ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information
[10]
that has been exchanged .
— The capability to communicate, execute programs, or transfer data among various functional units
in a manner that requires the user to have little or no knowledge of the unique characteristics of
[16]
those units .
In these definitions, the capability to use the information exchanged and the communication capability
between units are meaningful elements. As such, this part of ISO 19101 compares interoperability of
geographic information to an interpersonal communication process and establishes a framework for
interoperability of geographic information, which is detailed hereafter. Interoperability of geographic
information in the suite of ISO geographic information standards shall be founded on this framework.
Interoperability is presented here within the wider scope of human communication and cognition since
people usually end up understanding each other when interacting using different representations of
observable phenomena. Typically, a human communication process is about the transmission of details
on something that one has in mind to another. It comprises the following parts:
— a human source;
— a human destination;
— physical signals;
— a communication channel;
— a source of noise;
— a feedback mechanism.
In a human communication process, different features are involved especially at the source and
destination cognitive models and at the different physical signals constituting the message transmitted
between the source and its destination.
Similarly to human communication, interoperability is a process by which independent systems
manipulate, exchange, and integrate information that are received from others automatically. Accordingly,
the conceptual framework of interoperability of geographic information is presented hereafter.
Interoperability of geographic information is depicted as a communication process that occurs between
two agents, a user agent and a provider agent, interacting together about geographic information.
Consider that the user agent is interested in getting information about geographic features in a specific
area, say points of interest in Paris. Then, the user agent sends a query to the provider agent through
8 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
the communication channel (e.g. the Internet) using its own concepts and vocabulary. Once the message
reaches its destination, the provider agent interprets the request. This means that the provider agent
identifies concepts it knows that correspond to the request and for which it has information, and uses
them to answer the request (e.g. Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Paris, 48°51’29” Latitude, 2°17’40”
Longitude). Then, the provider agent assembles the information in a response that is sent back to the
user agent. In turn, at the time when the user agent receives the response from the provider agent,
it interprets and assesses it according to its initial request. Interoperability happens in this scenario
between the two agents only if the answer of the provider agent satisfies the user agent query.
Figure 1 illustrates the interaction between a user agent and a provider agent in the conceptual
framework for the interoperability of geographic information. First, it considers the reality (R) as it is at
a given time and about which the user agent is interested to have information.
Second, the user agent model of the reality (R′) results from a set of observed signals and the frame
of reference that is used to build it, i.e. the set of rules and knowledge used to abstract phenomena.
The user agent model is made of properties considered meaningful that are organized or structured
into concepts. A concept is an abstract, generalized, and simplified representation of similar real world
phenomena. A concept is entirely fictional, i.e. it does not exist in reality.
Because concepts are purely abstractions, the user agent cannot communicate concepts directly to the
provider agent. Therefore, the user agent’s concepts shall be transformed into physical representations,
which then can be transmitted through the communication channel. In communication, this refers to
the encoding operation. Essentially, this operation represents only the user agent concepts’ properties
required to describe the concepts in a specific situation. The concepts’ properties are transformed into
signals (e.g. words, abbreviations, punctuations, images, sounds, etc.) and ordered following specific
rules, i.e. a grammar, to shape the representation of user agent’s concepts (R″) to constitute the message.
This becomes the data transmitted by the user agent to interoperate with the provider agent. Once
released on the communication channel, the message representing the user agent’s query, “What is
interesting to see in Paris?”, is freed from the user agent’s intended meaning.
When the message reaches its destination, the provider agent begins the decoding operation, which
consists of the recognition of and the assignment of an appropriate meaning to the message’s physical
representations. Although under perfect conditions representations of concepts induce user agent’s
isomorphic concepts to the provider agent, typically, representations of concepts induce concepts to the
provider agent (R‴) that are of similar meaning to user agent’s concepts. These concepts are then used
to answer the user agent’s query.
Based on these concepts, the provider agent begins the retrieval of information. Similarly to R′, the
retrieved information (either concepts or instances of them) cannot be communicated directly since
it consists of features. Consequently, it shall be encoded into physical representations, arranged in
a message (R‴′) to be placed as a reply (e.g. an XML encoding of Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Paris,
48°51’29” Latitude, 2°17’40” Longitude) on the communication channel towards the user agent. Once
again here when placed on the communication channel, the physical representations are freed of their
provider agent’s meaning.
In turn, at the time the response message is received, the user agent initiates the decoding operation to
recognize the components of the message and to give them a meaning and, after, assesses if that meaning
infers the concepts in R′. If it is the case, the user and the provider agents interoperate successfully.
This conceptual framework describes interoperability of geographic information from an interpersonal
communication perspective between two agents. Interoperability of geographic information consists of
a bi-directional process that includes feedback in both directions to ensure that messages get to their
destination and are understood properly. Each agent uses its own knowledge and vocabulary to express
and interpret features. As long as the two agents have a common background and a common set of
symbols, they regularly end up understanding each other. This conceptual framework agrees with the
IEEE and ISO/IEC 2382-1:1993 definitions of interoperability.
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
(Communication channel)
Query interpretation
“What is
2. Query 3. Query
-Point of -Interesting to see
interesting to
transmission reception interest
= T
|S |
see in Paris?”
-Paris
-City
User’s request with his own
then search of corresponding
concepts in memory
geographic information
-Interesting to see
(e.g. Interesting to see in -Interesting to see
-Paris
Paris) R″
-Paris
4. Query decoding
1. Query encoding
Point of
Interest
R R‴
R′
City
User
Provider
8. Response decoding
5. Response encoding

Interoperability =
Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower
correspondence of received data
… …
R‴′
with the initial query
-Eiffel Tower

-EPSG:4326
7. Response 6. Response
= T
|S |
Eiffel Tower
-48,858056 2,294444
reception transmission


48,858056 2,294444
…
(Communication channel)
Figure 1 — Conceptual framework for the interoperability of geographic information
(adapted from References [3] and [4])
5.1.2 Heterogeneity in geographic information
5.1.2.1 General
[2]
Previously decomposed into six layers (see Annex B), interoperability of geographic information aims
at establishing an efficient communication between systems and applications handling geographic
information and users. It is recognized that systems, applications, and users can be different, and it
is essential to overcome the heterogeneity that exists between them to achieve interoperability.
Heterogeneity is classified in four different types:
— system heterogeneity;
— syntactic heterogeneity;
— structural heterogeneity;
— semantic heterogeneity.
5.1.2.2 System heterogeneity
Geog
...