ISO 14825:2011

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14825
Second edition
2011-07-15

Intelligent transport systems —
Geographic Data Files (GDF) — GDF5.0
Systèmes intelligents de transport — Fichiers de données
géographiques (GDF) — GDF5.0




Reference number
ISO 14825:2011(E)
©
ISO 2011

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT


©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland

ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction.vii
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions.2
3.1 General terms.2
3.2 Mathematical terms .3
3.3 Geodetical terms.4
3.4 GDF terms.6
4 Symbolization and notation elements .9
4.1 GDF symbolizations .9
4.2 UML notation .9
5 Overall conceptual data model.15
5.1 Conceptual data models in GDF.15
5.2 The general data model of GDF.15
5.3 The Attribute model .24
5.4 The Relationship model .27
5.5 Linear referencing.27
5.6 The Feature representation scheme .28
5.7 Time modelling.28
5.8 Data management: organisation of Feature data into Layers and Sections .29
6 Feature Catalogue.33
6.1 Generic specifications.33
6.2 Roads and Ferries.34
6.3 Administrative Areas .51
6.4 Named Areas .59
6.5 Land Cover And Use.63
6.6 Terrain Elevation.93
6.7 Structures .98
6.8 Railways.99
6.9 Waterways .100
6.10 Road Furniture .104
6.11 Services .107
6.12 Public Transport.108
6.13 Linear Referencing Features .112
6.14 Linear Datum Features .114
6.15 General Features.116
7 Attribute Catalogue.118
7.1 Generic specifications.118
7.2 Attributes .166
8 Relationship Catalogue .314
8.1 Generic Specifications .314
8.2 Relationship Types .342
9 Feature representation rules .387
9.1 Generic specifications.387
9.2 Roads and Ferries.403
9.3 Administrative Areas .406
© ISO 2011 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)
9.4 Named Areas .408
9.5 Land Cover And Use .409
9.6 Terrain Elevation .410
9.7 Structures.410
9.8 Railways .413
9.9 Waterways.414
9.10 Road Furniture.415
9.11 Services.415
9.12 Public Transport.415
9.13 Linear Referencing Features.416
9.14 Linear Datum Features .416
9.15 General Features .417
10 Metadata Catalogue .418
10.1 Generic specification .418
10.2 Headers and terminators.420
10.3 Data Dictionary .436
10.4 Table of Contents .448
10.5 Source Material.453
10.6 Geodetic Parameters .459
10.7 Update Information .468
10.8 General Comment .468
11 Logical Data Structures .469
11.1 Introduction.469
11.2 Logical GDF Album .474
11.3 Datasets.476
11.4 Layers.500
11.5 Sections.501
11.6 Time Domain Syntax .519
11.7 Update Information .530
11.8 Common Data Types.532
12 Media Record Specifications .541
12.1 General specifications .541
12.2 Field specifications .555
12.3 Additional Constraints for Topological Features.598
12.4 Additional Constraints for Non-Explicit Topological Features: Order of Coordinate
triplets in Feature Records.599
12.5 Mandatory Records.599
12.6 Record Format Specifications: Global Records .599
12.7 Record Format Specifications: Data Records.650
12.8 Record Format Specifications: Update Information Records .684
13 XML schema specifications .687
13.1 Introduction.687
13.2 Data content.691
13.3 GDF XML schema.693
13.4 Schema GDF_Main.xsd.694
13.5 Schema GDF_data_dict.xsd.758
13.6 Schema GDF_userDefined.xsd.945
14 SQL encoding specifications.950
14.1 SQL design.950
14.2 Data content.953
14.3 Topology Type.978
14.4 Data partitioning.980
14.5 General GDF data .1018
14.6 Features.1022
14.7 Relationships.1059
14.8 Attributes.1063
14.9 Object Referencing .1071
iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)
14.10 Update registry.1074
14.11 Abbreviation .1080
14.12 Entity/Table indexes .1081
14.13 Entity Relationship diagram conventions .1086
14.14 SQL/MM base tables for Topology and Network .1095
Annex A (normative) Semantic codes.1099
Annex B (informative) Metadata codes.1127
Annex C (informative) Services .1165
Annex D (normative) Syntax for Time Domains.1173
Annex E (normative) Sectioning GDF Datasets .1195
Annex F (informative) Rules for the formation of Level 2 Features from Roads and Ferries .1198
Annex G (informative) Geopolitical Structure examples.1208
Annex H (informative) Specification of possible use of notation and phonetic Attributes for
character strings.1226
Bibliography.1229

© ISO 2011 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
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.
ISO 14825 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 204, Intelligent transport systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14825:2004), which has been technically
revised.
vi © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)
Introduction
By the late 1980s, producers and users of digital road map data became increasingly aware of the need for a
common data interchange standard. Lack of such a standard was seen as an impediment to the commercial
growth and success of industries using such data. Before the advent of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
industry, development of spatial data interchange standards was done mostly on a regional basis and not
designed for the specialised requirements of road-transport-related applications. The establishment of
ISO/TC 204 in 1993 sought to remedy the lack of international standards for ITS. The technical committee is
divided into 16 working groups. Working Group 3 (WG 3) was charged with the responsibility of developing
standards to promote interchangeability of map data and interoperability of systems using map databases.
The work of WG 3 started in 1994 with a review of the available regional standards documents, including
standards developed by the Japan Digital Road Map Association (JDRMA) and developments in the US that
resulted in the Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS). European standardization efforts resulted in a
standard called GDF3.0 (Geographic Data Files), which eventually was adopted as the basis for
internationalized developments, leading to the publication of GDF4.0 in 2004.
In the 1990s, the GDF standard was instrumental in enabling the European business-to-business (B2B)
market for in-vehicle navigation in that it provided interoperability for exchanging digital map data between
map manufacturers and navigation system integrators. The GDF specifications provided a base for both the
capturing of geographic content and the exchanging of it. Its original design foresaw a powerful, application-
independent model, while its initial rendition as a standard specifically addressed the requirements for the
richness of navigable map databases. Since then, GDF has evolved in terms of boosted data modelling
capabilities, broadened international applicability, expanded geographic domains, and diversified exchange
formats. As a result, GDF covers a wide range of application domains and has been adapted to many
geospatial technologies
The current document presents the specification for GDF5.0, resulting from approximately 30 rounds of
meetings held between 2001 and 2008 and involving experts from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic,
France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, and the United States of America.
Extensive activities towards harmonization with ISO/TC 211 standards were undertaken. Major GDF5.0
enhancements include UML model migration and refinements, harmonization with linear referencing and
geospatial web standards, support for 3-D content and time coordinates, comprehensive character set and
phonetic representations, and new XML- and SQL-based delivery formats.
The specification of this International Standard is divided into several parts.
After the introductory clauses, the overall conceptual data model is specified. In it, the basic building blocks of
GDF and their interrelations are explained. It contains a specification of the different types of topology
supported by this International Standard. It furthermore describes how database representations of real world
objects, referred to as Features, are defined. It describes the characteristics of Features, called Attributes, and
the topological and non-topological interrelations between Features. Finally, it describes the organization of
the Features in GDF. Semantically, Features are organized in different Feature Themes. Logically and
physically, Features are organized in Sections by area or in Layers by contents.
In the Feature Catalogue, the different Features supported by this International Standard are defined. A
special case is the Features from the Services Feature Theme. Because the requirements for this Feature
Theme are highly market-oriented, the Services Feature Theme does not contain any normative Features, but
contains an annex comprising an informative list of service definitions to assist users of this International
Standard (see Annex C).
In the Attribute Catalogue, the different characteristics of Features, called Attributes, are defined. A usage
matrix outlines applicability of Attributes per Feature Theme and per Relationship.
© ISO 2011 – All rights reserved vii

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
ISO 14825:2011(E)
In the Relationship Catalogue, the different non-topological (i.e. semantic) Relationships which Features can
have are defined. Relationships can relate Features of different Feature Themes, or those from the same or
different Section and/or Layer.
In the Feature representation rules, the possible geometrical ways in which the individual Features can be
represented are specified for each topology type. This International Standard supports zero-, one- and two-
dimensional primitives and up to four-dimensional coordinates.
The specification of Features, Attributes and Relationships by no means dictates mandatory inclusion. The
actual contents of GDF, apart from a minimum set of metadata elements as specified in the delivery formats,
is not specified by this International Standard since this is considered to be an issue between clients and
vendors. This International Standard allows the introduction of user-defined Features, Attributes and
Relationships.
In certain cases, different alternative ways of modelling and representation are offered. Representing Features
in different geographical areas also may require the use of different basic representation mechanisms such as
character sets, projection systems, etc. It is important that all these individual choices associated with GDF
are specified. Furthermore, GDF should essentially be self-contained and be readable without any external
specification. In order to make this possible, this International Standard specifies ways of describing GDF by
means of metadata, captured by the Metadata Catalogue.
Apart from providing a standard for the definition of geographic road databases, this International Standard
also specifies mechanisms for data exchange and delivery. In order to facilitate the definition and exchange of
data, a logical view of the data organization is important. This logical view is presented in the Logical Data
Structures. The data structures are specified using the data description language ESN.
Three physical realisations for data exchange and delivery are specified; the Media Record Specifications
(ASCII flat file), the XML schema specifications, and the SQL encoding specifications. These specifications
support the explicit registration of updated information, thereby allowing map databases to continue to reflect
ground truth over time.
Features, Attributes and Relationships appear in the physical GDF as codes. These codes are specified in
Annex A. Codes used in the metadata are given in Annex B, which is an informative part of this International
Standard. In order to access the most up-to-date information, the user is referred to the original source
organization. Annex C contains the specification of Features of the theme Services as an informative part of
this International Standard. In Annex D, the syntax for specifying temporal aspects of geographic information
is described. The specific rules for organizing GDF in different spatial subdivisions (Sections) is described in
Annex E. As informative parts of this International Standard, guidelines for the formation of Level 2 Features
from the Feature Theme Roads and Ferries are given in Annex F. A list of local Administrative Area names in
different countries is provided in Annex G, as well as illustrative examples for the description of the (non-
hierarchical) geopolitical structures and their components in a number of countries. Finally, the use of notation
and phonetic Attributes for character strings are illustrated in the informative Annex H. Annex H provides a
range of examples showing how the different notation- and phoneme-related Attribute properties can be used
to qualify name strings, in both their written and their pronounced form.
viii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14825:2011(E)

Intelligent transport systems — Geographic Data Files (GDF) —
GDF5.0
IMPORTANT — The colours represented in the electronic file of this document can be neither viewed
on screen nor printed as true representations. For the purposes of colour matching, see ISO 3864-1
which provides colorimetric and photometric properties together with, as a guideline, references from
colour order systems.
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the conceptual and logical data model and physical encoding formats for
geographic databases for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications and services. It includes a
specification of potential contents of such databases (data dictionaries for Features, Attributes and
Relationships), a specification of how these contents shall be represented, and of how relevant information
about the database itself can be specified (metadata).
The focus of this International Standard is on ITS applications and services and it emphasizes road and road-
related information. ITS applications and services, however, also require information in addition to road and
road-related information.
EXAMPLE 1 ITS applications and services need information about addressing systems in order to specify locations
and/or destinations. Consequently, information about the administrative and postal subdivisions of an area is essential.
EXAMPLE 2 Map display is an important component of ITS applications and services. For proper map display, the
inclusion of contextual information such as land and water cover is essential.
EXAMPLE 3 Point-of-Interest (POI) or service information is a key feature of traveller information. It adds value to end-
user ITS
...