EN ISO 19101-1:2014

Geographic information - Reference model - Part 1: Fundamentals (ISO 19101-1:2014)

ISO 19101-1:2014 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, ISO 19101-1:2014 is independent of any application development method or technology implementation approach.

Geoinformation - Referenzmodell - Teil 1: Grundsätze (ISO 19101-1:2014)

Information géographique - Modèle de référence - Partie 1: Principes de base (ISO 19101-1:2014)

l'ISO 19101-1:2014 définit le modèle de référence pour la normalisation dans le domaine de l'information géographique. Ce modèle de référence décrit la notion d'interopérabilité et établit les principes de base sur lesquels s'appuiera la normalisation.
Bien que l'ISO 19101-1:2014 soit définie dans le contexte des technologies de l'information et des normes s'y rapportant, elle ne dépend d'aucune méthode de développement d'applications, ni d'aucune approche de mise en ?uvre de technologie.

Geografske informacije - Referenčni model - 1. del: Osnove (ISO 19101-1:2014)

Ta del standarda ISO 19101 določa referenčni model za standardizacijo na področju geografskih informacij. Ta referenčni model opisuje pojem interoperabilnosti in določa osnove za standardizacijo. Čeprav je bil strukturiran v kontekstu informacijske tehnologije in standardov informacijske tehnologije, ta del standarda ISO 19101 ni odvisen od nobene metode za razvoj uporabe ali pristopa za uvedbo tehnologije.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Feb-2015
• Withdrawal Date: 30-May-2015
• ICS: 07.040 - Astronomy. Geodesy. Geography
• ICS: 35.240.70 - IT applications in science
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 287 - Geographic Information
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 287 - Geographic Information
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 19-Nov-2014
• Completion Date: 19-Nov-2014
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015 - Geographic information - Reference model - Part 1: Fundamentals (ISO 19101-1:2014)

Relations

• Replaces: EN ISO 19101:2005 - Geographic information - Reference model (ISO 19101:2002)
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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
SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015 en,fr,de

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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.
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
EN ISO 19101-1:2014 (E)
Contents Page

Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................................3

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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
EN ISO 19101-1:2014 (E)
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.

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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
ISO 19101-1:2014(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© 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
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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 2014 – All rights reserved iii
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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.
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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.
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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 2014 – All rights reserved 1
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SIST EN ISO 19101-1:2015
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
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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]
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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 pr
...