prEN ISO 19161-2

• Abstract:

  This standard will provide a description of the numbering system replacing the DOMES numbering. The description of the DOMES numbering can be found in MERIT/COTES joint working groups, MERIT campaign: connection of reference frames, implementation plan, 1983.; The standard will provide to the geodetic data producers and users a proper identification of the permanently instrumented stations, (e.g. those used in the production of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame and other similar stations), with special emphasis on the backward compatibility with existing DOMES numbers, which will have a positive impact on interoperability issues when merging several data from different communities.; This standard will:; • support interoperability among GNSS providers (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU, …); • clarify the potential confusion between communities which have already adopted their own numbering systems; • support the UNGGIM GGRF resolution on global geodetic infrastructure.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 07-Feb-2028
• ICS: 35.240.70 - IT applications in science
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 287 - Geographic Information
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 287 - Geographic Information
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 16-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 10-Jul-2026
• Completion Date: 16-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN ISO 19161-2:2026 - Geographic information - Geodetic references - Part 2: Unique identification of geodetic ground stations (ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026)

• Referred By: EN ISO/IEC 5259-3:2025 - Artificial intelligence - Data quality for analytics and machine learning (ML) - Part 3: Data quality management requirements and guidelines (ISO/IEC 5259-3:2024)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

prEN ISO 19161-2: Geographic information - Geodetic references - Part 2: Unique identification of geodetic ground stations establishes an international standard for the unique identification of geodetic ground stations. Developed by CEN in collaboration with ISO/TC 211 and CEN/TC 287, this draft standard aims to replace the legacy DOMES numbering system with a modern, extensible, and interoperable scheme, known as xDOMES. The standard significantly enhances geodetic data management across global communities by introducing a unified and backward-compatible identifier system, supporting GNSS providers, national mapping agencies, and scientific bodies on a global scale.

Key Topics

• Unique Station Identification: The standard defines a robust, alphanumeric identification system for geodetic ground stations, supporting backward compatibility with DOMES and enhancing traceability and management.
• Interoperability: Emphasizes the need for a harmonized identification scheme to ensure interoperability between various geodetic and GNSS communities (including GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU, and others).
• Scheme Structure: Each station receives a unique identifier (xDOMES), constructed using ISO country codes, site identifiers, and station-type codes, ensuring scalability and clarity.
• Backward Compatibility: Ensures that historical station data using DOMES numbers can smoothly transition to or coexist with the modern xDOMES system, preventing data loss or misinterpretation.
• Support for International Initiatives: Aligns with the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management’s (UNGGIM) Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) resolution.
• Clarification of Legacy Systems: Resolves ambiguities where existing communities have adopted unique, and potentially conflicting, numbering systems.
• Conformance Requirements: Specifies the allowed characters, structure, and allocation rules for identifiers, ensuring consistency in global adoption.

Applications

prEN ISO 19161-2 has substantial practical value for a broad range of stakeholders working with geodetic information:

• GNSS Network Operators: Easily manage large networks of GNSS stations, with clear identification aiding daily operations, maintenance, and archiving.
• National Mapping and Geodetic Agencies: Maintain nationally and internationally harmonized databases, supporting accurate metrological and geospatial products.
• Academic and Research Institutions: Efficiently manage and share observation data crucial for earth sciences, climate studies, and global monitoring projects.
• Commercial Software Providers: Integrate standardized identifiers into data processing, GNSS positioning, and earth observation software, reducing risk of data confusion.
• International Scientific Collaborations: Merge datasets from multiple sources and communities without ambiguity or loss of provenance, fostering easier cooperation across borders.
• Earth Observation and Meteorology: Improve data exchange and integration for applications such as weather prediction, sea level monitoring, and tectonic research.

Related Standards

• EN ISO 19161-1: Geographic information - Geodetic references - Part 1: International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS).
• EN ISO 3166-1: Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions.
• ISO 8601-1: Date and time - Representations for information interchange.
• ISO/IEC 10646: Information technology - Universal character set.

prEN ISO 19161-2 marks an essential step forward in standardizing the identification of geodetic ground stations, promoting interoperability, and supporting the needs of global geospatial and scientific communities. This standard assures consistency and reliability in geodetic station data management, crucial for accurate and efficient geospatial information exchange.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Geografske informacije - Geodetske reference - 2. del: Enotna identifikacija
geodetskih talnih postaj (ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026)
Geographic information - Geodetic references - Part 2: Unique identification of geodetic
ground stations (ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026)
Geoinformation - Geodätische Referenzen - Teil 2: Eindeutige Identifikation von
geodätischen Bodenstationen (ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026)
Information géographique - Références géodésiques - Partie 2: Identification unique des
stations géodésiques au sol (ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 19161-2
ICS:
07.040 Astronomija. Geodezija. Astronomy. Geodesy.
Geografija Geography
35.240.70 Uporabniške rešitve IT v IT applications in science
znanosti
93.020 Zemeljska dela. Izkopavanja. Earthworks. Excavations.
Gradnja temeljev. Dela pod Foundation construction.
zemljo Underground works
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 19161-2
ISO/TC 211
Geographic information — Geodetic
Secretariat: SIS
references —
Voting begins on:
Part 2: 2026-07-13
Unique identification of geodetic
Voting terminates on:
2026-10-05
ground stations
Information géographique — Références géodésiques —
Partie 2: Identification unique des stations géodésiques au sol
ICS: 35.240.70; 07.040
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 19161-2
ISO/TC 211
Geographic information — Geodetic
Secretariat: SIS
references —
Voting begins on:
Part 2:
Unique identification of geodetic
Voting terminates on:
ground stations
Information géographique — Références géodésiques —
Partie 2: Identification unique des stations géodésiques au sol
ICS: 35.240.70; 07.040
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2026
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
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be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: [phone]
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms. 2
5 Unique numbering scheme . 4
5.1 Numbering . .4
5.2 Types of ground geodetic stations encompassed by this document .4
5.3 Acronym for the scheme .5
6 Conformance requirements . 5
6.1 General .5
6.2 Values allowed for each alphanumeric character .5
6.3 CCC .5
6.4 SSS .5
6.5 NN.6
6.6 T .6
7 Compatibility with existing DOMES numbers . 6
Annex A (informative) DOMES numbers . 7
Annex B (informative) Guidelines for implementation . 10
Bibliography .15

iii
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
Foreword
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 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 World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 211, Geographic information/Geomatics, in
collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 287,
Geographic Information, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
A list of all parts in the ISO 19161 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
Introduction
With the advent of the space geodetic observations, and in particular with the Global Navigation Satellite
Systems (GNSS), an increasing number of geodetic ground stations are installed, providing permanent and
campaign based observations for scientific and non-scientific applications, raising to some extent concerns
about their identification.
At the international level, each of the 4 space geodetic techniques used for International Terrestrial
Reference Frame (ITRF) realizations has its own numbering system. For three of them - Satellite and
Lunar Laser Ranging (SLR & LLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Doppler Orbitography
and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) - there are a small number of stations, each managed
by their International Association of Geodesy (IAG) service, which takes care of their identification and
guarantees a non-ambiguous internal numbering system.
In the case of GNSS, the number of stations is far greater, supporting a wide range of applications for a very
broad user community. The IAG international GNSS service (IGS) is only interested in using a subset of these
stations, for the study of the orbits, earth orientation parameters and reference frames. As a result, there is
no authority in charge of this numbering and the 4-characters code identifiers used are not unique.
A unique geodetic ground station identification system based on international standards will facilitate
applications which benefit from the mix of the space geodetic observations.
In some cases, it may even prevent the accidental misuse of data occurring in the growing automatic use of
datasets collected via the Internet, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) data from permanent ground
stations used for weather prediction.
The main benefactors of a unique geodetic ground station identification are
a) Industry and commerce – large industry:
1) for operators of geodetic ground stations and those creating products based on such data (e.g.,
precise orbits), the benefits will be to facilitate the operation of networks of geodetic ground
stations and products based on their data;
2) GNSS software developers.
b) Government: for National geodetic agencies, the unique numbers will facilitate the operation of networks
of geodetic ground stations.
c) Academic and research bodies: studies of climate change (e.g., sea level change) will benefit from unique
identifiers of geodetic ground stations in that it will significantly reduce risks of confusion between
stations and misinterpretation of geodetic data.
d) Non-governmental organizations: for the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International
Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), and the IGS, the unique numbers will facilitate
operation of geodetic ground stations and use of the products based on them.
Clause 6 provides conformance requirements for this document.
Annex B, which is informative, provides the required and optional metadata for the numbering scheme,
including most of the metadata used by the Directory of Monitoring of Earth Rotation in Intermediate Time-
Scales numbers, known as DOMES (Directory of MERIT Sites).
Ground geodetic stations taken into consideration by DOMES are limited to the following:
— GNSS (permanent) stations
— DORIS (beacons)
— VLBI radio telescopes
— Satellite and lunar laser stations (SLR & LLR)

v
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
The numbering scheme in this document also considers other techniques, listed in Table 1.
When a maintenance agency (MA) is involved, the following sentence shall be included to give a link to the
page where users can find details of the MA:
“The name and contact information of the maintenance agency for this document can be found at
www.iso.org/maintenance_agencies”

vi
DRAFT International Standard ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
Geographic information — Geodetic references —
Part 2:
Unique identification of geodetic ground stations
1 Scope
This document provides a description of the numbering system replacing the DOMES numbering (see
Annex A).
The document provides a proper and unique identification of the permanently instrumented stations, (e.g.,
those used in the production of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and other similar
stations) to the geodetic data producers and users, with special emphasis on the backward compatibility
with existing DOMES numbers. It is expected to have a positive impact on interoperability issues when
merging data from different communities.
This document will:
— support interoperability among GNSS providers including Global Positioning System (GPS), GLObalnaya
NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), Galileo,
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS);
— clarify the potential confusion between communities which have already adopted their own numbering
systems;
— support the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-
GGIM) Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) resolution on global geodetic infrastructure.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 8601-1:2019, Date and time — Representations for information interchange — Part 1: Basic rules
EN ISO 3166-1:2020, Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions - Part 1: Country
code (ISO 3166-1:2020)
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
3.1
geodetic ground station
survey marker that is permanently or semi-permanently equipped with a space geodetic instrument, at
which, from which or to which geodetic observations are made
[1]
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from Geodetic glossary US NOAA: 1986 (pages 220 and 221).
Note 2 to entry: A geodetic ground station is either a permanent marker or a monument used in the framework of
geodesy, or a specific part of the space geodetic instrument itself (such as electrical centre of an antenna, focal point of
a telescope, intersection of axes, fixed point close to phase centre on non-directive antennas).
Note 3 to entry: A space geodetic ground station consists of a beacon (a receiver recording the signal or a transmitter
generating it) and an antenna, associated with a reference point.
Note 4 to entry: In this document, a survey marker, also called benchmark (or bench mark), is a surveyor's marked
point on a relatively permanent, stationary physical object (natural or artificial), on which geodetic quantities are
measured, and used as a reference point (e.g. triangulation stations, gravity points, levelling benchmarks, etc.).
[1]
Note 5 to entry: Note 4 adapted from Geodetic glossary US NOAA: 1986 (page 24).
3.2
geodetic site
restricted geographical area where geodetic ground stations are collocated
3.3
geodetic technique
technique used for the measurement and representation of the earth, including its gravity field, in a three-
dimensional varying time-space
Note 1 to entry: The four main space geodetic techniques are Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Very Long
Baseline Interferometry(VLBI), Doppler Orbitography by Radiopositioning Integrated on Satellite (DORIS) and
Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) / Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), and these are all accommodated in this document (with
other recognized geodetic techniques).
[2]
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from Geodesy the Concepts (page 45).
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
ARP Antenna Reference Point
BDS BeiDou Navigation Satellite System
BIH Bureau International de l'Heure
CB Control Body
CDP Crustal Dynamics Project
CEN European Committee for Standardization
COTES COnventional TErrestrial System
CRS Coordinate Reference System
DOMES Directory Of MERIT Sites
DORIS Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite
EAVN East Asia VLBI Network
EPSG European Petroleum Survey Group

ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
EVN European VLBI Network
GDPR General Data Protection Regulation
GGRF Global Geodetic Reference Frame
GGSI Geodetic Ground Station Identifier
GLONASS GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite Systems
GPS Global Positioning System
IAG International Association of Geodesy
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IERS International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service
IGN Institut National de l'information Géographique et Forestière
IGS International GNSS Service
INSEE Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques
ISO International Organization for Standardization
ISOGR ISO Geodetic Register
ITRF International Terrestrial Reference Frame
LLR Lunar Laser Ranging
MERIT Monitoring of Earth Rotation and Intercomparison of Techniques
SGM Service de Géodésie et Métrologie
SINEX Software Independent EXchange
SLR Satellite Laser Ranging
TBT Technical Barriers to Trade
TRF Terrestrial Reference Frame
UN-GGIM United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
1)
VLBA Very Long Baseline Array
VLBI Very Long Baseline Interferometry
WTO World Trade Organization
xDOMES eXtended DOMES
1) The Very Long Baseline Array is a network of ten observing stations (radio telescopes) located across the United
States. Each station consists of a 25-metre radio antenna dish and a control building. See official website at https:// public
.nrao .edu/ telescopes/ vlba/
ISO/DIS 19161-2:2026(en)
5 Unique numbering scheme
5.1 Numbering
For any geodetic ground station, a unique alphanumeric identifier shall be given, in the form
CCCSSSNNT where
2)
CCC = ISO country code (according to EN ISO 3166-1:2020 , alphanumeric 3-characters code
SSSNN = alphanumeric 3-characters site identifier (unique within the country), followed by an alphanumeric
2-characters identifier (sequential within the site)
T = type of geodetic station/technique (1-character code)
Since each character can take the values from 0 to 9 and from A to Z with the exception of O and I (a total of
34 different values), this scheme allows for 39 304 different sites per country (34x34x34), and 1156 (34x34)
geodetic ground stations per site.
As a basic rule, a given CCCSSSNNT uniquely identifies the physical part of the reference for a ground geodetic
station (be it a marker or some physical part of an instrument, including phase centres). If the physical part
changes, another CCCSSSNNT must be used to identify it.
5.2 Types of ground geodetic stations encompassed by this document
Table 1 — List of values for T
Technique/ type of point Letter Comment
Benchmarks (general) A Allows alternate adaptation of scheme to non-permanently
instrumented stations (not belonging to a geodetic site)
Benchmarks (at a site) B Allows adaptation of scheme to non-permanently instru-
mented stations (belonging to a geodetic site)
Clocks (including atomic clocks and C
optical clocks)
DORIS D DORIS
c
PRARE E Precise Range And Range-rate Equipment
Absolute gravity point (permanent G
absolute gravimeter)
Superconducting relative gravimeter H
InSAR I Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar
SLR L Satellite Laser Ranging
Marker M Keep the DOMES use of letter M
a
GNSS P GNSS
VLBI (including their use in networks R Very Long Baseline Interferometry
b d e
such as VLBA , EVN , EAVN )
a
P refers to GNSS like in SINEX (Software Independent Exchange) format : P for Positioning in GPS.
b
Very Long Baseline Array consisting of an arr
...