ISO 19156:2023

Geographic information - Observations, measurements and samples

This document defines a conceptual schema for observations, for features involved in the observation process, and for features involved in sampling when making observations. These provide models for the exchange of information describing observation acts and their results, both within and between different scientific and technical communities. Observations commonly involve sampling of an ultimate feature-of-interest. This document defines a common set of sample types according to their spatial, material (for ex situ observations) or statistical nature. The schema includes relationships between sample features (sub-sampling, derived samples). This document concerns only externally visible interfaces and places no restriction on the underlying implementations other than what is needed to satisfy the interface specifications in the actual situation.

Information géographique — Observations, mesures et échantillons

Le présent document définit un schéma conceptuel pour les observations, pour les entités impliquées dans le processus d'observation et pour les entités impliquées dans l'échantillonnage des données dans le cadre des observations. Celles-ci fournissent des modèles destinés à l'échange d'informations décrivant les faits observés et leurs résultats, aussi bien entre les différentes communautés scientifiques et techniques qu'en leur sein. En général, les observations impliquent l'échantillonnage d'une entité concernée finale. Le présent document définit un ensemble commun de types d'échantillons en fonction de leur nature spatiale matérielle (pour les observations ex-situ) ou statistique. Ce schéma comprend les relations entre les entités d'échantillonnage (sous-échantillonnage, échantillons dérivés). Le présent document ne concerne que les interfaces visibles de l'extérieur et ne place aucune restriction quant aux implémentations sous-jacentes, autres que celles nécessaires pour satisfaire aux spécifications relatives aux interfaces dans le contexte actuel.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Apr-2023
• ICS: 35.240.70 - IT applications in science
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 211 - Geographic information/Geomatics
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 211/WG 9 - Information management
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 27-Apr-2023
• Due Date: 26-Jan-2023
• Completion Date: 27-Apr-2023

Relations

• Revises: ISO 19156:2011 - Geographic information - Observations and measurements
• Effective Date: 04-Dec-2021

Overview

ISO 19156:2023 - Geographic information - Observations, measurements and samples defines a conceptual schema for describing observation acts, their results, and the sampling processes used to produce them. The standard provides interoperable models for exchanging observation and sampling information across scientific and technical communities. It addresses externally visible interfaces and imposes no restrictions on internal implementations beyond what is needed to satisfy those interfaces.

Keywords: ISO 19156:2023, observations measurements samples, geographic information, observation schema, sampling, feature-of-interest, observable property, data exchange, interoperability.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Conceptual observation schema: Models the structure of an Observation, including attributes such as phenomenonTime, resultTime, validTime, and associations like featureOfInterest, observedProperty, procedure, observer, and result.
• Result types and units: Defines acceptable result types for observations and constraints (e.g., unit of measure considerations) to support consistent interpretation.
• Sample model: Specifies sample features and a common set of sample types by spatial, material (ex situ), or statistical nature; includes relationships such as sub-sampling and derived samples.
• Alignment and model consistency: Guidance on aligning Observation, Sample and domain models to ensure consistent semantics between features-of-interest and samples.
• Packaging and conformance: Defines UML package structure, conformance classes, and requirements classes to support implementers and conformance testing.
• Interfaces and constraints: Focus on externally visible interfaces, association semantics (e.g., relatedObservation), and constraints for observable properties and suitable result types.

Practical applications and who uses it

ISO 19156:2023 is used by organizations that need interoperable, semantically clear descriptions of observations and samples:

• GIS and remote sensing system designers implementing observation data models
• Environmental and earth scientists documenting measurements and sampling procedures
• Sensor manufacturers and IoT platform developers standardizing observation outputs
• Data architects, catalog managers and metadata specialists enabling data exchange and discovery
• Smart city, meteorological, hydrological and biodiversity information systems requiring consistent observation semantics

Use cases include sensor data interoperability, laboratory sample tracking (ex situ), environmental monitoring networks, and cross-domain scientific data sharing.

Related standards (if applicable)

• Other ISO geographic information standards in the ISO 191xx family address metadata, referencing and encoding practices that complement ISO 19156 for full interoperability and data governance.

ISO 19156:2023 is essential for anyone building interoperable observation and sampling workflows, enabling consistent measurement description, reliable data exchange, and improved cross-domain data reuse.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 19156
Second edition
2023-04
Geographic information —
Observations, measurements and
samples
Information géographique — Observations, mesures et échantillons
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, 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
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .ix
Introduction .x
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Document conventions .5
4.1 Abbreviated terms and acronyms . 5
4.2 Schema language . 5
4.3 Model element names . 6
4.4 Requirements and recommendations . 6
4.5 Requirements classes . 7
4.6 Conformance classes . 7
4.7 Identifiers . 8
4.8 Associations in UML context diagrams . 8
5 Conformance . 8
5.1 Overview . 8
5.2 Conformance classes . 9
6 Packaging, requirements and dependencies.11
6.1 Requirements . 11
6.2 UML .12
6.2.1 UML package structure .12
6.2.2 UML package dependencies .12
6.3 Note on the use of "Any" . 14
7 Fundamental characteristics of observations and samples (informative) .14
7.1 Observation schema . . . 14
7.1.1 Property evaluation . 14
7.1.2 Observation .15
7.1.3 Properties of an Observation . 15
7.1.4 Observation location . 16
7.1.5 Result types . 16
7.1.6 Use of the observation model . 16
7.2 Sample schema . 17
7.2.1 Role of sample features . 17
7.2.2 Proximate vs. ultimate feature-of-interest . 17
7.2.3 Role of samples. 18
7.2.4 Sampling process . 18
7.2.5 Classification of samples . 19
7.3 Alignment between Observation, Sample and domain models. 19
7.3.1 Model consistency . 19
7.3.2 Relationship between Sample and domain features .22
8 Conceptual Observation schema.25
8.1 General . 25
8.1.1 Conceptual Observation model . 25
8.1.2 Conceptual Observation schema package Requirements Class .26
8.1.3 Association relatedObservation . 26
8.2 Observation . 27
8.2.1 Observation Requirements Class . 27
8.2.2 Interface Observation . 27
8.2.3 Attribute phenomenonTime .28
8.2.4 Attribute resultTime.28
8.2.5 Attribute validTime .28
iii
8.2.6 Association featureOfInterest .29
8.2.7 Association observedProperty .29
8.2.8 Association result .29
8.2.9 Association observingProcedure .30
8.2.10 Association observer .30
8.2.11 Association host .30
8.2.12 Constraint Observer or Host .30
8.2.13 Constraint ObservableProperty characteristic associated with
featureOfInterest .30
8.2.14 Constraint suitable ObservableProperty .30
8.2.15 Constraint suitable result type.30
8.2.16 Constraint unit of measure . 31
8.3 ObservableProperty . 31
8.3.1 ObservableProperty Requirements Class . 31
8.3.2 Interface ObservableProperty . 31
8.3.3 Association observer . 32
8.4 Procedure . 32
8.4.1 Procedure Requirements Class . 32
8.4.2 Interface Procedure . 32
8.5 ObservingProcedure . 32
8.5.1 ObservingProcedure Requirements Class . 32
8.5.2 Interface ObservingProcedure . 32
8.5.3 Association observer .33
8.6 Observer . 33
8.6.1 Observer Requirements Class . 33
8.6.2 Interface Observer .33
8.6.3 Association observableProperty.34
8.6.4 Association observingProcedure .34
8.6.5 Association deployment .34
8.7 Host .34
8.7.1 Host Requirements Class .34
8.7.2 Interface Host .34
8.7.3 Association deployment . 35
8.7.4 Association relatedHost . 35
8.8 Deployment . 35
8.8.1 Deployment Requirements Class . 35
8.8.2 Interface Deployment . 35
8.8.3 Association observer .35
8.8.4 Association host . 35
9 Abstract Observation Core .36
9.1 General .36
9.1.1 Abstract Observation Core Package Requirements Class .36
9.1.2 Association metadata . 36
9.2 AbstractObservationCharacteristics . 36
9.2.1 AbstractObservationCharacteristics Requirements Class .36
9.2.2 Feature type AbstractObservationCharacteristics .38
9.2.3 Attribute observationType . 39
9.2.4 Attribute parameter .39
9.2.5 Attribute resultQuality . 39
9.2.6 Association proximateFeatureOfInterest .40
9.2.7 Association ultimateFeatureOfInterest .40
9.2.8 Association collection . 41
9.3 AbstractObservation . 41
9.3.1 AbstractObservation Requirements Class . 41
9.3.2 Constraint observationType . 42
9.3.3 Constraint resultTime instant . 42
9.3.4 Constraint parameter unique name . 42
9.3.5 Constraint proximate or ultimate featureOfInterest. . 42
iv
9.3.6 Constraint Observer or Host . 42
9.3.7 Constraint ObservableProperty characteristic associated with
featureOfInterest . 42
9.3.8 Constraint suitable ObservableProperty . 42
9.3.9 Constraint suitable result type. 42
9.4 AbstractObservableProperty . 42
9.4.1 AbstractObservableProperty Requirements Class . 42
9.5 AbstractObservingProcedure . 43
9.5.1 AbstractObservingProcedure Requirements Class . 43
9.6 AbstractObserver . 45
9.6.1 AbstractObserver Requirements Class . 45
9.7 AbstractHost .46
9.7.1 AbstractHost Requirements Class .46
9.8 AbstractDeployment . 47
9.8.1 AbstractDeployment Requirements Class . 47
9.8.2 Attribute deploymentReason .48
9.8.3 Attribute deploymentTime .49
9.9 AbstractObservationCollection .49
9.9.1 AbstractObservationCollection Requirements Class .49
9.9.2 Feature type AbstractObservationCollection .50
9.9.3 Attribute collectionType .50
9.9.4 Association member . 51
9.9.5 Association memberCharacteristics . 51
9.9.6 Association relatedCollection . 51
9.10 NamedValue . 51
9.10.1 NamedValue Requirements Class . 51
9.10.2 Data type NamedValue . 51
9.10.3 Attribute name . 51
9.10.4 Attribute value . 52
9.11 Codelists . 52
9.11.1 AbstractObservationType . 52
9.11.2 AbstractObservationCollectionType . 52
10 Basic Observations .52
10.1 General . 52
10.1.1 Basic Observations Package Requirements Class . 52
10.1.2 Attribute link .53
10.1.3 Attribute location . 53
10.2 Observation .53
10.2.1 Observation Requirements Class . 53
10.3 ObservationCharacteristics . 55
10.3.1 ObservationCharacteristics Requirements Class . 55
10.4 ObservationCollection .55
10.4.1 ObservationCollection Requirements Class . 55
10.5 ObservingCapability . 55
10.5.1 ObservingCapability Requirements Class . 55
10.5.2 Feature type ObservingCapability . 57
10.6 ObservableProperty .58
10.6.1 ObservableProperty Requirements Class .58
10.7 ObservingProcedure . 59
10.7.1 ObservingProcedure Requirements Class . 59
10.8 Observer . 61
10.8.1 Observer Requirements Class . 61
10.9 Host . 62
10.9.1 Host Requirements Class . 62
10.10 Deployment .65
10.10.1 Deployment Requirements Class .65
10.11 GenericDomainFeature .66
10.11.1 GenericDomainFeature Requirements Class .66
v
10.11.2 Feature type GenericDomainFeature . 69
10.12 Codelists .69
10.12.1 ObservationCollectionType . 69
10.12.2 ObservationTypeByResultType . 71
11 Conceptual Sample schema .72
11.1 General .72
11.1.1 Conceptual Sample schema model .72
11.1.2 Conceptual Sample Schema package Requirements Class .73
11.2 Sample .74
11.2.1 Sample Requirements Class .74
11.2.2 Interface Sample .74
11.2.3 Association sampling.74
11.2.4 Association preparationStep . 75
11.2.5 Association sampledFeature . 75
11.2.6 Association relatedSample . 75
11.3 Sampling . 75
11.3.1 Sampling Requirements Class . 75
11.3.2 Interface Sampling . 76
11.3.3 Association sample . 76
11.3.4 Association featureOfInterest . 76
11.3.5 Association sampler . 76
11.3.6 Association samplingProcedure.77
11.3.7 Association relatedSampling .77
11.4 Sampler.77
11.4.1 Sampler Requirements Class .77
11.4.2 Interface Sampler.77
11.4.3 Association sampling.77
11.4.4 Association implementedProcedure . 78
11.5 PreparationStep . 78
11.5.1 PreparationStep Requirements Class . 78
11.5.2 Interface PreparationStep . 78
11.5.3 Association processingDetails . 78
11.5.4 Association preparedSample . 78
11.6 PreparationProcedure . 78
11.6.1 PreparationProcedure Requirements Class . 78
11.6.2 Interface PreparationProcedure . 79
11.6.3 Association samplePreparationStep. 79
11.7 SamplingProcedure . 79
11.7.1 SamplingProcedure Requirements Class . 79
11.7.2 Interface SamplingProcedure . 79
11.7.3 Association sampling.79
11.7.4 Association sampler .80
12 Abstract Sample Core .80
12.1 General .80
12.1.1 Abstract Sample Core Package Requirements .80
12.2 AbstractSample .80
12.2.1 AbstractSample Requirements Class .80
12.2.2 Attribute sampleType . .82
12.2.3 Attribute parameter .82
12.3 AbstractSampling .82
12.3.1 AbstractSampling Requirements Class .82
12.3.2 Attribute samplingLocation .83
12.3.3 Attribute time .83
12.3.4 Attribute parameter .83
12.4 AbstractSampler .84
12.4.1 AbstractSampler Requirements Class .84
12.4.2 Attribute samplerType .85
vi
12.5 AbstractSamplingProcedure .86
12.5.1 AbstractSamplingProcedure Requirements Class .86
12.6 AbstractPreparationProcedure .87
12.6.1 AbstractPreparationProcedure Requirements Class .87
12.7 AbstractPreparationStep .88
12.7.1 AbstractPreparationStep Requirements Class .88
12.7.2 Attribute description .89
12.7.3 Attribute time .89
12.8 Codelists .89
12.8.1 AbstractSampleType .89
12.8.2 AbstractSamplerType . . .89
13 Basic Samples .90
13.1 General .90
13.1.1 Basic Samples Package Requirements Class .90
13.2 Sample .90
13.2.1 Sample Requirements Class .90
13.3 SpatialSample . 92
13.3.1 SpatialSample Requirements Class. 92
13.3.2 Feature type SpatialSample . 92
13.3.3 Attribute shape . 92
13.3.4 Attribute horizontalPositionalAccuracy . 93
13.3.5 Attribute verticalPositionalAccuracy . 93
13.4 MaterialSample . 93
13.4.1 MaterialSample Requirements Class. 93
13.4.2 Feature type MaterialSample . 93
13.4.3 Attribute size .
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