ISO/TR 19174:2025
(Main)Geographic information — Securing interoperability among heterogeneous city domain information models
Geographic information — Securing interoperability among heterogeneous city domain information models
This document analyses a feasible way to accommodate interoperability elements for the data component of a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) and extend the meta model framework for interoperability (MFI) in securing interoperability among heterogeneous domain information models under the smart city context. This document: a) outlines the interoperability issues for city domain information models; b) reviews relevant standards and best practices and examines methodologies or solutions to tackle the interoperability issues; c) supposes a use case and provides an example to secure interoperability among different domain information models using model registry; d) specifies technical requirements in concern about how to apply the interoperability elements of the meta model framework to support the interoperability of smart city services; e) highlights the standardization items to be developed to secure interoperability.
Information géographique — Sécuriser l'interopérabilité entre des modèles d'information hétérogènes dans le domaine de la ville
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
Technical
Report
ISO/TR 19174
First edition
Geographic information —
2025-05
Securing interoperability among
heterogeneous city domain
information models
Information géographique — Sécuriser l'interopérabilité entre
des modèles d'information hétérogènes dans le domaine de la ville
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions .1
3.2 Abbreviated terms .3
4 Interoperability issues for city domain information models . 4
4.1 Overview .4
4.2 Smart city standards and standardization activities .4
4.3 Geospatial standards and standardization activities .6
4.4 Data management and IoT standards and standardization activities .6
4.5 Review of standards and standardization activities.7
5 Registers and registries for SDI interoperability . 9
5.1 System interoperability .9
5.2 Semantic interoperability .10
5.3 Registry interoperability .10
5.4 City domain model registration .11
6 Use case development . .12
6.1 Registration and mapping use case . 12
7 Technical requirements . 16
8 Recommendation.16
9 Conclusion . 17
Bibliography .18
iii
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 211, Geographic information/Geomatics, in
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Geographic Information, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
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iv
Introduction
Local governments are actively implementing various smart city services. The heterogeneity of private
and public data generated from the smart city services is one of the major concerns standard development
organizations (SDOs) are actively proceeding to solve for interoperability. Information modelling fields are
moving towards integrated geospatial information environments, such as digital twins, cyber-physical
systems and the meta-verse. These trends have produced new needs for standards in both private and
public sectors that enable effective information sharing in terms of the geospatial context for smart city
services. Building efficient and effective interconnectedness and sharing information between silo data
models across domain fields and cities is one of the major concerns to make seamless smart city services
operational.
v
Technical Report ISO/TR 19174:2025(en)
Geographic information — Securing interoperability among
heterogeneous city domain information models
1 Scope
This document analyses a feasible way to accommodate interoperability elements for the data component
of a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) and extend the meta model framework for interoperability (MFI) in
securing interoperability among heterogeneous domain information models under the smart city context.
This document:
a) outlines the interoperability issues for city domain information models;
b) reviews relevant standards and best practices and examines methodologies or solutions to tackle the
interoperability issues;
c) supposes a use case and provides an example to secure interoperability among different domain
information models using model registry;
d) specifies technical requirements in concern about how to apply the interoperability elements of the
meta model framework to support the interoperability of smart city services;
e) highlights the standardization items to be developed to secure interoperability.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 Terms and definitions
3.1.1
information model
graphical and textual representation of entities and the relationships between them
Note 1 to entry: May also be known as a data model (3.1.5), a conceptual data model, a logical data model, an entity
relationship model, an object class diagram or a database definition.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-1:2023, 3.17]
3.1.2
interoperability
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 those units
3.1.3
metadata
information about a resource
[SOURCE: ISO 19115-1:2014, 4.10]
3.1.4
metamodel
model (3.1.5) that explains a set of related models, by defining the language for expressing such models
3.1.5
model
representation of some aspect of a domain of interest using a normative modelling facility and model
constructs
Note 1 to entry: Models can be used to express a set of information requirements, processes, services, roles, goals or
some other aspect of a domain of interest.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-1:2023, 3.1]
3.1.6
model registry
information system for registering models (3.1.5)
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-1:2023, 3.10]
3.1.7
model repository
repository (3.1.8) where models (3.1.5) are stored
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-1:2023, 3.11]
3.1.8
repository
place where, or receptacle in which, things are or may be stored
Note 1 to entry: In meta model framework for interoperability (MFI) and metadata registry (MDR), a repository is
recognized as a database that stores actual instances that conform to a particular metamodel (3.1.4) or a particular set
of metadata (3.1.3).
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-1:2023 3.13 — "things are or can be stored" has been revised to "things are or may
be stored," "MDR" has been added and "information system" is revised to "database".]
3.1.9
registry summary
RS
metadata (3.1.3) which refers to an individual registry system or an aggregate of registry systems
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-6:2015, 4.1.6 — "(RS)" has been added]
3.1.10
registry of registries
RoR
registry that stores registry summary (3.1.9) data showing an individual registry system
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19763-6:2015, 4.1.5]
3.2 Abbreviated terms
API application programming interface
BIM building information modeling
CaLAThe cadastre and land administration thesaurus
CRS coordinate reference systems
EPSG european petroleum survey group
ETSI european telecommunications standards institute
FAIR findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable
GDF geographic data files
GIS geographic information systems
GML geography markup language
ICT information and communication technology
INSPIRE infrastructure for spatial information in europe
IoT internet of things
JSON javascript object notation
LADM land administration domain model
MDR metadata registry
MFI meta-model framework for interoperability
MIMs minimal interoperability mechanisms
NGSI-LD next generation service interface with linked data
OASC open & agile smart cities
OGC open geospatial consortium
RoR registry of registries
RS registry summary
SDI spatial data infrastructure
UML unified modeling language
WFS web feature service
W3C world wide web consortium
XML extensible markup language
UN united nations
OMG object management group
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