CHAPTER 1: On geospatial information sharing, accessibility, and dissemination related standards


1.1. Geographical names as one of the UN-GGIM fundamental geospatial data themes

The United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN- GGIM) has acknowledged and described 14 global fundamental geospatial data themes - including geographical names - as a foundation to support global geospatial information management, notably used to support the integrated geospatial information framework, among other global initiatives to strengthen geospatial information. The following publication provides key information on the themes and demonstrate what they are, how they can be used, and why they are fundamental: https://ggim.un.org/meetings/GGIM-committee/9th-Session/documents/Fundamental_Data_Publication.pdf.

The existing general standards for the modelling, sharing, accessibility and dissemination of geospatial information apply to geographical names data in the same way as other geospatial information. However, in the geographical names related information, named places as geospatial objects or features, and place names and their spellings as linguistic properties, are highlighted.

1.2. UN-GGIM activities in the standardization of geospatial information

In the UN-GGIM eleventh session, 23, 24 and 27 August 2021, ISO/TC 211, OGC and IHO jointly introduced a report Implementation and adoption of standards for the global geospatial information community (report, summary, introductory statement). The report introduces a comprehensive Guide to the role of Standards in Geospatial Information Management, the purpose of which is to complement the Strategic Pathway 6, Standards of the UN-GGIM Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) Implementation Guide.

Among other essential information on geospatial information standards, the Guide refers to an Inventory of Standards, which provides an up-to-date list of, and links to, some 150 recommended existing and upcoming geospatial standards, with their purposes and brief descriptions, for each of the four following Tiers:

    Tier 1 - Share maps internally and over the Web
    Tier 2 - Geospatial Information partnerships to share, integrate and use geospatial data from different providers
    Tier 3 - Spatially enabling the nation, large scale (typically national) efforts to develop a comprehensive SDI that provides access to multiple themes of information, applications for using the shared information, and access via a variety of environments (mobile, desktop, etc.).
    Tier 4 - Towards spatially enabled IT infrastructure, delivering geospatial information into the Web of data, and bridging between SDI and a broader ecosystem of information technology systems.

In the UN-GGIM third session, 24-26 July 2013, ISO/TC 211, OGC and IHO jointly introduced a report Establishment and implementation of standards for the global geospatial information community (report, summary). In a comprehensive background document The UN-GGIM inventory of issues and geographic information standardization 119 standards and their versions then in force were introduced and described.

The number of standards by UN-GGIM issue and standardizing organization were (a standard may be related to several issues):

UN-GGIM issue
ISO
OGC
IHO
Total
(a) Developing a national, regional, and global strategic framework for geospatial information
6
5
1
12
(b) Establishing institutional arrangements and legal and common frameworks
5
2
7
14
(c) Building capability and capacity, especially in developing countries
5
2
2
9
(d) Assuring the quality of geospatial information
7
6
8
21
(e) Promoting data sharing, accessibility, and dissemination
63
24
15
102
(f) Embracing trends in information technology
20
18
3
41
(g) Promoting geospatial advocacy and awareness
200
4
2
6
(h) Working in partnership with civil society and the private sector
0
0
0
0
(i) Linking geospatial information to statistics
7
6
0
13
Total
113
67
38
218

Of the 119 standards 105 concerned the promotion of data sharing, accessibility, and dissemination of geographic information, a typical example of which is geographic names information, which, however, has its own modelling requirements.

The UN-GGIM-issue (e) Promoting data sharing, accessibility, and dissemination was further subdivided in the following 13 sub-issues, with sub-sub-issues and corresponding relevant standards listed:

  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Standardizing the geospatial standardization infrastructure
  • 3. Standardizing the data models for geographic information
  • 4. Standardizing the management of geographic information
  • 5. Standardizing the encoding of geographic information
  • 6. Standardizing tightly coupled access to geographic information
  • 7. Standardizing portrayal of geographic information
  • 8. Standardizing web services for geographic information
  • 9. Standardizing digital rights management for geographic information
  • 10. Standardizing geodetic products
  • 11. Standardizing the interface for positioning instruments and devices
  • 12. Standardizing calibration and validation of sensors
  • 13. Standardizing in specific domains of interest

1.3 Examples of general GI data exchange related standards, applications, and software

1.3.1. Interface technologies 1.3.2. File formats 1.3.3. Geospatial data management, integration, and transformation tools
  • Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) tools, e.g., FME, Feature Manipulation Engine
  • QGIS ,a free and open-source geographic information system
1.3.4. Database file formats 1.3.5. Vector tiles 1.3.6. Semantic web & Linked data technologies





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