ISO/TC211 PROJECT 19122, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION /
GEOMATICS - QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL - STATUS AND
DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Hans KNOOP, Germany
Key words: certification, geographic information,
ISO/TC 211, qualifications, personnel, standards.
Abstract
The necessity for worldwide standardization of Geographic
Information is well known. Standardization is important for the
production and use of geographic data, the GIS industry and the
application of their products. The development of national and
international Geographic Information Systems has been proceeding
rapidly for many years. In the meantime in many countries, experience
in establishing and maintaining and especially using them is
available. Additionally other problems must be solved; e.g.
coordination, quality management and currently economic management
instruments become more and more important. Many activities are
focused on these tasks worldwide. In all fields, the importance of
International Standards is steadily increasing. The authorities to
develop standards are the official standardization bodies at the
national level (e.g. AFNOR, BSI, DIN, NTS, SCC, ANSI, SABS,SA). On the
European level, the CEN/TC 287 'Geographic Information' of the Comité
Européen de Normalisation (CEN), has developed 20 standards since
1990 about 20 standards and CEN/TC 278 'Road Transport Telematics'
developed the GDF - Standard (Geographic Data File). World-wide, the
International Standardization Organization (ISO) has established
several Technical Committees, e.g. ISO/TC 211: 'Geographic Information
/ Geomatics' in1994.
Besides the global activities at ISO, many organizations and
institutions are working on this subject, e.g. OGC, DGIWG, FIG, ISPRS,
ICA, governmental administrations (de-facto standards). Until now, the
focus has been based mainly on the data, interfaces and their
technical and organizational structures. To optimize the production of
geospatial data and to improve the GIS quality of the output, one of
the most important criteria is the qualification and certification of
personnel. Technology transfer through human resources becomes
increasingly important from a global economic perspective. The result
is the current effort to standardize qualification and certification
of personnel in Geographic Information / Geomatics, which is under
worldwide discussion, and is a special work item of ISO/TC 211 under
the Project team 19122.
On the basis of development and status of GIS-Standardization the
author will report about the approaches to improve the qualifications
and certification of personnel. ISO/TC 211 established in 1998 by
Canadian proposal the Project team 19122 "Qualifications and
Certification of Personnel", where the author is a member from.
One of the new aspects of this task is, according to the
interdisciplinary character of GIS and the involved professions; not
just one profession is covering all the tasks of the GIS. Additionally
there is no overview and analysis of the existing systems of
qualifications and respective certification for guaranteeing the
quality of the products and personnel. So the PT 19122 started in
March 2000 a questionnaire to get a first overview about the current
global situation.
Because of the special frame-conditions and character of this
subject the result of PT 19122 will not be an ISO-Standard but an
ISO-Technical Report, Type 3.
- To develop a Type 3 report, which describes a system for the
qualification and certification, by a central independent body, of
personnel in the field of Geographic Information Science /
Geomatics.
- To define the boundaries between Geographic Information Science/
Geomatics and other related disciplines and professions.
- To specify the technologies and tasks pertaining to Geographic
Information Science / Geomatics.
- To establish skill sets and competency levels for technologists,
professional staff and management in the field.
- To research the relationship between this initiative and other
similar certification processes performed by existing professional
associations.
- To develop a plan for the accreditation of candidate
institutions and programs, for the certification of individuals in
the workforce, and for collaboration with other professional
bodies. (ISO/TC 211-N573 1998)
The questionnaire showed among others the diversity of the existing
systems and the different interpretation of certification. It was now
decided to continue elaborating case-studies of many countries on the
basis of unified templates.
The case-studies allow synthesis and development of recommendations
of ISO/TC 211 for information and basis for the respective work of
nationally and internationally interested organizations.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Hans Knoop studied Geodesy at Hannover University and
finished the respective administrative preparatory exams in Germany.
He was a member of the Cadastral- and Surveying Administration of the
State of Lower Saxony in different directing positions in State Survey
Office, Cadastral office of Hannover and the Ministry of Interior
(1964-2000). His main activities have been concentrated in developing
new technologies (e.g. Dissertation 'Electronic Tacheometry; Dr.-Ing.
1970) especially in LIS and GIS including legal and administrative
aspects. Professor at Technical University of Braunschweig (since
1976). Since 1975 Head of Department 'Surveying, Geoinformation' of
German Institute for Standardization (DIN), Berlin, and as well Head
of German delegation in CEN/TC 287 (since 1990) and ISO/TC 211 (since
1994). Member of ISO/TC 211 -PT19122. Representative of ISPRS to ISO/TC
211. Many activities in FIG on international and national level
(Com.3, Task Force on Standards). International expert for GIS and
Land Management for several organizations and governments. Appointed
Honorary Professor of Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and
Mapping (WTUSM), China. Numerous international and national
publications.
CONTACT
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Knoop
Head of Division "Surveying, Geoinformation"
of German Institute for Standardization (DIN), Berlin,
Technical University of Braunschweig
Im Toege 2
D-30169 Hannover
GERMANY
Tel. + 49 511 57 19 73
Fax + 49 511 1 61 21 30
Email: hans.knoop@t-online.de
22 March 2001
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