OVERVIEW ON THE RESULTS AND GOALS OF ISO TC211
Larry HOTHEM, USA, Olaf OSTENSEN, Norway and
Prof. Tschangho John KIM, USA
Key words: international standards, geomatics,
geographic information, FIG.
ABSTRACT
Standardization in geographic information or geomatics, and
surveying instruments and equipment has been an important matter of
concern by the FIG for the past decade. In 1994, with concurrence of
the General Assembly at FIG Congress in Melbourne, Australia,
Commission 5 on Positioning and Measurement established a working
group on standards. This working group was tasked to monitor
activities of the International Standards Organization (ISO) with
particular attention given to those standards affecting the surveyor
user community represented by the FIG. Besides the need for improved
standards for surveying instruments, also recognized was the growing
importance for standards to facilitate the exchange and dissemination
of geographic and land information data.
Awareness is evolving at a fast pace among the international
community of cadastre surveyors, geomatics engineers, geographical
information specialists, marine surveyors, urban planners, academia,
industry, and governments of the need for standards in the area of
geographic and geospatial data. This need for standards is driven by
increased availability of geospatial data from global sources, ease of
data access via the Internet, and requirements for enhanced and
reliable interoperability for the computerized databases.
Initiated by Canada, the ISO formed Technical Committee 211
(ISO/TC211) on Geographic Information/Geomatics with the first meeting
held in Norway in November 1994. ISO/TC211 was charged to develop a
set of standards in the field of digital geographic information
concerning objects or phenomena that are directly or indirectly
associated with a location on the Earth referenced to an adopted
reference system.
In April 1995, in response to a request to ISO, the FIG was
officially accepted as a non-government organization (NGO) with Class
A liaison status with ISO/TC211. The FIG Bureau designated Commission
5 as the initial point-of-contact between the Secretariat for
ISO/TC211 and FIG. Consequently, the FIG became increasingly involved
in ISO/TC211 activities. This included representatives from FIG
attending the semi-annual ISO/TC211 plenary and working meetings, and
participation as experts and reviewers in development of proposed ISO
standards for geographic information.
With increased awareness of the importance of participation in
standards development activities, and the recognition that ISO
activities affected interests in all the technical commissions of FIG,
in 1998, an FIG Task Force on Standards was established. The Task
Force is an active promoter of standardization in geomatics. The
evolving close collaboration of the Task Force and ISO/TC211 affirmed
FIG as an active NGO seriously concerned about standards affecting
surveyors. Of the more than 15 NGOs with Class A liaison status with
ISO/TC211, FIG is a among those most active in interfacing with
ISO/TC211.
Standardization within ISO/TC211 is leading to a comprehensive
family of standards called the ISO 19100 series. The goals of TC211
are designed to: facilitate the exchange and increase the use of
geographic information data, expand availability and access to
geographic information, enhance efficiency and economies in use of
digital geographic data, and contribute to a unified approach to
addressing global problems such as the environment and sustainable
development.
Development of the standards in ISO/TC211 is achieved through the
efforts of working, advisory or special groups. Presently, there are
five working groups where the primary standards works are in
development. Each working group is assigned a number of work items or
projects. A work item leads either to a standard or a report. Many
work items are close to achieving status of International Standards
(IS). Special groups are formed to address a specific need such as
quality control and harmonization of standards. Advisory groups are
formed to exam proposed new work items. For example, an Advisory Group
on Location Based Services was established in September 2000.
Involvement of a substantial number of national standards
organizations in ISO/TC211 is crucial to the success in drafting and
adoption of viable standards. Currently, the number of countries
involved is 52 and is continuing to grow. The number of countries
participating as permanent members and in drafting standards is 33,
while 15 other countries serve as observers and four countries are
represented as correspondents.
This paper presents an overview and current status of ISO/TC211
standards works in development. The extent of the work underway and
brief content of each work item is summarized. The ISO 19100 series of
international standards in geographic information/geomatics provide
the basic infrastructure essential for interoperability of computer
systems and exchange of geospatial data. Considering the potentially
broad user community represented by FIG, case examples are included
that should help to provide some better understanding of the ISO 19100
set of standards. Discussion includes factors for determining which
standards may be appropriate or required for a particular application.
A key concern of the FIG is effective implementation of the ISO/TC211
standards.
INTERNET ADDRESS INFORMATION
ISO/TC 211: http://www.statkart.no/isotc211
FIG Task Force on Standards: http://www.fig.net/figtree/tf/standards/index.htm
CONTACT
Larry Hothem
Liaison, ISO/TC211 to FIG
US Geological Survey
521 National Center, Room 2D-312
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
USA
Tel. + 1 703 648 4663
Fax + 1 703 648 4165
E-mail: Lhothem@erols.com
Olaf Østensen
Chair, ISO/TC 211
Statens kartverk
Norwegian Mapping Authority
Kartverksveien
NO-3500 Hønefoss
NORWAY
Tel. + 47 32 11 81 00, direct: +47 32 11 83 96
Fax + 47 32 11 81 01
Email: olaf.ostensen@statkart.no
Professor Tschangho John Kim
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
111 Temple Buell Hall
611 Taft Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
USA
Tel. + 1 217 244 5369
Fax + 1 217 244 1717
Email: t-kim7@uiuc.edu
10 April 2001
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FIG Office. Last revised on 05-11-25.
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