Overview
EN ISO 19103:2024 - Geographic information: Conceptual schema language (ISO 19103:2024) defines how to express conceptual schemas for geographic information using a restricted and standardized subset of the Unified Modeling Language (UML). The standard specifies a UML profile for geospatial modelling and a set of core data types to be reused in conceptual schemas. ISO 19103:2024 is the second edition (2024) prepared by ISO/TC 211 and adopted by CEN, supporting consistent, interoperable geospatial data modelling across organizations.
Key technical topics and requirements
- UML profile and subset: Specifies the allowed UML constructs and modelling conventions for geographic information, including guidance on package and class diagrams.
- Classifiers: Rules for modelling classes, data types, enumerations and interfaces relevant to geospatial conceptual schemas.
- Features: Guidance on modelling properties (attributes/associations) and operations for schema elements.
- Relationships: Standardized use of associations, generalizations, realizations, and template bindings to describe structural and inheritance relationships.
- Packages and diagrams: Conventions for organizing schemas into packages and choosing appropriate diagram types for conceptual design and documentation.
- Constraints, naming and comments: Prescribed approaches to constraints, naming conventions and annotation to improve clarity and machine-readability.
- Core data types: A reusable abstract schema of core types (e.g., CharacterString, Integer, Real, Boolean, Date, DateTime, IRI, Measure, Number and others) with modelling choices and relationship to ISO/IEC 11404.
- Conformance: Rules and conformance categories for schemas modelled in UML to ensure compliance and interoperability.
Practical applications
- Create consistent, vendor-neutral conceptual data models for GIS projects and geospatial databases.
- Design interoperable data exchange specifications for national mapping agencies, utilities, transport, environmental monitoring and urban planning.
- Provide a standard UML-based representation for geospatial information systems (GIS), spatial data infrastructures (SDI) and metadata frameworks.
- Serve as the basis for transforming conceptual schemas into application schemas, data specifications, and implementation formats (e.g., GML, RDF).
Who should use this standard
- GIS data architects and modelers
- Software architects and developers building geospatial applications
- National mapping and cadastral agencies
- Vendors of GIS products and data services
- Standards bodies and organizations designing geospatial interoperability profiles
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 11404 (noted in the standard for relation to core data types)
- ISO 191xx series (ISO/TC 211) - other geographic information standards (refer to ISO/TC 211 for related documentation)
Keywords: ISO 19103, conceptual schema language, UML profile, geographic information, core data types, geospatial data modelling, GIS interoperability, conceptual schemas.
