Overview
ISO 17267:2009 - Intelligent transport systems - Navigation systems - Application programming interface (API) defines a standardized API for accessing map database content used by navigation applications. The standard specifies the data retrievable from map databases, a set of function calls, the API design, usage examples, and the criteria to determine conformance of a data access library (DAL). It is storage-format independent and primarily targets self-contained in‑vehicle navigation systems while remaining applicable to client/server and distributed navigation or location-based services.
Key Topics
- Functional scope: API support for six application categories - positioning, route planning, route guidance, map display, address location (geocoding), and services/POI information access.
- API architecture and design: paradigm, base vs extended APIs, and modular organization to promote interoperability between navigation systems and map databases.
- Function call specification: standardized set of operations for data retrieval and interaction with map data.
- Data model and naming conventions: terms and definitions (links, nodes, junctions, cartographic features, layers, levels), plus specified naming and notation conventions to ensure consistency.
- Implementation concerns: error handling, memory allocation, byte ordering, prioritization/cancellation, generic data types, and handling of large result sets.
- DAL conformance: criteria and policies to determine whether a data access library conforms to the standard.
- Practical guidance: examples of intended use and discussion of multimedia issues and the location of application software, DAL and data.
Applications
ISO 17267:2009 is practical for:
- Navigation software developers building APIs to read map data for route planning, guidance, and map rendering.
- Map database providers and DAL implementers who need to ensure interoperability and conformance with an industry API.
- Automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers integrating in‑vehicle navigation stacks.
- Location-based service (LBS) developers and system integrators using standardized map access for distributed or client/server configurations.
- Testers and certification bodies verifying conformance of DAL implementations to the standard.
Practical benefits include improved interoperability between navigation systems and map databases, reduced integration cost, and clearer conformance criteria for map data access libraries.
Related Standards
- ISO 14825 - Intelligent transport systems - Geographic Data Files (GDF) - Overall data specification
- ISO 17572 (all parts) - Intelligent transport systems - Location referencing for geographic databases
- Developed by ISO/TC 204 (Intelligent transport systems)
Keywords: ISO 17267:2009, navigation systems API, intelligent transport systems, map database, route planning, route guidance, positioning, map display, address location, POI, data access library.
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