Overview - ISO 19297-1:2019 (Shareable geospatial database framework)
ISO 19297-1:2019 defines a framework for shareable geospatial databases targeted at Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Part 1 of the ISO 19297 series describes the concept, architecture and core characteristics of a federated, shareable geospatial database service intended to improve accessibility and interoperability of geospatial data across diverse providers and user applications. It provides the high-level model and use-case context but does not prescribe service-specific issues (billing, security, transaction handling) nor the ITS applications themselves.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Four-tier federated architecture: Tier 1 (autonomous service centres: map providers, MNOs, public bodies, commercial sites), Tier 2 (wrappers), Tier 3 (information mediators), Tier 4 (ITS user applications on phones, car navigation, tablets, desktops).
- Wrappers: standardized software components that mediate communication between heterogeneous data sources and mediators; enable transparent access regardless of database types.
- Information mediators: perform information reconciliation (translation, distribution, query dispatch) and brokerage (service, feature catalogue and metadata discovery).
- Common data structure: a transport format to make heterogeneous query results usable by mediators and applications (further specified in other parts of the series).
- Scalability and operational levels: framework must support cost-effective addition of source databases and be applicable at local to international scales.
- Data model types and real‑time support: accommodates vector (e.g., road networks) and image-based data, and supports real-time data transfer for ITS use-cases (e.g., routing that needs simultaneous live feeds).
- Federation and autonomy: accepts heterogeneous, autonomous databases while enabling virtual integration via standard interfaces.
- Note: the document defines terms (e.g., geospatial database, feature catalogue, wrapper, information mediator) and explicitly does not include normative references.
Practical applications and users
Who benefits:
- Map and data providers, mobile network operators, local/national governments, building operators, and other service centres sharing geospatial content.
- ITS system architects and developers building multimodal navigation, indoor navigation, routing services, LDM-based applications, and volunteered geographic information platforms.
- GIS integrators and platform vendors creating mediators, wrappers or common data structure implementations to enable interoperable data exchange.
Typical uses:
- Federating multiple geospatial databases for routing, multimodal transport planning, and real-time location services.
- Enabling third-party ITS applications to query heterogeneous datasets with standardized interfaces.
Related standards
- ISO 19297 series - Part 1: Framework (this document).
- ISO 19297-4 - Common data structure (described as the transport format for query results; forthcoming at time of publication).
- Cross-references: ISO 19101-1 (feature catalogue concepts) and ISO/TC 204 (Intelligent Transport Systems) work program.
Open preview (PDF)Intelligent transport systems — Shareable geospatial databases for ITS applications — Part 1: Framework
