Overview
EN ISO 19115-3:2023 (ISO 19115-3:2023) specifies an integrated XML schema implementation for geographic information metadata. It provides a set of XML schemas and accompanying ISO/IEC 19757-3 (Schematron) rules to validate metadata instance documents that conform to the conceptual UML model elements defined in ISO 19115-1 and ISO 19115-2. The document also describes the procedure used to generate XML schemas directly from the ISO geographic information conceptual UML models.
Keywords: ISO 19115-3, metadata XML schema, geographic information, Schematron, metadata interchange.
Key Topics
- XML schema artefacts: A normative set of XML schemas required to validate metadata instance documents that implement the fundamental metadata concepts from ISO 19115-1 and ISO 19115-2.
- Schematron rules: ISO/IEC 19757-3 rules that express validation constraints from the UML models which cannot be enforced by XML Schema alone.
- Automated schema generation: Procedure and design goals for generating XML schemas directly from UML conceptual models.
- Conformance and validation: Conformance test suite and executable tests referenced in normative annexes to support validation of metadata exchange documents.
- Encoding and implementation guidance: XML encoding rules, namespace structure, requirements for metadata modules, and guidance for creating metadata interchange documents.
- Supporting resources: Informative annexes with supporting XML resources, encoding descriptions, and implementation examples.
Applications
EN ISO 19115-3 is practical for anyone implementing or managing geospatial metadata and metadata exchange:
- GIS software developers building metadata editors, catalog services, or ingestion pipelines can use the XML schemas and Schematron rules for automated validation.
- Data custodians and national mapping agencies to ensure published metadata conforms to ISO 19115 conceptual models for interoperability.
- Metadata specialists and catalog operators who must validate, exchange, or transform metadata records between systems.
- Standards implementers and integrators seeking a consistent XML encoding derived from UML models for metadata interchange and conformance testing.
Practical uses include validating metadata instance documents, designing metadata interchange formats, implementing automated validation workflows, and ensuring interoperability across catalogues and geospatial services.
Related Standards
- ISO 19115-1 - Metadata: conceptual model (core requirements).
- ISO 19115-2 - Extensions for imagery and gridded data metadata.
- ISO/IEC 19757-3 (Schematron) - Rule-based validation language used here for constraints not enforceable by XML Schema.
EN ISO 19115-3:2023 aligns the XML encoding and validation machinery with the ISO geographic information metadata series, enabling robust, standards-based metadata interchange and validation.
