Overview
SIST EN ISO 19131:2023 - Geographic information - Data product specifications (ISO 19131:2022) defines requirements and guidance for creating clear, consistent, and machine-readable specifications of geographic data products. It is part of the ISO 19100 family and is intended for data producers, data providers, service providers and users. The standard updates and supersedes earlier editions (EN ISO 19131:2008 and its A1:2011 amendment) and includes XML encoding of data product specifications and an OWL representation of the underlying UML model (see Annex F).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Structure and content: Defines the required sections of a data product specification (Identification, Scope, Data content & structure, Reference systems, Data quality, Data capture & production, Maintenance, Portrayal, Delivery, Metadata).
- Conformance rules: Specifies how a data product specification demonstrates compliance and how to express requirements for data products and services.
- XML encoding: Provides a formal XML encoding for data product specifications to enable interoperability and exchange.
- UML and OWL representations: Supplies an OWL representation of the UML model (Annex F) to support semantic interoperability and linked-data use cases.
- Detailed classes and elements: Describes classes such as DataProductSpecification, IdentificationSection, ScopeSection, DataContentAndStructureSection, ReferenceSystemSection, DataQualitySection, DeliverySection, MetadataSection and associated elements like DeliveryFormat, DeliveryService, MaintenanceAndUpdateFrequency.
- Practical quality and delivery requirements: Addresses data quality levels, reference system declaration, maintenance/update practices, portrayal rules, and delivery media/formats.
Practical applications and users
- Data producers use ISO 19131 to create unambiguous, reusable product specifications for datasets, maps, and geospatial services.
- Data providers and distributors adopt the XML encoding to publish standardized product catalogs and enable automated discovery and ingestion.
- Service providers and portals consume specification metadata to validate, transform, or advertise datasets and services.
- GIS managers and integrators rely on the standard to ensure consistent portrayal, reference systems, quality metrics, and maintenance policies across datasets.
- Interoperability projects and national geospatial infrastructures use the OWL/UML artifacts to integrate semantic models and support machine-readable workflows.
Related standards
- ISO 19131 is part of the ISO 19100 family (geographic information/geomatics) and is designed to work alongside other ISO 191xx standards for metadata, reference systems and data quality to build interoperable geospatial systems.
Keywords: ISO 19131, data product specifications, geographic information, XML encoding, OWL representation, UML model, data quality, reference systems, data delivery, geospatial interoperability.
