From Geostandards

Contents 1 Overview 2 Role in INSPIRE 3 Fundamental standards for INSPIRE data specifications 3.1 EN ISO 19101 (Reference model) 3.2 EN ISO 19131 (Data product specifications)

Overview

For an introduction to the ISO 19100 series of International Standards, see here.

Role in INSPIRE

The INSPIRE data specifications follow as much as possible a standards-based approach based on the ISO 19100 series, based on the following observations:

• The recitals (16) and (28) of the Directive highlight the role of international standards for INSPIRE.
• The ISO 19100 series has undergone a consensus process that has already involved a large number of information communities.
• The analysis of the reference material (i.e. of data specification developments across information communities) indicates that many current data specification developments follow a standards-based approach.
• The recommendations in CEN/TR 15449 and the adoption of most international standards listed as a normative reference in this document by CEN indicate that the ISO 19100 series is considered sufficiently complete and mature to be used, for example, as the framework for the development of data specifications.
• Other non-European or global SDI approaches like, for example, the GSDI cookbook and the development of the Framework Data Content Standards in the United States also recommend or use the ISO 19100 series of International Standards at the conceptual foundation for developing data specifications.
• Since a common conceptual foundation for the development of the diverse data specifications is required in any case, a Europe-specific development would have been required to address the interoperability requirements, if no international standards would be available for adoption.

However, there are also a number of issues that need to be recognised:

• A number of aspects that are needed for INSPIRE are known to be not yet covered by the ISO 19100 series. Measures to close these gaps are required to support all requirements.
• The ISO 19100 series is a comprehensive and complex framework that has emerged over the past decade. Therefore many stakeholders will need to build the required expertise to understand and realise the standards-based data specifications.
• Not all Member States and organisations have adopted the ISO 19100 series. As a result these communities will be required to understand the relationship between the concepts of the ISO 19100 series and their conceptual framework and develop a mapping between both conceptual frameworks.
• ISO standards are not free of charge.

Fundamental standards for INSPIRE data specifications

EN ISO 19101 (Reference model)

The reference model specified in EN ISO 19101 is used as the reference model of the INSPIRE data specifications.

Note that no explicit reference model for all of INSPIRE has been specified!

EN ISO 19131 (Data product specifications)

INSPIRE data specifications conform to EN ISO 19131. This also has some minor issues: The term “product” in the traditional sense does not really fit in the context of INSPIRE as the existing data products in the Member States do not map very well to the themes in all cases (take the topographic data products as an example). INSPIRE data product specifications aim at “virtual data products” at best, but even then we have to take into account that the contents of a single data specification may be provided by several data providers in any Member State.

In addition, some of the definitions in EN ISO 19131 suggest that some elements are only applicable for product specifications describing existing products. One example of this is identification information, where the definition of geographic description is stated to be “description of the geographic area within which data is available”. In INSPIRE, this is interpreted as “description of the geographic area within which data is or is intended to be available”. This is considered a logical conclusion since there are no notes or text in the standard stating that a mandatory element is only applicable for data product specifications describing existing data.

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