ISO 19115-3:2023

Overview

ISO 19115-3:2023 - Geographic information - Metadata - Part 3: XML schema implementation for fundamental concepts specifies an integrated XML encoding of the ISO geographic metadata conceptual models defined in ISO 19115-1 and ISO 19115-2. The standard provides a set of XML schemas and Schematron (ISO/IEC 19757-3) rules required to validate metadata instance documents, and documents the automated procedure used to generate those schemas directly from the conceptual UML model. It replaces earlier XML encodings (e.g., ISO/TS 19139) and supports interoperable metadata interchange for geographic information.

Key topics and requirements

• XML schema artifacts: normative XSDs that implement conceptual model elements from ISO 19115-1 and ISO 19115-2 for metadata validation.
• Schematron rules: constraints expressed as ISO/IEC 19757-3 rules to validate model constraints that cannot be enforced by XML Schema alone.
• Automated generation: XML schemas are generated directly from the UML conceptual models (implementation approach and rules are described).
• Conformance and test suite: includes a conformance test suite (Annex A) and guidance for XML validity, conformance classes and tests.
• Implementation guidance: namespaces, URI structure, schema packaging, XML encoding rules, default values, and strategies for decoupling optional classes.
• Supporting resources: informative annexes with supporting XML resources, encoding descriptions, implementation examples and XSLT to assist transforming legacy records.
• Design goals: multilingual adaptability, polymorphism handling, and requirements for minimum metadata interchange documents and metadata modules.

Practical applications and users

ISO 19115-3:2023 is intended for anyone building, validating, publishing or exchanging geographic metadata in XML:

• GIS and data custodians producing standardized metadata records for datasets, services and data holdings.
• Metadata catalogue and portal developers implementing metadata ingestion, validation and interoperability.
• Software vendors and library/tooling authors creating metadata editors, validators, and conversions (XSLT) from earlier encodings.
• Standards implementers and system integrators tasked with automated validation, conformance testing and harmonized metadata exchange across organizations and countries.
• National mapping agencies, research data repositories, and spatial data infrastructures (SDI) that require consistent, machine-validated metadata for discovery and reuse.

Related standards

• ISO 19115-1 (conceptual model for metadata)
• ISO 19115-2 (acquisition and extended metadata)
• ISO/IEC 19757-3 (Schematron) for business rule validation
• Previous encodings such as ISO/TS 19139 (superseded by this part for integrated schemas)

Keywords: ISO 19115-3:2023, geographic information, metadata, XML schema, Schematron, ISO 19115-1, ISO 19115-2, UML, metadata validation, metadata interchange.