ISO 19130-1:2018

Overview

ISO 19130-1:2018 - Geographic information - Imagery sensor models for geopositioning - Part 1: Fundamentals defines the geolocation information that imagery data providers must supply so users can determine ground positions from image coordinates. The standard specifies the metadata, sensor descriptions and modeling approaches needed to enable rigorous geopositioning for a variety of sensors and to promote interoperability of remotely sensed imagery.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Supported sensor types: passive electro-optical/IR frame, pushbroom, whiskbroom, and active microwave SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar).
• Three model approaches (and GCPs):
  • Physical Sensor Model (PSM) - rigorous sensor description with physical and geometric parameters; includes the mathematical basis for ground↔image transformations and propagated error calculations.
  • True Replacement Model (TRM) - functional models whose coefficients are derived from a PSM to provide equivalent precision, including error characterization.
  • Correspondence Model (CM) - functional fitting based on observed relationships (e.g., using GCPs).
  • Ground Control Points (GCPs) - supplied as sets that can be used to build or refine CMs, TRMs or PSMs.
• Metadata requirements and schema: specifies the minimum geolocation metadata elements and provides a schema and data dictionary for exchange (Annex B normative).
• Calibration and quality: addresses geometric and radiometric calibration elements, model adjustability, error propagation, and quality metrics associated with PSMs and TRMs.
• Conformance and annexes: includes conformance/testing guidance (Annex A), coordinate system conventions (Annex C), and informative metadata profiles for frame, pushbroom/whiskbroom and SAR sensors (Annexes D–F).

Note: the standard defines the metadata and model forms to be provided - it does not prescribe how end-users derive geoposition results or the formats of user-generated outputs.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

ISO 19130-1 is essential for:

• Imagery data providers and commercial vendors - to publish standardized geolocation metadata with imagery products.
• GIS and remote sensing software developers - to implement interoperable geopositioning workflows (PSM/TRM/CM support).
• Photogrammetrists, surveyors and geospatial analysts - to perform precise image-to-ground and ground-to-image positioning, quality assessment and error budgeting.
• Government mapping agencies and emergency response teams - to integrate multi-source imagery reliably for mapping, change detection, disaster assessment, precision agriculture and environmental monitoring.

Related standards

• ISO 19130-1 replaces ISO/TS 19130:2010 and references other ISO geographic information standards for coordinate systems and metadata. Users should consult the ISO geographic information/geomatics series for complementary specifications on coordinate reference systems and metadata exchange.