ISO 19132:2007

Overview

ISO 19132:2007 - "Geographic information - Location-based services - Reference model" defines a reference model and conceptual framework for location-based services (LBS). It provides an ontology, taxonomy, design patterns and a core set of abstract LBS service specifications in UML to promote interoperability of LBS applications and services across mobile and fixed clients. The standard links LBS architectures to other ISO geographic information frameworks and identifies areas where further LBS standards are needed.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Reference model & ontology: Establishes a conceptual vocabulary and service taxonomy to ensure consistent semantics for LBS data and services.
• UML abstract specifications: Core LBS services and message data types are modelled in UML to support design and implementation alignment.
• ODP viewpoints: Addresses the first three RM-ODP viewpoints - Enterprise, Information, and Computational - to describe purpose, information semantics, and functional decomposition. The Engineering and Technology viewpoints are included only as requirements/examples.
• Service & message models: Defines packages and service types (e.g., LBS_Tracking, LBS_Routing, LBS_Navigation, geomatics and information services), and a message data model with data types for location, route, tracking, permissions, etc.
• Participation model: Specifies LBS participants (user, application provider, data provider, service broker) and their roles/associations.
• Digital rights & system management: Covers DRM concepts (resource, license, rights) and user/profile management for LBS.
• Conformance & testability: Includes an abstract test suite and informative annexes with architecture, scenarios, and use cases to support conformance testing and practical adoption.
• Limitations: Does not prescribe software development rules, nor general roaming agreement rules for mobile clients or tracking targets.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 19132:2007 is targeted at professionals who design, implement or integrate LBS and geo-enabled systems:

• LBS architects and system designers building interoperable location services
• GIS and telematics vendors implementing standardized service interfaces
• Mobile and IoT application developers requiring consistent location semantics
• Transport, fleet management, emergency response and location-aware marketing solution teams
• Standards bodies and implementers creating conformance test suites or further LBS standards

Related standards

• RM-ODP (ISO/IEC 10746-1) - used for viewpoint concepts referenced in ISO 19132.
• Other ISO geographic information standards (ISO/TC 211 family) - ISO 19132 defines architectural relationships with existing geographic information standards and crosswalks terminology.

Keywords: ISO 19132, location-based services, LBS reference model, geographic information, LBS architecture, UML, ontology, service taxonomy, RM-ODP.