EN ISO 19103:2024 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 19103:2024 - Geographic information: Conceptual schema language (ISO 19103:2024) defines how to express conceptual schemas for geographic information using a restricted and standardized subset of the Unified Modeling Language (UML). The standard specifies a UML profile for geospatial modelling and a set of core data types to be reused in conceptual schemas. ISO 19103:2024 is the second edition (2024) prepared by ISO/TC 211 and adopted by CEN, supporting consistent, interoperable geospatial data modelling across organizations.

Key technical topics and requirements

• UML profile and subset: Specifies the allowed UML constructs and modelling conventions for geographic information, including guidance on package and class diagrams.
• Classifiers: Rules for modelling classes, data types, enumerations and interfaces relevant to geospatial conceptual schemas.
• Features: Guidance on modelling properties (attributes/associations) and operations for schema elements.
• Relationships: Standardized use of associations, generalizations, realizations, and template bindings to describe structural and inheritance relationships.
• Packages and diagrams: Conventions for organizing schemas into packages and choosing appropriate diagram types for conceptual design and documentation.
• Constraints, naming and comments: Prescribed approaches to constraints, naming conventions and annotation to improve clarity and machine-readability.
• Core data types: A reusable abstract schema of core types (e.g., CharacterString, Integer, Real, Boolean, Date, DateTime, IRI, Measure, Number and others) with modelling choices and relationship to ISO/IEC 11404.
• Conformance: Rules and conformance categories for schemas modelled in UML to ensure compliance and interoperability.

Practical applications

• Create consistent, vendor-neutral conceptual data models for GIS projects and geospatial databases.
• Design interoperable data exchange specifications for national mapping agencies, utilities, transport, environmental monitoring and urban planning.
• Provide a standard UML-based representation for geospatial information systems (GIS), spatial data infrastructures (SDI) and metadata frameworks.
• Serve as the basis for transforming conceptual schemas into application schemas, data specifications, and implementation formats (e.g., GML, RDF).

Who should use this standard

• GIS data architects and modelers
• Software architects and developers building geospatial applications
• National mapping and cadastral agencies
• Vendors of GIS products and data services
• Standards bodies and organizations designing geospatial interoperability profiles

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 11404 (noted in the standard for relation to core data types)
• ISO 191xx series (ISO/TC 211) - other geographic information standards (refer to ISO/TC 211 for related documentation)

Keywords: ISO 19103, conceptual schema language, UML profile, geographic information, core data types, geospatial data modelling, GIS interoperability, conceptual schemas.