Overview
EN ISO 19164:2024 - Geographic information - Indoor feature model defines a core semantic classification system for describing indoor environments used in location-based indoor applications. The standard specifies the semantic description of indoor features and their attributes, plus feature associations between indoor features. It is explicitly compatible with building models in related standards but does not address geometric or topological representations and does not apply to other architectural structures such as tunnels.
Key topics and requirements
- Core semantic classification of essential indoor features (floors, rooms, doors, windows, etc.) appropriate for indoor datasets.
- Attribute definitions for indoor features to ensure consistent semantic descriptions across applications.
- Feature associations that describe relationships (e.g., adjacency, containment, connection) between indoor features.
- Conformance and extension mechanisms: includes rules for conformance, attribute hooking and subclassing to allow controlled extensions of the Indoor Feature Model (IFM).
- Complementary materials: normative abstract test suite, a data dictionary (Annex B), and informative annexes that reference relationships with CityGML 3.0, IFC, and IndoorGML 1.1.
- Standards alignment: follows ISO application schema rules (ISO 19109) and was prepared by ISO/TC 211 with CEN/TC 287 collaboration.
Applications and who uses it
EN ISO 19164:2024 is aimed at professionals and organizations that create, integrate or use indoor spatial information for location-based services (LBS). Typical users include:
- GIS and indoor mapping vendors building shared indoor databases
- BIM/GIS integrators and data modelers mapping BIM (IFC) to GIS
- Indoor navigation and wayfinding application developers
- Facility and asset managers requiring standardized semantic descriptions
- Emergency response planners and building safety teams
- Standards bodies and implementers aligning data exchange formats
Practical uses:
- Creating interoperable indoor datasets for indoor navigation, indoor addressing, parking management, and emergency response.
- Serving as a common reference to reduce semantic heterogeneity when integrating CityGML, IFC, IndoorGML, or proprietary indoor models.
- Guiding data collection, attribute design, and dataset sharing for multi-vendor systems and cross-platform services.
Related standards
- ISO 19109 (application schema rules) - modeling rules used by IFM
- CityGML 3.0 - building model referenced in informative annex
- IFC (ISO 16739) - BIM relationships and attribute mapping discussed
- IndoorGML 1.1 - indoor topology and navigation network links
EN ISO 19164:2024 provides a concise semantic foundation for standardized indoor feature descriptions, enabling better data sharing and integration across indoor mapping, BIM, and GIS ecosystems.