Overview
ISO 19146:2018 - Geographic information - Cross-domain vocabularies defines a methodology for cross-mapping vocabularies and specifies an implementation of ISO 19135-1:2015 for registering cross-mapped vocabulary entries. The standard targets semantic interoperability in the geospatial domain by providing rules and a register model to document relationships between terminological entries from different domains. It is principally intended for geospatial communities but is applicable across other domains that require vocabulary cross-walking.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose
- Establishes procedures for cross-mapping vocabularies; explicitly excludes methodologies for developing ontologies and taxonomies.
- Conformance
- Defines conformance classes, including a vocabulary cross-mapping methodology class and a vocabulary cross-map registers class.
- Principles and methodology
- Provides principles for cross-mapping and a staged methodology:
- Governance framework stage - governance, stakeholders and process controls
- Reference vocabulary stage - selecting and preparing reference vocabularies
- Cross-mapping stage - identification of candidate entries, term comparison, domain specification, and concept comparison
- Documentation and publication stage - capture and publish cross-map records
- Cross-map register model
- Specifies register management roles (register owner, register manager, submitting organizations/communities) and management requirements.
- Defines a register schema and conceptual classes such as CrossMapRegister, CrossMapRegisterItem, ReferenceVocabularyEntry, OperatingVocabularyEntry, and change classes (e.g., CrossMapAddition, CrossMapAmendment).
- Supporting materials
- Includes normative abstract test suite and informative annexes with terminology, cross-mapping examples, and backward-compatibility guidance.
Practical applications
- Enabling semantic interoperability when integrating heterogeneous geospatial datasets from different professional communities (e.g., transport, land management, utilities).
- Creating cross-walks between domain vocabularies to support data fusion, cataloguing, metadata harmonization, and automated data processing pipelines.
- Establishing authoritative cross-map registers for organizations or communities that maintain shared vocabulary mappings.
- Informing development of ontologies/taxonomies by providing consistent cross-mapping records and provenance (while not prescribing ontology construction).
- GIS data managers and integrators
- Metadata specialists and cataloguers
- Standards bodies and registry operators
- Semantic web engineers and terminology managers working with geospatial or cross-domain vocabularies
Related standards
By following ISO 19146, organizations can systematically document vocabulary relationships, improve data interoperability, and manage cross-map registers in a standards-compliant way.