Overview
EN ISO 19112:2019 - Geographic information: Spatial referencing by geographic identifiers (ISO 19112:2019) defines a conceptual schema and general model for spatial referencing that uses geographic identifiers (labels or codes) rather than direct coordinate tuples. The standard specifies the components of a spatial reference system using geographic identifiers and a consistent conceptual scheme for a gazetteer (a register of location instances). It applies primarily to digital geographic data and can be extended to maps, charts and textual documents. A mechanism to record complementary coordinate references is also provided (coordinates themselves are covered by ISO 19111).
Key topics and requirements
- Conceptual schema for spatial referencing using geographic identifiers, enabling interoperable descriptions of location-based references.
- SpatialReferenceSystemUsingGeographicIdentifiers: the high-level construct representing a system of location classes and referencing rules.
- LocationClass and Location: class definitions and instances that describe types of locations and particular places respectively.
- GeographicIdentifier: labels or codes used as the spatial reference (examples: country names, postcodes).
- Gazetteer model: requirements for constructing a register of location instances, including positional information (not necessarily coordinates) and metadata.
- Conformance classes and test suites: guidance for implementers to demonstrate compliance; abstract test suites are provided.
- Complementary coordinate references: optional mechanism to link geographic-identifier references to coordinate-based references when needed.
- Interoperability and consistency: harmonization with other ISO/TC 211 standards and backward compatibility considerations (explained in annexes).
Practical applications
- Building and publishing gazetteers and place registers for national mapping agencies, local governments and cultural heritage organizations.
- Defining spatial reference systems for datasets that use administrative areas, postal codes, named places or other identifier-based locations rather than explicit coordinates.
- Supporting geocoding, data integration, place-based analytics and location-based services where identifiers are primary references.
- Enabling consistent metadata and data exchange for GIS datasets, spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) and web services.
Who should use this standard
- GIS professionals, data producers and cartographers
- National mapping and cadastral agencies
- Software developers building geocoding, gazetteer or address management systems
- Metadata specialists and standards architects working on spatial data interoperability
Related standards
EN ISO 19112:2019 is a practical, interoperable foundation for managing identifier-based spatial references and constructing consistent gazetteers to support modern geographic information systems and data exchange.