SIST EN ISO 19123-1:2023 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 19123-1:2023 (ISO 19123-1:2023) defines a conceptual schema for coverages in the geographic information domain. A coverage is described as a mapping from a spatial, temporal or spatiotemporal domain to attribute values that share the same type. This Part 1 document establishes the fundamental concepts and relationships - notably the coverage domain (collection of direct positions in coordinate space) and the connection to the coverage’s attribute range. The standard is deliberately conceptual: it specifies characteristics of domains and realization variants but leaves attribute-range details to implementation standards.

Key Topics

• Coverage concept and classification
  • Formal definition of coverages and how domains map to ranges.
  • Coverage classification along topological and dimensional axes (spatial, temporal, parametric).
• Domain characteristics
  • Direct positions, coordinate types (mathematical vs physical), and coordinate reference systems (CRS) - referencing ISO 19111:2019 for parametric dimensions.
• Range and realization views
  • Geometry/value pair, domain/range, partitioned and functional views that support different implementation strategies.
• Interpolation and sampling
  • Concepts of interpolation, discrete vs continuous coverages and probing via functions such as evaluate().
• Specific coverage types
  • Definitions and characteristics for multi-point, grid, multi-curve, multi-surface, TINs, and multi-solid coverages.
  • Grid-related topics: grid definitions, grid axis types, rectified & referenceable grids, and cell layouts (pixel-in-centre vs pixel-in-corner).
• Conformance and testing
  • Conformance clauses and normative annexes (including conformance tests) that guide interoperability verification.

Applications

EN ISO 19123-1:2023 is applicable wherever coverage data structures are used:

• Remote sensing and Earth observation (raster/gridded products)
• Meteorology and climate modeling (spatiotemporal fields)
• Bathymetry, elevation and terrain mapping (grids, TINs)
• Soil science, vegetation monitoring and environmental modeling
• GIS software vendors, data modelers, standards bodies and integrators building interoperable coverage services and APIs

Who Should Use It

• GIS architects and data modelers designing coverage-aware systems
• Software developers implementing coverage services or APIs
• National mapping agencies, meteorological services and remote sensing product providers
• Standards committees and QA teams performing interoperability testing

Related Standards

• ISO 19111:2019 (coordinate reference systems and parametric dimensions)
• EN ISO 19123:2007 (superseded by EN ISO 19123-1:2023)

EN ISO 19123-1:2023 is a foundational reference for anyone implementing or standardizing coverage-based geographic information systems and ensures a consistent, interoperable conceptual basis for coverages across domains.