Overview
ISO/TS 19129:2009 - Geographic information: Imagery, gridded and coverage data framework defines a content-oriented framework for imagery and other geographic data that can be represented as coverages. Rather than prescribing encodings or file formats, it specifies a set of content models expressed as generic UML patterns for application schemas to enable consistent representation and interworking across legacy and modern gridded/imagery standards.
Key topics and requirements
- Content model focus: Defines information structures for imagery and coverage data (e.g., raster images, digital elevation matrices) independent of encoding.
- Coverages as features: Uses ISO coverage concepts (functions returning values for direct positions in a spatial/temporal domain) to model gridded and imagery data.
- Generic UML patterns: Provides reusable UML templates and application-schema templates (see templates for grid coverages, continuous quadrilateral grids, Riemann multidimensional grids, TIN, discrete point/surface coverages).
- Framework structure: Specifies framework elements, encoding levels, portrayal guidance, and relationships (including LUTs and tile relationships).
- Spatial referencing: Describes spatial referencing requirements for imagery, gridded and coverage data to ensure correct geolocation.
- Tiling and tiling schemes: Covers tiled grids, tile densities and tiling schemes for scalable storage and delivery.
- Conformance and test suite: Conformance requires passing the abstract test suite in Annex A; use cases and portrayal examples are provided in Annexes B and C.
- Interoperability emphasis: Aims to harmonize diverse legacy formats by aligning content models (not by imposing a single encoding).
Applications and who should use it
ISO/TS 19129 is intended for organizations and professionals that create, manage, exchange or standardize imagery and gridded geographic data:
- GIS and remote sensing software developers implementing application schemas that must interoperate across formats
- Data custodians and national mapping agencies standardizing storage, metadata and distribution of raster/coverage data
- System integrators and service providers building imagery/web-mapping services that require consistent content models
- Standards bodies and project architects aligning existing encodings with a common content-level framework
Practical uses include defining interoperable application schemas for imagery catalogs, designing tiling schemes for large raster datasets, and ensuring metadata and spatial referencing are sufficient for cross-format interchange.
Related standards
- ISO 19123 (coverage geometry and functions)
- ISO 19115 / 19115‑2 (metadata and imagery/gridded extensions)
- ISO 19107, 19109, 19111, 19118 (spatial schema, application rules, CRS, encoding)
Keywords: ISO/TS 19129, imagery, gridded data, coverage data, content model, UML patterns, spatial referencing, tiling, interoperability, ISO 19123.