3.1 Infrastructure standards
67
In practice, a consistent terminology among all ISO 19100 standards has not yet
been achieved. This is due to the fact that some ofthe standards have been deve10ped
outside the ISO/TC211 environment. Examples are the ISO 19123 (Schema for coverage geometry and functions) that has been proposed by the Open GIS Consortium,
and the ISO 19136 (Geography Markup Language) that has been originally developed by a private company.
Much of the terminology has now been harmonized. The terms that still have to
be kept with different meanings are marked in the list of definitions.
As ISO standards have to be reviewed every five years, a family of standards undergoes minor, but continuous, change. In order to guarantee a current and efficient
management of the common terms, a terminology repository is planned. A preliminary version is available as an online database that can be accessed publidy via the
Internet (SIA 2003).
The database covers all ISO 19100 terms, showing their definitions, and providing
notice where multiple concepts for the same term apply. The database is continuously updated.
3.1.3 Conformance and testing (ISO 19105)
If it is daimed that a data file is written in a standardised format like TIFF, then it
would be easy to test the conformance with the standard. If a correct TIFF-reader is
able to open and display the file then, as far as the content is concerned, both the file
and the reader conform to the standard. In larger systems however, it becomes more
difficult to decide if they conform to certain standards. In order to execute a test that
is independent of the system manufacturer and the user, independent institutions
such as testing laboratories and accreditation bodies, often become involved. Testing
of conformance represents a major step during the introduction of the system to the
market. The ISO 19105 (Conformance and testing) sets the mIes for the conformance tests of all ISO-standards for geographic information.
Similar to many other basics of the ISO-standards for geographie information, the
original mies for conformance testing were developed by the Information Tecbnology community (lSOIECI7 1994; ISOIEC18 1994; ISOIEC19 1994). These mIes
were enhanced for use within the ISO 19100 series. Conformance testing means the
testing of a candidate product for the existence of specific characteristies. The testing
addresses the capabilities of an implementation compared to the:
1. Conformance requirements as defined in each standard document.
2. Product description ofthe manufacturer.
The first is a test according to conformance dass A and the second is a test according to conformance dass B.
The ISO 19105 defines two types of conformance tests. The "basic test" provides
limited testing of an implementation under test (lUT) in order to establish whether or
not it is appropriate to perform more thorough testing. The "capability test" should
67
In practice, a consistent terminology among all ISO 19100 standards has not yet
been achieved. This is due to the fact that some ofthe standards have been deve10ped
outside the ISO/TC211 environment. Examples are the ISO 19123 (Schema for coverage geometry and functions) that has been proposed by the Open GIS Consortium,
and the ISO 19136 (Geography Markup Language) that has been originally developed by a private company.
Much of the terminology has now been harmonized. The terms that still have to
be kept with different meanings are marked in the list of definitions.
As ISO standards have to be reviewed every five years, a family of standards undergoes minor, but continuous, change. In order to guarantee a current and efficient
management of the common terms, a terminology repository is planned. A preliminary version is available as an online database that can be accessed publidy via the
Internet (SIA 2003).
The database covers all ISO 19100 terms, showing their definitions, and providing
notice where multiple concepts for the same term apply. The database is continuously updated.
3.1.3 Conformance and testing (ISO 19105)
If it is daimed that a data file is written in a standardised format like TIFF, then it
would be easy to test the conformance with the standard. If a correct TIFF-reader is
able to open and display the file then, as far as the content is concerned, both the file
and the reader conform to the standard. In larger systems however, it becomes more
difficult to decide if they conform to certain standards. In order to execute a test that
is independent of the system manufacturer and the user, independent institutions
such as testing laboratories and accreditation bodies, often become involved. Testing
of conformance represents a major step during the introduction of the system to the
market. The ISO 19105 (Conformance and testing) sets the mIes for the conformance tests of all ISO-standards for geographic information.
Similar to many other basics of the ISO-standards for geographie information, the
original mies for conformance testing were developed by the Information Tecbnology community (lSOIECI7 1994; ISOIEC18 1994; ISOIEC19 1994). These mIes
were enhanced for use within the ISO 19100 series. Conformance testing means the
testing of a candidate product for the existence of specific characteristies. The testing
addresses the capabilities of an implementation compared to the:
1. Conformance requirements as defined in each standard document.
2. Product description ofthe manufacturer.
The first is a test according to conformance dass A and the second is a test according to conformance dass B.
The ISO 19105 defines two types of conformance tests. The "basic test" provides
limited testing of an implementation under test (lUT) in order to establish whether or
not it is appropriate to perform more thorough testing. The "capability test" should