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There is a set of rules and guidelines for geodata and geodata services that are common to all types of geodata. They are based on standards and INSPIRE requirements and give geodata a structure: how can properties and quality be described in a uniform way; how can identifiers help to maintain order and how should users gain access to geodata.
They can also provide general recommendations for managing geodata, e.g. principles of geometry and data structures.
In addition to rules and guidelines, there are also supplementary instruments in the form of agreements, authority regulations and other laws that point to frameworks and standards.
The National geodata strategy
In its role as national coordinator in the geodata domain, Lantmäteriet leads the work on the development of the national geodata strategy in consultation with the organizations that are part of the Geodata Council. The current strategy applies to 2021 – 2025 and is based on four important challenges for society: sustainable urban development, smart rural areas, climatization and a secure and robust society. Examples of how these societal challenges should be solved are by using common standards and conceptual models and that geodata should be a natural part of the public sector's common infrastructure. Data in registers and databases must have a known quality and the information must be provided via open services.
Read more about the national geodata strategy.
INSPIRE directive
INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) (new window) is an EU directive from 2007 that is binding for all member states. The purpose of INSPIRE is to provide better access to public geodata for application to above all environmental issues, via a spatial data infrastructure (SDI) within the EU. INSPIRE identifies 34 geographic data themes to be made available. The member countries must identify which data sets are relevant and describe the metadata for these. Subsequently, search, display and download services must be developed and data must be harmonized so that they can be combined. INSPIRE refers to a number of ISO standards to be used in this development.
SIS and SIS/TK 323 Geodata
SIS (Swedish Institute for Standards) (new window) is the Swedish standardization organization responsible for the geodata domain. SIS represents Sweden in the European standardization organization CEN and in the global organization ISO. SIS is a non-profit association and open to all organizations.
The practical standardization work is carried out within technical committees (TK) which consist of representatives from various organisations. The wish is to get broad participation from the industry, both from the public and private sectors. In the geodata domain, this means both data and service providers as well as system providers.
SIS/TK 323 Geodata (new window) holds together SIS committees with geodata connections, coordinates the need for standardization in the geodata domain, and produces technical reports that support the development of a national infrastructure for geodata. The committee is also the entrance to ISO/TC 211, both to participate and to vote as well as to influence the development of the ISO 19100 standards.
ISO/TC 211 Geographic information/Geomatics
ISO/TC 211 Geographic information/Geomatics (new window) is the technical committee within ISO (International Organization for Standardization) responsible for the standardization of geographic information and for the development of the ISO 19100 series, which includes approximately 80 geodata standards. These standards specify, among other things, methods, tools and services for handling geographic information, as well as for processing, analysis, access, presentation and provision of such data in digital format between different users and systems. There are also a few domain standards, e.g. the various parts of ISO 19152 (LADM) dealing with land use and land ownership.
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)
OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) (new window) is an international consortium consisting of around 500 companies, authorities, research organizations and universities. The aim is to create open and publicly available geospatial standards through member-driven processes based on consensus. The standards must make geospatial information and services FAIR - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. OGC standards are often IT-related and exist in many domains, including spatial data infrastructure (SDI), built environment and 3D.
UN-GGIM
UN-GGIM (United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management) (new window) is an expert group within the UN run by the member states. Lantmäteriet represents Sweden, in close cooperation with Statistics Sweden (SCB). UN-GGIM has a leading role in setting the agenda for global geospatial information development and promoting the use of geospatial information both nationally and globally. Since a couple of years ago, the main focus has been connected to the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), a framework based on a number of standards and which constitutes a basis and guide for developing, integrating and strengthening geospatial information management and its related resources. UN-GGIM has also together with ISO/TC 211, OGC and IHO (International Hydrographic Organization) produced the Standards Guide to help countries that want to implement IGIF.
DGIWG
DGIWG (Defence Geospatial Information Working Group) (new window) is a multinational standardization organization based on voluntary technical work and without central funding. They act to coordinate the defence organizations' interests regarding the standardization of geodata in the 22 member countries. The DGIWG provides strategic guidance and recommendations to its members regarding the standardization of geodata, products and services. DGIWG uses existing international standards from ISO/TC 211 and OGC where possible. They create profiles and extend these standards to conform to the requirements of the armed forces.
RTCM
RTCM (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services) (new window) is an international non-profit organization that, among others, develops international standards for satellite positioning and navigation systems, such as the RTCM SC-104 format standard for GPS. It facilitates, among others, for various types of transport, surveying, geodesy, precision agriculture and autonomous vehicles, as well as for other functions that require centimetre accuracy.
IHO
IHO (International Hydrographic Organization) (new window) is an international cooperation organization that works to make charts for all seas, oceans and navigable waters in the world. They coordinate the activities of national hydrographic organizations and have around 80 members from all over the world. Among others, IHO compiles standards for drawing up charts. They also provide guidance on how to best use hydrographic survey data in Member States. Examples of when hydrographic information can be used are in navigation, protection of the marine environment, extraction of minerals, oil and gas and in fishing.