OGC Newsletter - October 2001

October 2001

CONTENTS
The View From Here
Presidents Message
On Standards
GIS in Telecoms 2001
OGC and GITA to Work Together
Invitation to Demonstrate Interoperability at GITA
Implementations and Conformance Testing of OGC Specifications
Interoperability Program
Member Corner
New Members
OGC In The News
Events
Contact
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THE VIEW FROM HERE

I'm pleased to report that interest in our "News Flash" service, timely e-mails about topics relating to OGC efforts, has been high. We've set up a subscription service at http://www.opengeospatial.org/info/press/newsflash.htm for those of you interested in receiving this service. For those of you who've expressed interest via e-mail, there is no need to visit the page; we'll sign you up.

I'm also happy to announce that we are taking steps to liven up OGC News with an HTML version. If you'd like to take a look at this issue in the new format, visit http://www.opengeospatial.org/press/newsletter/index.htm. And, please, let us know what you think.

Adena Schutzberg
Editor, OGC News

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

OGC's September 10-14 Technical Committee and Planning Committee meetings were somber and uneasy due to the meetings' physical proximity to the attack on the Pentagon that week and due to the heartbreaking news of the attack on the World Trade Center. We extend our deepest sympathies to readers of this newsletter who are grieving for someone lost in these disasters. And we thank all the OGC member representatives from around the world who expressed their sympathy and solidarity. I feel personally blessed that this organization makes me part of a true international community.

Despite the emotional difficulty, the meetings went on because there was a general sense that the best thing we could all do, the best contribution we could make, would be to carry our work forward.

I want to personally thank everyone who attended the meetings this month, and I look forward to seeing you again in December.

David Schell, President, Open GIS Consortium

ON STANDARDS

You may have heard that OGC has submitted a New Work Item Proposal (NWIP) on the subject of GML to the International Standards Organization's (ISO) Technical Committee 211. GML, of course, is the OpenGIS® Geography Markup Language, now adopted as version 2.0, and in work towards version 3.0. A copy of the NWIP, and its Annex A, may be downloaded from http://www.opengeospatial.org/iso.

This article will discuss the Geography Markup Language, its critical role in geoprocessing and location services, and the important topic of maintaining harmonization with major standards bodies.

First of all, what is GML? The answer is perhaps best understood in a little story: Suppose you issue a query to a feature server asking for the parcels hosting pizzerias and the roads within 10 kilometers of your home. The feature server builds a satisfactory feature collection specific to your request. How should the feature server "package" or "represent" this feature collection so that it can be placed into character-based Internet packets, delivered to your desktop, and be "understood" to support display and further analysis? The answer is GML. GML specifies a self-documenting, human readable, sequential character encoding for any GIS feature or feature collection. GML enables the feature collection of roads and pizzerias to be transmitted, using the web and without information loss, to your desktop. Moreover, because GML uses well-known Internet technology, your desktop already knows how to cope with GML-encoded information. That is, GML encoded information is ready for display or further processing.

To go just a little bit deeper, at the heart of GML are three schemas that, in concert, provide for the encoding of any application schema. They are the Spatial Schema, the Xpointer Schema, and the Feature Schema. The Spatial Schema provides an encoding of the Coordinate Reference System being used, as well as for the geometry types that play a role in the application schema at hand. The Xpointer Schema is used for encoding whatever relationships may exist between features in the application schema. Finally, the Feature Schema builds an encoding for the specific feature types in the application schema.

GML clearly has a critical role in geoprocessing and location services. So does submission of this NWIP indicate that OGC desires GML 2.0 to become an International Standard? Not exactly. By submitting GML as a NWIP, OGC is reflecting a market reality: a reality in which hundreds of companies, government agencies, and university laboratories are now developing, selling, buying, and using GML. GML will continue to grow, in content, scope, and in acceptance over the next decade. The marketplace therefore needs the clarification that only ISO's International Standard imprimatur can give it.

One example of GML's popularity is the convergence of GML with G-XML (which is in use already by hundreds of Japanese companies) scheduled for version 3.0. With its NWIP submission of GML to ISO, OGC is announcing that it intends to work with ISO TC211 to sustain an "official" GML as new versions and extensions appear in the marketplace. This means a new ISO Standard, yes, but not just version 2.0. The new standard will need to provide for a constantly expanding GML. One consequence of this is that we will need to learn to cope with a standardization process within the context of a rapidly expanding and evolving marketplace. OGC and ISO must work together for the long term to sustain an international standard that is in step with the marketplace mainstream. We are confident that this approach will in no way slow down the agenda of version 3.0, and will not alter the broad acceptance of version 3.0 in the market.

So, we have a near-term goal that is easy to state: we recommend the consensus technology expressed in version 3.0 become defined and adopted by OGC as quickly as possible. Our initiative seeking ISO acceptance of GML does not change that at all. Notice that I am speaking of ISO acceptance of "GML" and not of any particular version. This simply recognizes that GML will continue to grow after 3.0, and we will continue to need ISO recognition of this fact.

In addition to the convergence that embraces 3.0, there is the subject of the convergence of GML toward the ideals of ISO 19118 (on the subject of Encoding) now a Draft International Standard, and on its way toward becoming an International Standard. OGC remains committed to convergence here as well, and we are confident that advances in technology will allow ever-increasing conformance with the 19118 ideals.

The NWIP asks ISO TC211 to realize that it must accommodate the forces of the genuine marketplace. To eliminate a confused marketplace, ISO must allow separate standards for the model-driven ideals of 19118 and for the market realities of GML. Indeed, it only takes a glance at the current versions of 19118 and GML to realize that these are different documents aimed at different populations with different goals.

In the next issue we will explore the International Standards process used within ISO. We'll do that by illustrating how OGC can play a more active role in the ISO process.

Cliff Kottman, VP and Chief Scientist, Open GIS Consortium

GIS IN TELECOMS 2001

OGC and IIR Conferences-UK are jointly sponsoring "GIS In Telecoms 2001," scheduled for November 12-15 in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference will educate telecoms about how GIS can make them more profitable and educate GIS software developers and data providers about the specific needs of telecoms.

OGC's Louis Hecht and Sam Bacharach, along with Harry Niedzwiadek, the OpenLS Testbed Architect, will speak. Ron Lake, President of Galdos Systems, will address telecom applications of OpenGIS® Geography Markup Language (GML) while OGC Board of Directors member, Dr. Mike Jackson, of Hutchinson 3G, will discuss the carrier market and the mobile communications value chain. Representatives from leading GIS and telecom companies round out the speaker list.

Conference Information
http://www.iir-conferences.com/gis

OGC AND GITA TO WORK TOGETHER

OGC and the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at working together. The two organizations commit to work together to create a program of jointly supported educational and market development activities designed to benefit the members of both organizations and the entire geospatial community.

Some of the possible activities discussed include keeping the respective boards of directors up-to-date on technology and client needs, outreach to local government and public works sectors for education about interoperability, participation at conferences and meetings held by each group, and the development of user scenarios to highlight how interoperability can aid GITA members and how GITA members can provide key input to OGC processes.

The first event to be held with the new agreement in place is a webcast titled: "Orientation to Spatial Data Interoperability." The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) will join OGC and GITA to cover the principles of interoperability, the role of shared geoinformation in the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI); and the potential benefits to the local government and utility community.

Thursday, December 12, 2001
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Fee: $45 (multiple viewers encouraged)
Registration: www.gita.org/events/webcasts/webcast.html
Requirements: Web access and a separate phone line

INVITATION TO DEMONSTRATE INTEROPERABILITY AT GITA

The 2002 GITA Conference scheduled for March 17 - 20, 2002 in Tampa, will provide an opportunity to demonstrate interoperability in a new way. The goal is to link together different vendor, end-user and agency technology from their booths to demonstrate interoperability using OpenGIS interfaces.

The exhibition floor will have designated OpenGIS Booths (or a portion of a GITA member's larger booth). These booths will be identified by signage as well as a special floorplan (map or schematic). OGC will have a booth that will act as a hub for all the OpenGIS demonstrations.

Since OGC hopes to issue a press release at the end of October about the demonstration, we can only assure mention of organizations with firm commitments received by October 29th. OGC members, as well as non-members, are invited to participate; GITA membership is required and is available with a booth purchase.

Visit http://www.ogcnetwork.org/gita/showfloordemo.html for more information or contact Greg Buehler at gbuehler [at] opengeospatial [dot] org.

IMPLEMENTATIONS AND CONFORMANCE TESTING OF OGC SPECIFICATIONS

- Implementations

Interactive Instruments GmbH has implemented OGC's WMS 1.1.0 specification in its XtraWMS products.

XtraWMS is a WMS 1.1.0 based application for rendering traffic & road data, based on the German OKSTRA® standard. A demonstration server displaying all non-municipal roads in the German state of Northrhine-Westfalia (NRW), with data supplied by Landesbetrieb Straßenbau NRW, is available at http://xtra.interactive-instruments.de/cgi-bin/XtraWMS.

XtraWMSClient is a WMS 1.1.0 client. It is based on JavaScript and can be run on IE 5.0 and up and on Netscape 4.5 and up. The client is able to overlay maps from arbitrary web map servers implementing the WMS 1.1.0 specification. The client user interface will soon be available in English. You can find the client at http://www.interactive-instruments.de/XtraWMS/XtraWmsClient.html

Implementations of OGC Specifications
http://www.opengeospatial.org/cgi-bin/implement.pl

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions or if you wish to add your OGC based products to OGC's Implementations listing please contact Mark Buehler,mbuehler [at] opengeospatial [dot] org.

INTEROPERABILITY PROGRAM

The OGC Interoperability Program (IP) is a global, collaborative, hands-on engineering and testing program designed to deliver proven candidate specifications into OGC's Specification Development Program. This has been a busy and productive time for the Interoperability Program. The Military Pilot Project continues (an update will be provided next month), and several new initiatives have kicked off:

Open Location Services (OpenLS) - Sponsors and participants held a successful kick off meeting in Dulles, VA during the week of October 8, 2001. Six working groups will be tackling a total of 11 service interface requirements as well as encoding rules that will apply to all OpenLS services. OpenLS is expected to run through early February 2002, with demonstrations of resulting interfaces and reference implementations expected during the month of March. OGC anticipates that demonstrations will occur in Europe and the US.

OGC Web Services Thread I (OWS)- OWS sponsors and participants held a kick off in Tyson's Corner, VA during the week of September 24, 2001. OWS thread set I will run through February 2002, and will culminate with a demonstration of capabilities developed during the initiative. Specific sponsor requirements for OWS I include:

• Common Architecture: OGC Services Model, OGC Registry Services, and Sensor Model Language.

• Web Mapping: Interoperable clients for display and interaction and the next generation of OGC interfaces for Web Map Server (raster maps), Web Feature Server (vector data), Web Coverage Server (imagery) and new interfaces for OGC Coverage Portrayal Services.

• Sensor Web: New open interfaces, including an OGC Sensor Collection Service, as well as test clients and other applications enabling diverse systems to access data from a variety of land, water, air and other environmental sensors

Web Map CAP Support - The OGC Interoperability Program and The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) held a workshop in early September to teach two dozen students the basics of implementing OpenGIS® Web Map Server (WMS) based services. The workshop aimed to connect new local government hosted map servers with National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Clearinghouse data catalogs to enable greater use of spatial information. Attendees were recipients of FGDC Cooperative Agreement Program funding geared to help local organizations integrate NSDI Clearinghouse and Web Mapping capabilities. Instructors included OGC and FDGC staff and support from OGC member companies SAIC, Compusult, and ESRI.

Object Domain Modeling Support Initiative - On August 31 2001, OGC issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the Object Domain Modeling Support (ODMS) Initiative. The ODMS Initiative aims to develop domain models for utilities as a vehicle to achieve semantic interoperability within and across information communities. The model would allow users within the utilities arena and those in related disciplines such as engineering, public safety and others, to more easily share geographic data, even if they chose to name features differently. This RFQ was issued in collaboration with the CADD/GIS Center for Facilities, Infrastructure, and Environment (CADD/GIS Center). As the Initiative Sponsor, the CADD/GIS Center is interested in working with participants with significant experience and familiarity with the utilities sector including gas, electric, and water. Responses to the ODMS RFQ were due September 27, 2001 and the initiative will begin in late October. Details are located at http://ip.opengeospatial.org/odms.

Multi-Hazard Mapping Initiative (MMI)- On October 24, 2001, OGC will issue a Call for Participation / Request for Quotation to solicit industry participation in this major pilot. MMI, sponsored by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will establish an operational framework of interoperable services to illustrate the advantages of using products with OGC interfaces to access, fuse and visualize critical spatial information in support of FEMA multi-hazard mitigation, response and recovery functions. Spatial information from multiple agencies and sources will be accessed across the Internet using vendor products and reference implementations developed during OGC's previous Interoperability Initiatives. MMI is expected to run through March 2002.

Jeff Harrison
Director, OGC Interoperability Program

MEMBER CORNER

At the Informatics Institute (II) of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), we have a research group composed of two professors, two Ph.D. students, and five Masters students who are investigating topics in the GIS domain.

We are covering three main subjects: interoperability of Geographic resources across the Internet; spatio-temporal, conceptual data models and patterns for geographic applications; and spatio-temporal data structures.

Currently, we are translating Vania Bogorny's Master's thesis to English in order to submit it as a proposal to the Open GIS Consortium. The thesis extends the Abstract Model to allow for both definition and control of topological constraints between spatial objects.

We are also extending a framework for geographic data modeling to enable spatio-temporal modeling in various ways as well as the representation of dependencies between basic and derived geographic data.

We expect that most of our results can be adapted to the Open GIS software architecture.

Cirano Iochpe
Vania Bogorny
Geographic Databases Research Group
Instituto de Informatica
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Brazil

NEW MEMBERS

The Open GIS Consortium welcomes our members who've joined us since September 2001.

BRGM
http://www.brgm.fr/
Technical

GITA (Geospatial Information Technology Association)
http://www.gita.org
Associate - Commercial

Navigation Technologies Corporation
http://www.navtech.com:80/index.jsp
Associate - Commercial

TENET Technology Ltd
http://www.tenet.co.uk/
Associate - Commercial

Université de La Nouvelle Calédonie (University of New Caledonia)
http://www.univ-nc.nc/
Associate - University

University of Maryland Institute for Systems Research
http://www.isr.umd.edu/ISR/HP.htm
Associate - University

OGC IN THE NEWS

-OGC in the Press

October 11, 2001
MapInfo Announces Participation in OpenLS Initiative
http://dynamo.mapinfo.com/presscenter/view.cfm?releaseid=771

- OGC Press Releases

October 5, 2001
OGC and IIR Host "GIS In Telecoms 2001" Seminar
http://www.opengeospatial.org/press/?page=pressrelease&year=0&prid=67

October 5, 2001
OGC and GITA to Join Forces on Geospatial Interoperability
http://www.opengeospatial.org/press/?page=pressrelease&year=0&prid=66

EVENTS

November 12-15, 2001 Geneva, Switzerland GIS In Telecoms 2001 Conference

December 3-7, 2001 Vancouver, BC, Canada
OGC Technical and Planning Committee Meetings,
Hosted by Galdos, Inc., and Natural Resources Canada

February 4-8, 2002 Palisades, New York, USA
OGC Technical and Planning Committee Meetings
Hosted by Columbia Earth Institute of Columbia University at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

April 8-12, 2002 Location TBD,
OGC Technical and Planning Committee Meetings

June 3-7, 2002 London, England,
OGC Technical and Planning Committee Meetings,
Hosted by Cadcorp, Ltd.

OGC Events Calendar
http://www.opengeospatial.org/events/index.htm

For further info on events please contact Greg Buehler,
gbuehler [at] opengeospatial [dot] org.

CONTACT

Please send comments and suggestions to:

Adena Schutzberg
Editor, OGC News

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Copyright 2001 by the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.