OpenGIS® Standards and Related OGC documents

The OGC develops and releases a variety of documents. This page provides a short description of each OGC document category as well as links to the appropriate document repository. OGC documents are available on a royalty free, non-discriminatory basis.

Abstract Specification

The Abstract Specification documents a platform independent abstract model for most OGC specification development activities. The Abstract Specification provides a reference model for the development of OpenGIS standards. Many elements of the OGC Abstract Specification are OGC Member approved ISO TC 211 International Standards.

OpenGIS® Standards

An OGC standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by the OGC Membership, that describe rules, guidelines or characteristics for interfaces and encodings aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of interoperability.
Any Schemas (xsd, xslt, etc) associated with an approved Implementation Standard can be found in the official OGC Schema Repository.

Change Requests

At any time, any OGC member or non-member can submit a Change Request Proposal (CRP). A CRP allows for the formal documentation of a proposed change to an existing, adopted OGC standard, a candidate OGC standard or to the OGC abstract specification. Submit a Change Request, Requirement, or Comment for an OGC standard .

OpenGIS® Reference Model (ORM)

The OpenGIS® Reference Model (ORM) provides a framework for the ongoing work of the OGC. The ORM describes the OGC Standards Baseline (SB), focusing on the relationships between various OGC standards. The OGC SB consists of the approved OpenGIS® Abstract and Implementation Standards as well as OGC Best Practices documents.

Best Practices Documents

Documents containing discussion of best practices related to the use and/or implementation of an adopted OGC standard and for release to the public. Best Practices Documents are an official position of the OGC and thus represent an OGC Member endorsement of the content. Schemas for BP documents can be at the Best Practices Schema Repository.

Discussion Papers

A Discussion Paper (DP) provides discussion of some technology or standards development activity in the OGC approved for release to the public. Discussion Papers are not the official position of the OGC and contain a statement to that effect. Discussion papers are not intended to be targets of acquisition descriptions. Schemas for Discussion Papers can be at the Discussion Paper Schema Repository .

Public Engineering Reports

An Engineering Report (ER) is a document that reports on some technical activity in an OGC Interoperability Program Initiative. A public ER is an ER that the OGC Members have approved for public release. An ER is not an official position of the OGC.

White Papers

A publication released by the OGC to the Public that states a position on a social, political, technical or other subject, often including a high-level explanation of an architecture or framework of a solution. A White Paper often explains the results or conclusions of research.