Every day, billions of people rely on geospatial data to navigate roads, monitor weather, order rideshares, plan infrastructure, and respond to emergencies. As technologies like satellites, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and geographic information systems (GIS) generate more location-based information than ever before, organizations need a consistent way to describe, manage, and share that data ISO 19115-1:2014, Geographic Information—Metadata—Part 1: Fundamentals, provides a standardized framework for documenting geographic datasets so they can be discovered, evaluated, exchanged, and trusted.
The Growing Need for Geographic Information Metadata
Geographic information is one of the fastest-growing types of digital data. The World Economic Forum estimates that 463 exabytes of data are created every day worldwide, much of it containing location information from smartphones, satellites, and connected devices. Additionally, the European Commission estimates that more than 80% of public-sector information has a geographic component, making accurate spatial data essential for transportation, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and emergency response.
This rapid growth is being accelerated by advances in technologies that collect, process, and analyze location-based information. Satellite imagery, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and geographic information systems (GIS) are transforming how geographic data is created and used. As a result, the global geospatial analytics market is projected to reach $309.84 billion by 2034, while the growing number of Earth-observing satellites and connected technologies continues to generate massive volumes of geographic data.
As the volume and complexity of geographic information continue to expand, organizations need reliable methods to document, manage, and evaluate this data. ISO 19115-1:2014 addresses this need by establishing a standardized metadata framework that helps organizations understand the source, quality, accuracy, and usability of geographic information.
What Is ISO 19115-1:2014?
ISO 19115-1:2014 establishes a standardized metadata schema for describing geographic information and services. It defines how organizations should document key details about digital geographic data, including its identification, geographic extent, quality, spatial and temporal characteristics, content, spatial reference systems, portrayal, distribution, and other essential properties.
Applications of ISO 19115-1:2014
ISO 19115-1:2014 applies to a wide range of geospatial resources, including geographic datasets, dataset series, geographic services, individual geographic features, and data catalogs or clearinghouses used to organize and share geographic information.
Although ISO 19115-1:2014 is designed primarily for digital geographic data and services, its metadata principles can also be applied to other resources, including maps, charts, textual documents, and even certain non-geographic datasets, where appropriate.
Key Metadata Requirements in ISO 19115-1:2014
To promote consistency and interoperability, ISO 19115-1:2014 defines mandatory and conditional metadata sections, entities, and elements, while establishing a core set of metadata needed for common applications such as data discovery, evaluating fitness for use, accessing and transferring data, and supporting the effective use of digital geographic information. The international standard also includes optional metadata elements for organizations that require more detailed resource descriptions, and it provides a flexible framework that can be extended to meet specialized industry or organizational needs.
Where to Find ISO 19115-1:2014
ISO 19115-1:2014, Geographic Information—Metadata—Part 1: Fundamentals is available on the ANSI Webstore. You can also learn more about ISO 19115-1:2014 in our blog post: Can AI Help Humans Understand Animal Communication?