4.1  Profiles

The ISO base standards provide a large number of options to the developer wishing to use them for practical applications. The concept of a profile provides a method of adapting the base standards so that they meet specific implementation requirements.

A profile is a set of one or more base standards and, where applicable, the identification of chosen clauses, classes, subsets, options and parameters of those base standards, that are necessary to accomplish a particular function. ISO 19106 describes two levels of conformance for profiling the ISO 19100 series of standards. Each part of S-100 documents the level used in the conformance statement for that part.

S-100 is a set of profiles of the ISO TC 211 standards for Geographic Information. The relationship between S-100 standard core parts and their ISO base classes is shown in Table 4-1.

4.2  Part 1 — Conceptual Schema Language

This Part defines the conceptual schema language and basic data types for use within the IHO community. It identifies the combination of the Unified Modelling Language (UML) static structure diagram, and a set of basic data type definitions as the conceptual schema language for specification of geographic information.

4.3  Part 2 — Management of IHO Geospatial Information Registers

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has developed a Registry in conformance with ISO 19135:2005 — Procedures for registration of items of geographic information. This Registry contains an extensible number of Registers, encompassing Feature Concepts, Data Dictionaries, Portrayal and Meta Data. This Part describes the contents, structure and management of these Registers.

4.4  Part 2a — Concept and Data Dictionary Registers

The Concept Register specifies hydrographic core conceptual information (definitions, camelCase, etc) that may be used to describe geographic or meta data information. The use of a Register to store hydrographic definitions significantly improves the IHOs ability to manage and extend multiple products based on S-100 which can be made available for use in a relatively short timescale. As such, the Register supports wider use of registered items by making them publicly available; and increases their visibility to potential users. The Concept Register is the primary resource where all registered concepts are stored and managed as “stateless” concepts (that is, items are not assigned a type and there is no defined binding of concepts to other concepts within the Register). Each concept shall be included as a single instance in the Register and will be used as the common source from which Data Dictionary Register and Meta Data Register concepts are derived and used to model features, attributes etc. for use in S-100 based Product Specifications.

The Data Dictionary Register expands on the concepts stored in the Concept Register (IHO S-100 Part 2a), by including the assignment of item types and feature binding in discrete Domains within the Register. This allows S-100 based Product Specification developers to develop their data models to best suit their specific requirements for representation of the real world.

This Part describes the content of the Registers and specifies procedures to be followed in establishing, maintaining, and publishing dictionaries of unique, unambiguous and permanent identifiers that are assigned to items of geographic, hydrographic and metadata information. In order to accomplish this purpose, this Part specifies elements of information that are necessary to provide identification and definitions to the registered items.

4.5  Part 2b — Portrayal Register

This Part describes the content of the portrayal register. A Portrayal Register specifies the portrayal of data. The portrayal of data is independent of the data but closely related to the data. That is the attributes within the data set drive the portrayal process, but there may be many different portrayals for the same data. The use of a Register to store aspects of portrayal will significantly improve the IHO’s ability to manage and extend multiple products based on S-100 which can be made available for use in a relatively short timescale. This Register will support wider use of registered items by making them publicly available and increase their visibility to potential users.

4.6  Part 3 — General Feature Model

This Part introduces the rules for developing an application schema which is a fundamental element of any S-100 based product specification. Equally fundamental to the creation of the application schema is a General Feature Model (GFM) which is a conceptual model for features, their characteristics and associations. It also introduces the concept of the information type. The GFM is a profile of the GFM presented in ISO 19109:2005 Rules for Application Schemas.

4.7  Part 4 — Metadata

Increasingly, hydrographic organizations are collecting, storing and archiving large quantities of digital data which are becoming an important national asset. Characterising the data resources and facilitating their discovery, access, retrieval, and use is required in order for users to be able to understand the assumptions and limitations of data resources and evaluate the resources’ applicability for their intended use. Further, knowledge of the quality of hydrographic data is crucial for the application for the data, as different users and different applications often have different data quality requirements. In order to achieve this, data custodians will need to record information about the characteristics and quality of their data (that is metadata) in order to facilitate discovery, access, retrieval and use, and assure reliability.

ISO 19115-1:2014, ISO 19115-2:2009, and ISO 19157 provide an abstract structure for describing digital geographic information by defining the resources’ characteristics and quality metadata elements and establishing a common set of metadata terminology, definitions, and extension procedures.

This Part also describes how to use ISO 19115-1:2014, ISO 19115-2:2009 and ISO 19157 metadata classes, elements and conditions, and incorporates rules for populating quality metadata. It also incorporates quality measures as described in ISO 19115-1:2014, ISO 19115-2:2009 and ISO 19157.

4.8  Part 5 — Feature Catalogue

A Feature Catalogue is a document that describes the content of a data product. It uses item types, for example, features and attributes, from one or more Feature Data Dictionaries. The basic level of classification in a Feature Catalogue is by feature type and information type. A Feature Catalogue should be available in electronic form for any set of geographic data that contains features. A Feature Catalogue may also comply with the specifications of this part of S-100 independently of any existing set of geographic data.

A Feature Catalogue is defined for each Product Specification. Features and attributes are bound in a Feature Catalogue. The definitions of features and attributes are drawn from a Feature Data Dictionary.

This Part defines the methodology for cataloguing feature types. It also specifies how the classification of feature types is organized into a Feature Catalogue and presented to the users of a set of geographic data. This Part is applicable to creating catalogues of feature types in previously un-catalogued domains and to revising existing Feature Catalogues to comply with standard practice. This Part applies to the cataloguing of feature types that are represented in digital form. Its principles can be extended to the cataloguing of other forms of geographic data.

IHO S-100 Part 5 is applicable to the definition of geographic features at the type level. This international standard is not applicable to the representation of individual instances of each type.

4.9  Part 6 — Coordinate Reference Systems

This Part is applicable to producers and users of hydrographic information. Its principles can be extended to many other forms of geographic information such as maps, charts, and text documents.

This Part defines the conceptual schema for the description of spatial referencing by coordinates. It describes the minimum data required to define a one, two and three dimensional spatial coordinate reference. All the elements necessary to fully define spatial referencing by means of coordinate systems and datums are contained in this section. It also describes the information required to change coordinates from one coordinate reference system to another and all the elements necessary to describe the parameters and methods of coordinate operations. Coordinate operations include projections and datum transformations.

Coordinate reference system information can be presented in full using the elements defined in this part or by reference to a register of coordinate reference system information. A register of coordinate reference system information may be managed in accordance with ISO 19135:2005 (see IHO S-100 Part 2).

There are no plans for the IHO to implement a register of coordinate reference systems. An example of an existing register of coordinate reference system information which may be used is the EPSG geodetic parameter dataset which is managed by the Geodesy Subcommittee of the IOGP Geomatics Committee. Complete CRS definitions may be communicated by means of the namespace EPSG and a code, such as 4326 (that is, EPSG:4326). This code within the EPSG namespace identifies the ellipsoidal coordinate system based on WGS84 datum. The EPSG database is not managed in accordance with ISO 19135:2005.

4.10  Part 7 — Spatial Schema

This Part defines the information necessary for describing and manipulating the spatial characteristics of features. It is based on ISO 19107:2003 — Geographical Information - Spatial schema, however the spatial requirements of S-100 are less comprehensive than the requirements of ISO 19107:2003. This profile contains the subset of ISO 19107:2003 classes which are included in S-100.

4.11  Part 8 — Imagery and Gridded Data

This Part identifies the content model for gridded data for use in Hydrographic and related applications, including imagery and gridded data. It describes the organization, type of grid and associated metadata and spatial referencing. The encoding and portrayal of imagery and gridded data is external to this part of S-100, although the manner by which encoding and portrayal makes use of the identified content models are identified. This Part is based on the ISO/TS 19129 Imagery, gridded and coverage data framework.

4.12  Part 9 — Portrayal

This Part specifies the portrayal model for defining and organizing symbols and portrayal rules necessary to portray S-100 product Features.

4.13  Part 9a — Portrayal (Lua)

This Part defines the additions and changes to IHO S-100 Part 9 necessary to implement portrayal using the scripting mechanism defined in IHO S-100 Part 13. Products which specify use of a portrayal catalogue as described in this part must also require implementation of IHO S-100 Part 13.

4.14  Part 10 — Encoding Formats

This Part covers encoding formats. S-100 does not mandate particular encoding formats so it is left to developers of Product Specifications to decide on suitable encoding standards and to document their chosen format. The issue of encoding information is complicated by the range of encoding standards that are available. Table 4-2 provides an incomplete list of available encoding standards from which Schemas can be developed as extensions to S-100 as required.

Table 4-2 — Example Encoding Standards

Successful data interchange depends on knowledge of the content, defined in the Feature Catalogue, and the structure, defined in the Application Schema, of a dataset, and the encoding rules that are applied.

4.15  Part 10a — ISO/IEC 8211 Encoding Schema

This Part specifies the structure and physical constructs required for the implementation of exchange data sets encoded in the ISO/IEC 8211:1994 format.

4.16  Part 10b — GML Encoding

This Part specifies the structure and physical constructs required for the implementation of the Geographic Markup Language data format.

4.17  Part 10c — HDF5 Data Model and File Format

This Part specifies the structure and constructs required for the implementation of exchange datasets encoded in the Hierarchical Data Format version 5 (HDF5).

4.18  Part 11 — Product Specifications

This Part explains Product Specifications. It is a descriptive IHO profile of ISO 19131 for data Product Specifications and describes data Product Specifications for hydrographic and hydrographically-related requirements for geographic data products.

The aim of this profile is to ensure a clear and consistent structure for any data Product Specification. This profile will conform with all the other standards that have been developed under the IHO S-100 framework.

A Product Specification is a description of all the features, attributes and relationships of a given application and their mapping to a dataset. It is a complete description of all the elements required to define a particular geographic data product.

4.19  Part 12 — Maintenance

This Part specifies procedures to be followed in maintaining and publishing the various Parts of S-100. It does not cover the maintenance of the S-100 Registry, as Register owners specify the procedures for updating their Registers. Additionally, it does not cover the maintenance regime of product specifications that are written in accordance to S-100.

4.20  Part 13 — Scripting

This Part defines a standard mechanism for including scripting support in S-100 based products. Scripting provides for processing of S-100 based datasets via script files written in the Lua programming language.

4.21  Part 14 — Online Communication Exchange

This Part describes the components and processes needed to specify an online exchange of information. It could be a set of data or data which may have a continuous nature. The latter is also known as “streaming data”, wherein the data requires a more dynamic information flow to be available; that is, beyond that found with the exchange of static datasets mostly handled as files.

4.22  Part 15 — Encryption and Data Protection

This Part specifies the mechanisms, structures and content required for the implementation of copy protections and/or authentication methods by S-100 product specifications. It defines standardized methods and algorithms for the encryption of file based components of datasets as well as feature and portrayal catalogues. Algorithms and methods for the production of digital signatures are defined as well as the surrounding infrastructure required for key management and identity assurance within the IHO Data Protection Scheme.

4.23  Part 16 — Interoperability Catalogue Model

This Part defines a framework for creating rules for the interoperation of S-100 data products, including harmonized graphical presentations and handling of alarms and indications. It can be used to establish system specific rules which are contained in an Interoperability Catalogue, a type of meta-product that describes how groups of products are to be used and displayed simultaneously.

4.24  Part 16a — Harmonised Portrayal of S-100 Products

This Part specifies the principles for harmonising portrayal and other presentational functionalities across different S-100 based data products for the purpose of improving the user experience and reducing ambiguities within systems utilising multiple S-100 based data products. It also describes the relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidance and resources within International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) that support efforts in portrayal harmonisation. It does not address the portrayal process, functionality, or architecture, which are addressed in other S-100 Parts (especially IHO S-100 Part 9 and IHO S-100 Part 9a), but instead focuses on presentational design aspects, such as display organisation, colours, and symbology.

4.25  Part 17 — Discovery Metadata for Information Exchange Catalogues

This Part provides a specification for describing and creating Exchange Catalogues that enables users to identify, discover and manage content of the S-100 Exchange Sets. More importantly it leverages XML to allow machine to machine discovery and exchange of information about geographic datasets commonly produced by hydrographic organizations. Its purpose is the creation of metadata records that provide information about the identification, spatial and temporal extent, quality, Application Schema, spatial reference system, and distribution of digital geographic data. It is applicable to the cataloguing of datasets, clearinghouse activities, and the full description of geographic and non-geographic resources.

For information exchange, there are several categories of metadata required: metadata about the overall Exchange Catalogue; metadata about each of the datasets contained in the Catalogue; and metadata about the support files that make up the package. If the Exchange Catalogue contains any Feature, Portrayal or Interoperability Catalogues there is a provision to carry additional metadata about those.

This Part is intended for developers and implementers of metadata applications, and provides a basic understanding of the principles and the overall requirements for standardisation of geographic information. It should be used in conjunction with the standards listed under IHO S-100 Part 4a, Clause 4a-4 — Normative references.

4.26  Part 18 — Language Packs

This Part details how multi-lingual support for XML elements of the S-100 framework may be implemented. A generic mechanism and structures are described for production of individual language packs which implement translations of any XML content.

This is designed to provide multi-lingual instances of XML resources which support Product Specifications for provision to end users. Implementing systems are then able to construct translated instances of those supporting resources. This Part is not specific to any one individual class of XML resource. It does not detail how multi-lingual support may be added to S-100 Product Specifications, datasets or any external resources they may reference. It provides a generic mechanism which can be applied to any XML based elements of the S-100 framework to adapt them for multi-lingual implementations.

This Part of S-100 provides the generic methodology for implementing such support; and informative examples for a primary use case, the creation of multi-lingual support for S-100 Feature Catalogues.