Includes chapters that describe the spatial metadata activities in Europe, North America, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Africa/Middle East, and the ISO community. This book contains a summary cross-table wall size summary chart that includes all 22 standards and profiles that are cross tabulated by 70 of the crucial characteristics.

Presented in this volume is the set of internationally agreed scientific and technical characteristics by which every spatial metadata standard in the world can be assessed and understood. Created by the members of the International Cartographic Association (ICA) Spatial Data Standards Commission after 6 years of study, these characteristics and obligation parameters recognize almost every possible capability that a spatial metadata standard might have. The set consists of 12 broad primary level characteristics, and approximately 60 secondary and 200 tertiary characteristics.