The book addresses scientists and technical experts who have already some background knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and who want to know more about standardisation in GIS, in particular, the role of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In addition, the monograph meets the needs of programmers who are involved in implementing ISO 19100 standards and who need a better understanding of the overall structure of the standards. Last, but not least, this richly illustrated book helps readers to better understand the rather abstract ISO documents.

Computer science provides a powerful tool which was virtually unknown three generations ago and new applications have emerged which were technically not feasible without the support of a computer. These developments lead to new high-level domains. One of them is Geographic Information.

Classical fields of knowledge are geodesy (surveying), cartography, and geography. Electronics and computers have revolutionized geodetic methods. Cartography has faced the dominance of the computer that results in simplified cartographic products. All three fields now make use of the internet and...