DGIWG is the multi-national body established by an memorandum of understanding between the defence organisations of respective nations. Its main objective is to provide strategic guidance and recommendations to its membership on the standardisation of geospatial data, products, and services. It supports the requirements of NATO and the other alliances that members participate in, including UN sanctioned peacekeeping. The requirements have been identified to address a specific set of operational scenarios

DGIWG’s geospatial standards and standardisation artefacts utilise existing international standards where practical.  This includes abstract standards for geographic information defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO TC/211) and geospatial web service standards developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). It profiles and extends these standards as needed to address defence requirements. This work allows for the provision of common standard-based solutions required to achieve target levels of interoperability across coalition networks which nations engage.