Program Areas

The Programme of Work (POW) provides a visulisation of all the tasks across each Technical Panel that are open with their end dates and the stages of work to achieve the publication of the Standard or profile. Additional information on the Technical Panels are also listed below:


P1 – Vector Data

The Vector Data Panel defines and creates vector data standardisation artefacts as part of the Defence Geospatial Information Framework (DGIF). Core components are the Defence Geospatial Information Model (DGIM), Defence Geospatial Feature Concept Dictionary (DGFCD), an the Defence Geospatial Real World Index (DGRWI). The DGIM provides a common starting point for the development of Data Product Specifications for paper-based charts and maps (e.g. Defence Topographic Map), and digital data exchange schemas. These schemas are derived according to the principles of Model Driven Architecture as laid down by the W3C organisation.

P2 – Imagery and Gridded

Standardisation of Imagery and Gridded Data (IGD) and related web services is addressed through the development of standard data models (e.g. Elevation Surface Model – ESM) and respective encodings (namely GeoTIFF, JPEG2000/GMLJP2 and NSIF – i.e. STANAG 4545) for imagery. This permits the design and development of standard data and products that are required to meet existing and future warfighter needs, especially for high resolution imagery, such as DGED for elevation products, DRP for raster products and an on-going action for orthoimagery products.

DGIWG IGD standards strongly rely on ISO and OGC standards. P2 coordinates with ISO TC211 and OGC projects of interest, as well as with the NATO JCGISR for still imagery and potential evolution of STANAG 4545 or NATO MASINT for sensor models and web services. It also provides guidelines and best practices related to IGD standards and their implementation to facilitate interoperability and reduce risk associated with data loss due to data delivery, transfer mechanisms, or to data compression.

P3 – Metadata

The DGIWG Metadata Panel works to improve the discovery, evaluation, use and management of geospatial information and services within and among member nations through the development of common metadata standards. While the standardisation of the form and meaning of metadata is critical for the efficiency in retrieving relevant and accurate information, the diversity of geospatial information and user requirements needs to be addressed. Work includes:

  • Coordinate and support DGIWG projects regarding metadata
  • Support military activities and address military requirements with respect to metadata
  • Provide implementation guidelines and best practices related to metadata
  • Provide and maintain a metadata vision promoting a standards-based approach and defining a framework to further analyse the need for military specific standards and specifications.

P4 – Portrayal

Through the Portrayal Panel, DGIWG creates and maintains a set of symbols for geospatial products that are produced in accordance with the standardisation artefacts under the DGIF. As products are defined, specific computer readable cartographic rulesets will be created to support digital displays, or for paper products as needed. Common symbols and marginalia information for set products will significantly reduce the interpretive errors created by the end user as products are exchanged amongst multinational forces.

P5 – Web Services

The DGIWG Web Services Panel fosters the discovery, retrieval, exchange, and use of geospatial data and products by creating and maintaining standards and implementation profiles for geospatial web services.

It will address the technical issues related to:

  • Geospatial information services
  • Service architectures and supporting network interfaces
  • Data exchange formats

Where possible, public domain standards based on ISO and OGC standards will be used or profiled.