XML based formats
For specialized applications such as aviation (AIXM) or urban modeling (CityGML).
XML, eXtensible Markup Language, is a versatile, text-based format that provides a way of structuring data in a format that is both human and machine-readable. XML represents a set of rules for encoding documents for both electronic and digital formats. Among the various data formats provided for specific applications in GIS, two of them: Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) for aviation, and City Geography Markup Language (CityGML) for urban modeling, are XML-based.
AIXM uses extended XML data format to store and transport aeronautical information. It was developed by the Federal Aviation Administration and Eurocontrol to provide a standard model and encoding for aeronautical information. AIXM was designed to manage dynamic aeronautical information, including both spatial and temporal changes that occur in the aviation landscape. It standardizes the way that different types of aviation data such as airports, navigation aids and airspace are represented and exchanged between systems. This structured format helps facilitate more accurate and efficient data transmission, contributing to better decision-making within the aviation industry.
On the other hand, CityGML is a common information model for the representation and exchange of 3D city and landscape models. It is an open standardized data format that allows the storage and exchange of virtual 3D city models. The use of CityGML extends far beyond simple visualization of 3D city models; it can be used for a variety of applications such as urban planning, noise and pollution simulations, energy consumption calculations and disaster management. CityGML allows for the representation of the spatial features of a city in high detail, including buildings, roads, water bodies, as well as the surrounding terrain.
The XML capabilities, in terms of structuring and storing the data, are well employed in both AIXM and CityGML. These specific applications reflect the adaptability and reliability of XML for storing complex and varied data sets, ensuring that the stored data is not only properly structured and stored, but will also be accurately interpreted and utilized by those accessing it.
The use of XML-based formats like AIXM and CityGML in these specialized applications, therefore, brings significant advantages in terms of data storage, transmission and interpretation. AIXM and CityGML are just two examples of how XML-based formats are employed in different areas, showing how the flexibility and versatility of XML can be harnessed for a variety of applications across numerous fields.
