OGC

Definition

The OGC, or Open Geospatial Consortium, is a global consortium of companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available spatial geospatial standards. The consortium's standards enable interoperability and integration of geospatial data and systems, allowing software to be more flexible, easy to integrate, and globally applicable.

What is OGC?

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is a non-profit, international, voluntary consensus standards organization that is leading the development of standards for geospatial and location-based services. It was formed in the mid-1990s because the growing need for geospatial data interchange was not being addressed sufficiently by existing organizations.

OGC is recognized for their endeavor in fostering collaboration between organizations with the intention of advancing global geospatial interoperability. The organization provides a forum for discussion, collaboration and the development of standards and best practices that allow for the interoperability of geospatial technologies across multiple platforms and industries. Over the years, the Open Geospatial Consortium has produced a wealth of standards that are used in numerous domains including environment, defense, health, agriculture, meteorology, and transportation, among others.

FAQs

What are the key functions of the OGC?

The primary functions of the Open Geospatial Consortium include the development of standards and best practices for geospatial and location-based services, fostering global geospatial interoperability, facilitating collaboration among geospatial technology communities, and promoting the use of OGC standards worldwide.

How does OGC contribute to the GIS field?

OGC contributes to the GIS field by providing a platform for the development of open standards for geospatial content and services, sensor web and IoT, GIS data processing and sharing, and data modeling across different technologies and industries. These standards help enhance data and system compatibility, promoting data exchange and shared services, thus making GIS more useful and accessible.

How can one become a member of the Open Geospatial Consortium?

Any corporation, governmental agency, non-profit institution, individual, or other relevant organization can become a member of the Open Geospatial Consortium. The membership process typically involves paying a membership fee, agreeing to the consortium's Intellectual Property Rights Policy, and committing to actively participate in the Consortium’s technical, promotional, or policy activities.