Standards: The Foundation for Interoperability
OGC Standards make geospatial data easier to describe, share, and use—powering smarter solutions through modern APIs.
The Foundation for a Seamless Geospatial Future.
The Importance of Standards
We live in a world of constant change. As change in the geospatial ecosystem accelerates, standards become ever more important. They are key to keeping pace, offering a shared language to ensure interoperability so that disparate platforms and solutions can use geospatial data seamlessly. OGC Standards already underpin thousands of implementations. They evolve from communities of practice trying to solve challenges like turning massive amounts of image data into photo-realistic 3-D scenes of cities or helping national mapping agencies respond to billions of requests for geospatial data every day.
- They save money
- They propel success
- They increase transparency
Standards built by experts, driven by need.
How our Standards Program Works
OGC Standards are built through a collaborative and structured process. It begins with working groups connecting via the Member Portal to explore interoperability needs. Domain Working Groups and Testbeds define specific requirements, while Standards Working Groups shape these into formal standards for adoption, following Technical Committee guidelines.
Powering Geospatial Interoperability
Standards Publications
OGC Standards are open, royalty-free specifications that enable seamless sharing and integration of geospatial data across systems, platforms, and domains. Developed through a global, consensus-based process, they support real-world applications in climate, disaster response, smart cities, and more.
Key Standard Families
- OGC APIs – Modern, RESTful interfaces for geospatial data access and processing
- Web Services (WMS, WFS, etc.) – Proven XML-based services for maps, features, and coverages
- Sensor & IoT – Standards like SensorThings API for real-time, connected data
- Domain-Specific – Tools for 3D, hydrology, catalogs, and more
Open Calls and Requests
Members of the public can review draft standards and share feedback to ensure they are practical and widely applicable.
Request For Comment (RFC)
OGC Seeks Public Comment on Candidate OGC SensorThings API Extension: WebSub...