Request Open: November 19, 2024 9:00 am — December 19, 2024 11:59 pm (30 days left)
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) invites public feedback on the candidate OGC API – Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGS) Part 1: Core Standard. This candidate Standard enables the creation of APIs that can efficiently retrieve geospatial data, organized according to a Discrete Global Grid Reference System (DGGRS), for specific areas, times, and resolutions of interest. Additionally, the candidate Standard defines the ability to request the list of zones of a given refinement level matching a particular query. Comments from non-members are encouraged. Comments are due by December 19, 2024.
The goal of a DGGS is to enable the rapid assembly of spatial data without the difficulties of working with projected coordinate reference systems. DGGSs represent the Earth as hierarchical sequences of tessellations, each with global coverage and with progressively finer spatial or spatiotemporal refinement levels. Individual observations can be assigned to DGGRS zones that correspond to the position, size, and precision of the observed phenomenon. This approach inherently captures data resolution and precision within the stored data and provides a means for data aggregation for statistical analysis and other calculations.
DGGS also comes with a standard set of functional algorithms that enable the rapid analysis of very large numbers of zones and, by their very nature, are well suited to parallel processing applications at multiple spatial resolutions – a boon for big data processing.
Based on the DGGS concepts outlined in OGC Abstract Specification Topic 21, the candidate OGC API – DGGS Standard specifies an API for accessing data organized according to a DGGRS. A DGGS is an integrated system implementing one or more DGGRS together with functionality for indexing, query, and interoperability.
The candidate OGC API – DGGS Standard also defines operations for querying lists of DGGRS zones, allowing users to identify where data is available or where it matches specific queries. These queries are constructed by combining HTTP query parameters with options for advanced filtering through the OGC Common Query Language (CQL2).
The candidate OGC API – DGGS Standard specifies several encodings for retrieving DGGS data and lists of zones, including JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) encodings – suited for data quantized to DGGRS zones, whether of a raster or vector nature or based on varied geometries – as well as commonly used geospatial data formats. It also proposes compact binary representations for zone data and lists. An informative annex provides a JSON schema for describing a DGGRS and includes examples of DGGRS definitions that can be implemented with this Standard.
OGC API Standards use the OpenAPI specification to define modular API components to spatially enable Web APIs in a consistent way. To learn more about how the family of OGC API Standards work together to provide modular “building blocks for location” that address both simple and the most complex use-cases, visit ogcapi.ogc.org.
OGC Members interested in staying up to date on the progress of this standard, or contributing to its development, are encouraged to join the DGGS Standards Working Group (SWG) via the OGC Portal. Non-OGC members who would like to know more about participating in this SWG are encouraged to contact the OGC Standards Program.
The candidate OGC API – Discrete Global Grid Systems – Part 1: Core Standard (OGC 21-038) (.HTML) and (.PDF) is available for review and comment on the OGC Portal. Comments are due by December 19, 2024, and should be submitted via the method below. More information about OGC API – DGGS can be found at ogcapi.ogc.org/dggs/
To Comment:
Comments can be submitted as an issue on the OGC API – Discrete Global Grid Systems GitHub repository for a period ending on the “Close request date” listed above. Comments received will be consolidated and reviewed by OGC members for incorporation into the document.
About OGC
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is a membership organization dedicated to using the power of geography and technology to solve problems faced by people and the planet. OGC unlocks value and opportunity for its members through Standards, Innovation, and Collaboration. Our membership represents a diverse and active global community drawn from government, industry, academia, international development agencies, research & scientific organizations, civil society, and advocates.
Visit ogc.org for more information about our work.