Overview
ISO 19165-1:2018 - Geographic information - Preservation of digital data and metadata - Part 1: Fundamentals - defines foundational requirements for the long-term preservation of digital geospatial data. It specifies a preservation metadata extension to ISO 19115‑1 and describes how geospatial datasets, associated metadata, representation information, provenance and context should be packaged and managed so they remain understandable and reusable over time.
Key concepts include the geospatial information package (IP) - notably the geospatial archival information package (AIP) - which must be fully self-describing to enable future reconstruction of a dataset without external documentation. Annex D defines functional requirements for a preservation archive, and the standard references packaging approaches such as the Open Packaging Convention (OPC).
Key topics and requirements
- Preservation metadata extension to ISO 19115-1: requirements for metadata that support long-term access and understanding.
- Geospatial information package types: archival, submission and dissemination IPs, with rules for what each must contain.
- Self-describing archival AIP: content, representation information, and preservation description information to permit future reconstruction.
- Metadata classes and elements covered include identifiers, format and product specifications, preservation actions, provenance, association of resources, fixity (integrity checks), and information package descriptions.
- Data format and structure considerations: characteristics of formats useful for archiving and the need to preserve data structures, algorithms/software references, and coordinate reference system information.
- Rights and licensing: capture of access and distribution conditions and rights enforcement measures.
- Functional archive requirements: defined in Annex D (ingest, management, preservation actions, dissemination).
- Conformance & testability: normative sections (e.g., abstract test suite, data dictionary) guide implementation and validation.
Practical applications and users
ISO 19165-1 is intended for organizations responsible for the long-term stewardship of geospatial information, including:
- National mapping agencies and cadastres
- Research data repositories and digital libraries
- GIS data custodians and archives
- Data producers and publishers preparing submission packages
- Software developers building archival packaging, ingest and dissemination systems
- Records managers and policy makers defining preservation workflows and agreements
Common uses: designing preservation workflows, creating archive-ready geospatial AIPs, specifying metadata profiles for repositories, ensuring reproducibility and integrity of geospatial datasets, and informing format selection and rights management.
Related standards
- ISO 19115-1 (metadata fundamentals)
- ISO 14721 (OAIS reference model)
- ISO 19115-3 (XML schema implementation)
- ISO 19110, ISO 19157 (feature cataloguing, data quality)
- Archival metadata families such as PREMIS and W3C PROV are informative complements for provenance and preservation practice.
Keywords: ISO 19165-1, geospatial data preservation, preservation metadata, geospatial information package, digital archiving, OAIS, ISO 19115-1, long-term preservation.