CFUGM

CFUGM stands for Common Framework for Unified Geospatial Modeling. It is a modular open-standard framework designed to standardize interoperable geospatial data models and analysis workflows for urban planning, disaster management, and infrastructure monitoring. It provides a core data model, a set of extension modules, a reference implementation, and a governance process.

The architecture centers on a core data model that defines entities such as Location, Feature, Layer, and Metadata, along with extension modules for temporal tracking, 3D geometry, and semantic tagging. A plugin API enables integration with GIS tools, while a validation suite ensures schema conformance and consistency across implementations.

CFUGM is designed to interoperate with existing standards such as GeoJSON, CityGML, GML, and OGC services. It supports RESTful APIs, versioning, and change tracking to support collaborative workflows across agencies and organizations.

Adoption has grown in municipal planning departments and academic settings, with a reference implementation maintained as open source. Proponents cite improved data sharing, repeatable workflows, and clearer data provenance, while critics point to the overhead of migration and the need for ongoing community governance.

Governance is provided by the CFUGM Consortium, which includes city agencies, universities, and software vendors. A technical steering committee oversees releases and interoperability tests, while an open contribution policy invites new modules and validations to the framework.

CFUGM is a neutral, nonproprietary framework intended to accelerate collaboration in geospatial urban analysis.