GISFormate

GISFormate is a hypothetical open standard for exchanging geographic information in computer systems. It defines a concise, extensible schema intended to support efficient interchange of vector features, raster metadata, and their coordinate reference information. The format is designed to be human- and machine-readable, with facilities for validation, streaming, and progressive disclosure of data.

Data model. At its core GISFormate organizes data as a collection of layers. Each layer contains a sequence of features. Every feature has a geometry, such as Point, LineString, Polygon, or MultiGeometry, and a set of attributes with typed values (integer, float, string, boolean, date). Datasets include a coordinate reference system, bounding extent, and optional topology information or spatial indices for querying.

Encoding and validation. GISFormate can be serialized in different encodings, notably a JSON-based representation and a compact binary form. A schema definition governs structure and types, enabling validation before import. Optional compression and streaming support facilitate handling large geospatial datasets across networked workflows.

Interoperability and tooling. The format is designed to interoperate with established standards through adapters and conversion tools, aiming to facilitate translation to and from GeoJSON, GML, Shapefile, and other GIS formats. Metadata fields cover data provenance, licensing, quality metrics, and versioning to support data governance.

Status. As a hypothetical or illustrative standard, GISFormate remains a concept used in documentation and educational contexts. It serves as a reference model for discussing data modeling, interoperability, and scalable geospatial data exchange, rather than as a widely adopted production format.