Primary function

The WMS GetMap operation allows clients to access part of identified layers available from a server.

Data served

Layer: A (grid or feature) coverage as defined in ISO 19123 that is portrayed for display and is output as an “image map” in an image format. A feature coverage is usually a feature collection. A grid coverage must be continuous (interpolatable).

Data selected by

Layer identifier(s). Normally select one or a few layers.

Selectable parts

Part of spatial-temporal domain of layer coverage, currently limited to horizontal 2D slice of domain, selected using a bounding box

Selectable processing

1. Transform CRS of selected layer part

2. Select portrayal “style” for each layer, from list or using SLD input

3. Convert layer part to selected image encoding format

Other functions

1. GetCapabilities operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get WMS server metadata, including list of layers available with styles and other metadata for each layer

2. GetFeatureInfo operation (optional): Allows clients to get more information about a pixel position in “image map” layer and style

Primary function

The WCS GetCoverage operation allows clients to access part of identified grid coverage offered by a server.

Data served

Grid coverage: A continuous (interpolatable) quadrilateral grid coverage as defined in ISO 19123, with output pixels usually encoded in an image format, plus output coverage metadata.

Data selected by

Coverage identifier. Currently selects one coverage.

Note: Unless a catalogue is referenced by WCS Contents section instead listing the coverages available, this use of identifiers effectively limits a server less to than 1000 coverages offered, with less than 100 changes per day.

Selectable parts

1. Part of spatial-temporal domain of grid coverage, selected using a BoundingBox

2. Part of range of values of grid coverage, selected using identifiers

Selectable processing

1. Transform CRS of selected grid coverage part, including image georectification or orthorectification if needed

2. Convert selected coverage part to selected grid coverage encoding format

Other functions

1. GetCapabilities operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get WCS server metadata, including optional list of offered coverages with some metadata about each coverage

2. DescribeCoverage operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get more metadata about identified offered grid coverage(s), including coverage range details

4. Transaction operation (future optional): Allows clients to add, modify, and delete current grid coverages

Primary function

The WFS GetFeature operation allows clients to access the set of features available from a server that all have client-desired property values.

Data served

Feature: A single feature or feature collection that may include other feature collections, with output features encoded in GML or other formats. Most features have geometry properties specifying spatial positions.

Data selected by

Feature property values, including spatial positions in geometry properties. May select zero or many features. Often uses a BoundingBox to select features with desired geometry properties.

Note: Since does not use identifiers, is no practical limit on number of features available from a server.

Selectable parts

Feature geometry and other properties, selected using identifiers, may return all properties

Selectable processing

1. Transform CRS of geometries of selected features

2. Convert selected features to selected feature encoding format

3. Follow Xlinks in features

Other functions

1. GetCapabilities operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get WFS server metadata, including lists of feature types, GML object types, and filter capabilities implemented

2. DescribeFeatureType operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get descriptive metadata about one or more feature types handled by server

3. GetGmlObject operation (optional): Allows clients to get identified feature or other GML object

4. Transaction operation (optional): Allows clients to add, modify, and delete current features.

5. Lockfeature operation (optional): Allows clients to lock a set of features, to temporarily prevent modification or deletion of those features

Primary function

The CSW GetRecords operation allows clients to access the set of metadata records available from a server that all have client-desired parameter values.

Data served

Metadata record: A set of parameters describing a geospatial resource, which may be a data set, service, and any other information. These metadata records are usually encoded in XML.

Data selected by

Metadata parameter values, including spatial positions in geometry parameters. May select zero or many metadata records. Often uses a BoundingBox to select metadata records with desired position parameters.

Note: Since does not use identifiers, is no practical limit on number of metadata records available from a server.

Selectable parts

Metadata record position and other parameters, selected using identifiers, may return all parameters

Selectable processing

None

Other functions

1. GetCapabilities operation (mandatory): Allows clients to get CSW server metadata, including lists of resource types catalogued and filter capabilities implemented

2. DescribeRecord operation (required): Allows clients to access information model supported by specific catalogue server

3. GetRecordById operation (required): Allows clients to access metadata records by their identifiers

4. GetDomain operation (optional): Allows clients to access current domain of identified metadata record parameters

5. Transaction operation (optional): Allows clients to add, modify, and delete current metadata records, by sending the desired changes

6. Harvest operation (optional): Allows clients to request a server to retrieve new and modified metadata records from a network location

access

A client can ask for and receive data structures available from a server.

available from

Indefinite number of distinct data structures currently accessible from a server. These data structures may be stored by the server, created on-the-fly by the server, and/or accessed by the server from a separate service of the same or different type.

CRS

Coordinate reference system of positions

identifier

Unique identifier of data structure or part thereof. Identifier may or may not be human understandable, indicating semantic meaning

parts

Partial data from a data structure returned as selected by the client is returned from server

set

Zero or more instances of a data structure that meet selection criteria