Interoperability and Spatial Information Theory

The development and deployment of successful interoperability strategies requires standardization that covers many application areas, many different views and conceptualizations of the world. Interoperability between computing infrastructures needs—much like every information exchange—a set of common rules and concepts that define a common understanding of the information and operations available in every cooperating system. Standardization processes and interoperability initiatives such as those of the Open GIS Consortium try to provide an agreed-on set of such rules and concepts. Standardization processes are often driven by market forces and vendors trying to position their particular technology and product as a common concept. However, in spatial information systems (and also other areas) the common concepts include not only technical aspects but also fundamental questions on modeling spatial, real-world features, that is, problems which are beyond a specific technical approach and implementation.