GIS STANDARDS - WHAT SHOULD THEY STANDARDIZE? 
Werner Kuhn 
Department of Geoinformation 
Technical University Vienna 
Gusshausstrasse 27-29/127 
A-1040 Vienna (Austria) 
Email: kuhn@geoinfo.tuwien.ac.at 
wkuhn.chi@xerox.com 
Web: http://www.geoinfo.tuwien.ac.at/persons/Kuhn.html 
Voice: +43 1 588 01 3788 
Fax: +43 1 504 35 35 
ABSTRACT 
The past decade has changed our understanding of what kinds of standards we need for GIS. 
Starting with standardized exchange formats, we went to data modeling and metadata standards 
and are now considering standards for Open GIS. This evolution is reflected in the use of 
buzzwords changing from "data transfer" through "data sharing" and "data integration" to 
"information infrastructure" and "interoperability". The presentation describes the achievements 
along this path and discusses the current standardization needs and activities.