As you saw in Module 2, Using the CGDI, the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure promotes the use of spatial standards to access and publish data on a common platform to encourage data sharing over the Web. It also facilitates access to Canada’s geospatial databases, including topographical maps, aerial photographs, satellite images, nautical charts and census maps.

To accomplish these goals, GeoConnections—the governing body of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure—identifies and endorses standards to which applications and services must conform in order to be compliant with the CGDI. Compliance is very important to ensure that CGDI components are interoperable.

Standard and specifications that have been endorsed by GeoConnections for the purpose of CGDI-deployed services and applications are called CGDI-endorsed specifications.

GeoConnections does not develop its own specifications; rather it adopts international or national standards so that the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure can be interoperable with other infrastructures around the world. Services or applications that conform to CGDI-endorsed specifications are thus very likely to be able to operate or interface with other components outside of the CGDI.