Geographic Data Files

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Geographic Data Files or GDF is a file format for geographic files. It is much more than a generic GIS standard, because GDF gives rules for how to capture the data, how the features, attributes and relations have been defined. Its primary use is for Automotive navigation systems, but it is very usable for many other transport and traffic applications like fleet management, dispatch management, road traffic analysis, traffic management, Automatic Vehicle Location etc. Other standards related to geographical data are FGDC, ISO 19110 and ISO 19115.

The maps are typically provided by map vendors such as Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ.

[edit] Standardisation

GDF is a European standard that is used to describe and transfer road networks and road related data. The standard was drawn up by CEN in co-operation with digital map providers, automotive and electronic equipment manufacturers. The outcome of these standardisation efforts (CEN GDF 3.0) has formed the major input to the world standard ISO GDF 4.0, created by ISO/TC204 Sub Working group 3.