ISO 28258-2013 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 28258:2013 — Soil quality — Digital exchange of soil-related data. This International Standard specifies an information model, encoding rules and parameter definitions to support the unambiguous digital exchange of soil-related data between data producers, holders and users, and to enable integration of soil data with geographic information systems (GIS). ISO 28258:2013 does not provide a fixed attribute catalogue but implements a flexible encoding approach based on observations and measurements principles to accommodate diverse soil description and classification systems.

Abstract

ISO 28258:2013 describes how to digitally exchange soil-related data by defining features, parameter specifications and encoding rules that allow consistent and retrievable data exchange. It supports explicit geo‑referencing of soil data and builds on the ISO 19156 observations and measurements model to ensure interoperability across projects, organisations and software systems. The standard is intended to help any soil data producer, holder or user find and transfer soil information in an unambiguous way.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed in systematic review, 2021).
• Publication date: October 2013 (2013-10).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.01 (Soil quality).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2013); Amendment ISO 28258:2013/Amd 1:2019 available.
• Number of pages: 63.

Scope

Defines an information model and encoding guidance to support digital exchange of soil-related data (observations, profiles, sampling and parameter values) so data can be discovered, interpreted and integrated into GIS and other systems. The standard addresses definitions of features, parameter specifications and encoding rules, while deliberately avoiding a prescriptive attribute catalogue to remain adaptable to a wide variety of soil description and classification schemes. It relies on the observations-and-measurements model to represent sampling and observation processes.

Key topics and requirements

• Information model for soil-related observations and samples based on ISO 19156 (Observations and Measurements).
• Definitions of soil features (e.g., soil profile, profile elements) and parameter specifications to standardize data semantics.
• Encoding rules and guidance (XML/XSD) for interoperable digital exchange; amendment (2019) clarifies and improves interoperability and model details.
• Support for explicit geo‑referencing to integrate soil data with GIS and geospatial services.
• Flexible approach (no fixed attribute catalogue) to accommodate diverse sampling procedures and classification systems.

Typical use and users

Used by soil scientists, environmental and land‑management agencies, GIS/data integration teams, laboratories and consultants who produce, manage or consume soil data; software developers and data stewards implementing data exchange services or repositories for soil information; researchers and projects requiring interoperable soil datasets across organisations and national boundaries. The standard helps ensure consistent semantics, geo‑referencing and retrievability of soil data.

Related standards

Key related standards include ISO 19156 (Observations and measurements) which provides the conceptual model on which ISO 28258 builds, and the ISO 18400 series (soil sampling guidance and related sampling parts) and ISO 10381 family for soil sampling and related soil‑quality guidance. ISO/TC 190 (Soil quality) is the responsible technical committee for these and other soil quality standards.

Keywords

soil quality; soil data; digital exchange; information model; ISO 19156; observations and measurements; soil profile; sampling; GIS; XML; XSD; interoperability; metadata.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 28258:2013 is an International Standard that specifies an information model and encoding guidance for the digital exchange of soil‑related data (observations, samples, profiles and parameters) to support interoperable sharing and use of soil information.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions of soil features, parameter specifications and encoding rules (including XML/XSD guidance) to enable consistent, unambiguous exchange and geo‑referencing of soil data; it does not prescribe a fixed attribute catalogue.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Soil scientists, environmental agencies, GIS specialists, data managers, laboratories, consultants, research projects and software developers building data exchange services or repositories for soil data.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2013 edition (Edition 1) remains published and was confirmed after systematic review in 2021; an amendment (ISO 28258:2013/Amd 1:2019) is available to clarify and improve interoperability. Users should check for any newer revisions or additional amendments from ISO/TC 190 before implementation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the broader ISO soil‑quality work under ISO/TC 190 and is intended to be used alongside other soil standards (for sampling, vocabulary and impact assessment) such as the ISO 18400 series, ISO 10381 parts and relevant vocabulary and sampling standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Soil quality, digital exchange, interoperability, information model, observations and measurements (ISO 19156), soil profile, sampling, GIS, XML/XSD, metadata.