The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is an international group that works to make geographic information and tools easier to find, access, share and use. Organizations (more than 450) including governments, companies and universities from around the world collaborate within the OGC to achieve this goal.
OGC’s main purpose is to develop geospatial standards. OGC standards are rules that allow integration of geographic information and ensure tools can be used consistently by people and software.
OGC standards are available to the public at no cost. Many open source and commercial software tools support OGC standards, allowing them to be easily used.
Globally, many diverse geographic datasets are made available through OGC standards, making them an important part of how the world works with geographic information.
The importance of the OGC for Canada
Canada has participated in the OGC since 1998. Canada’s contributions to the OGC have helped make geographic information more accessible within Canada and beyond, to improve how we do business and address major challenges like climate change.
Key benefits of OGC and its standards for Canada include:
Efficiency: standards make it easier and faster to work with different types of geographic data, allowing you to be more efficient.
Collaboration: OGC fosters collaboration among governments, companies, and universities worldwide, benefiting Canada through shared funding, exposure, and partnerships. By pooling resources, OGC members develop geographic solutions that Canada can use without bearing full costs. Canadian companies gain exposure through OGC activities, enabling small businesses to participate in large projects. Additionally, collaboration with partner nations like the U.S., U.K., and E.U. strengthens international relations while addressing common challenges.
Influence: Having a voice in the OGC is important for ensuring Canada can continue to benefit from the work of this organization. Groups who participate in the OGC influence the design of standards to meet their needs and values. By actively participating in the OGC, Canada ensures that its interests are considered within the OGC’s activities and products.
Participation: Currently Natural Resources Canada holds the highest level of OGC membership (Strategic). Canadian federal government departments, Indigenous organizations, private companies and academic groups are also members of the OGC. This allows these organizations to have a voice in how the OGC operates and participate in its activities.
- The OGC organizes its activities through working groups, committees, and regional forums, like the Canada Forum. Working groups (WGs) include Standards WGs for developing and maintaining standards, and Domain WGs for discussions on geospatial topics like Artificial Intelligence and climate change. Three committees (Strategic, Planning, Technical) provide oversight, with Canadian participation at each level. The Canada Forum fosters open discussions on geospatial issues relevant to Canadian government, Indigenous, industry, and academic groups, welcoming all to participate regardless of OGC membership.
Initiatives
The OGC completes practical initiatives to help develop its standards. Canada’s federal government regularly provides funding for these initiatives to gradually improve the way Canadians use and benefit from geographic information. They are:
- Concept Development Studies: Explore specific domains or technologies to identify geospatial requirements, informing future OGC initiatives.
- Testbeds: Collaborative research projects testing OGC standards in practical scenarios, addressing emerging needs and refining standards.
- Pilots: Prototype-driven projects testing standards for real-world applications, such as disaster management, to support operational requirements.
Learn more about OGC Initiatives
Member meetings
The OGC holds triannual meetings for members to discuss geospatial trends, advance standards, and build collaborations. Canada has hosted these sessions to support national participation. Discover past meeting highlights and upcoming dates:
131st OGC Member Meeting – Rome, Italy, from March 3-6, 2025
- Key topics: AI and Data Analysis; 3D, Digital Twins, and the Metaverse; Foundation Practices; The Earth and Climate; Operational Practices; Integrity, Provenance, and Trust.
130th OGC Member Meeting – Seoul, Korea, November 4-8, 2024
- Explored opportunities for OGC standards to enable Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI).
129th OGC Member Meeting – Montreal, QC, June 17-21, 2024
- Celebrated OGC’s 30th anniversary.
- Key topics: Canada Forum (connecting governments and companies), climate change, and disaster response.
- Contributed to shaping OGC’s approach to these issues.
128th OGC Member Meeting – Delft, Netherlands, March 25-28, 2024
- Focused on integrating geographic data with engineering methods, particularly building information modeling for the built environment.