IPA Publishes Global Spatial ID Guideline 1.2

In Society 5.0, where people, robots, and systems coexist, it is necessary to build digital twins that reproduce spaces in the real world in virtual spaces and highly integrate the two. Mechanisms that feed data linkages and analytical results from digital twins back into the real world are also elements supporting its realization.

Meanwhile, spatial information is developed and managed according to specifications and standards that differ among entities, making it difficult to explore and consolidate data centrally and creating challenges in building systems that handle spatial information. Spatial ID is positioned as a common identification mechanism for integrating, searching, and distributing spatial information based on different specifications.

The scope of efforts involving spatial information is expected to expand as data linkages across the entire Earth, including the polar regions, become covered. The expansion of data linkages to regions including the Arctic and Antarctic is indicated.

Enabling data linkages across the entire Earth, including the polar regions, may expand the scope of efforts involving spatial information and lead to broader use of four-dimensional spatiotemporal information in digital twins and other applications.

IPA plans to promote the international standardization of Spatial ID based on the Spatial ID specification released this time, with the aim of further improving and revitalizing the distribution of spatial information.

The Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA) published the “Spatial ID Guideline 1.2 for Utilizing Four-Dimensional Spatiotemporal Information.” This publication is part of efforts advanced by the IPA Digital Architecture and Design Center (DADC) with support from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Spatial ID is an identifier that uniquely indicates a specific spatial area on Earth. The guideline introduces it as a common system specification and describes technical specifications and operational guidance for efficiently processing spatial information, including temporal information.

This revision newly defines the “Polar Spatial ID” as an extended specification supporting the polar regions. This expands the range in which Spatial ID can be used to the entire Earth, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and is structured to support broader data linkages and use of four-dimensional spatiotemporal information, including in the polar regions.

Based on the Spatial ID specification released this time, IPA plans to promote the international standardization of Spatial ID to further improve and revitalize the distribution of spatial information.