USGIN Specifications

USGIN specifications are the standards, practices, and protocols employed by USGIN that allow data providers to share their data in such a way that the data is interoperable. USGIN specifications include:

• Catalog systems for data discovery on a distributed network
• Recommended data file formats that can be accessed by multiple different client applications
• Networking protocols used to make data available on the Internet and accessible to various web browsers and client applications
• Web service definitions that define interfaces for searching catalogs and accessing data resources
• Client applications that are recommended or supported by USGIN
• International standards used for USGIN data development
• Schemas used for databases and interchange files to encourage interoperability at the data level

Anyone who hosts their data in accordance with the above specifications becomes a USGIN data provider. Likewise, any data hosted in accordance with the above specifications and registered with appropriate metadata in the USGIN catalog becomes part of USGIN.

USGIN specifications are explained in greater detail at the USGIN Laboratory, a USGIN support website that acts as a USGIN workshop. The USGIN Lab provides a detailed list of the standards, applications, and protocols used by USGIN, as well as bulletin boards on which data providers and data developers can discuss their experiences and request assistance.

To examine USGIN specifications in greater detail, click the links below.