--- title: Spatial reference documentation architecture description: Defines standards, concepts and DBMS reference domains, their responsibilities and their relationship to versioned library documentation. canonical_html: ./spatial-reference-documentation-architecture.html canonical_markdown: ./spatial-reference-documentation-architecture.md --- [View HTML version](./spatial-reference-documentation-architecture.html) This contract defines the spatial reference architecture approved in [Story #60](https://github.com/longitude-one/spatial-docs/issues/60#issuecomment-6085848659). It defines where reference content belongs and how authors identify its authority, scope and relationship to LongitudeOne implementations. ## Documentation domains Standards, Concepts and DBMS are first-class, top-level reference domains. They are independent of library major versions and do not belong under `shared/` or inside a library tree. `shared/` retains ecosystem-wide authoring and publication contracts, including this page. The source hierarchy for reference content is: ```text docs/ ├── standards/ │ ├── iso/ │ ├── ogc/ │ └── rfc/ ├── concepts/ │ ├── index.md │ ├── geometries.md │ ├── dimensions.md │ ├── crs.md │ └── formats.md └── dbms/ ├── index.md ├── postgis.md ├── mysql.md ├── mariadb.md └── sql-server.md ``` These paths define the initial content structure, not a requirement to publish empty pages. Reference authors create pages in these domains when substantive content is ready. Unpublished drafts remain in `inbox/`. Library resources retain the existing `/v/` source structure, for example `docs/spatial-core/v1/geometry/index.md`, and optional library roadmaps. The [documentation versioning contract](../about/versioning.md) continues to govern those resources. This architecture neither relocates them nor defines new library versioning, navigation or search behavior. | Domain | Responsibility | Content owned elsewhere | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | Standards | Identify normative specifications and explain LongitudeOne conformance, limitations and extensions. | Library API instructions and DBMS implementation details. | | Concepts | Explain the meaning of spatial concepts and synthesize their relationships. | Repeated normative requirements and platform-specific rules. | | DBMS | Explain a database platform's spatial behavior and LongitudeOne adaptations. | Normative requirements and generic library API documentation. | | Libraries | Explain how a particular library release exposes or implements functionality. | Repeated standards, concepts and platform references. | ## Standards reference Organize standards by organization or specification family. The initial inventory must include the following sources; inclusion in this inventory is not a claim of LongitudeOne support or conformance: - `standards/iso/`: ISO/IEC 13249-3, ISO 19107, ISO 19111 and ISO 19136. - `standards/ogc/`: relevant OGC specifications, including Simple Feature Access and related specifications needed by documented features. - `standards/rfc/`: relevant RFCs, including RFC 7946. Use a specification identifier as the page basename, for example `standards/iso/iso-19111.md` or `standards/rfc/rfc-7946.md`. When several editions need distinct pages, append their edition or publication year and explicitly identify the edition in the title and source record. An edition suffix identifies a normative source, not a library major version. Every standard reference uses these sections: 1. **Normative source:** organization, full identifier and title, edition/version, publication date, applicable amendments or corrigenda, and authoritative source links. Identify the exact clause, table or production beside each requirement summary. If an edition has not yet been verified, say so and do not assert its requirements. 1. **Purpose and scope:** what the specification covers and which portions matter to the documented LongitudeOne features. 1. **Relevant requirements:** concise, attributed technical summaries of verified requirements, separated from informative explanations. 1. **LongitudeOne support:** the common support record defined below, linking to the applicable library release documentation and evidence. 1. **Related references:** concepts, DBMS behavior and other normative sources needed to understand the subject. Summarize requirements in original wording. Cite and link authoritative material instead of reproducing complete standards, substantial excerpts, tables or annexes. Do not commit copyrighted standards PDFs without permission. A catalog record may identify an edition but does not establish the contents of an unavailable clause. Missing normative evidence must be reported, rather than filled from memory or inferred from database behavior. ## Concepts reference The [Concepts overview](../concepts/index.md) introduces the four initial topics. Each topic has one reference file directly under `docs/concepts/`, following the same flat layout as `docs/dbms/`: - `geometries.md`: geometry families, relationships and geometric properties. - `dimensions.md`: coordinate dimensions and the meaning of coordinate components. - `crs.md`: coordinate reference systems and reference-system identification. - `formats.md`: spatial representation formats and their relationships to the model. Each concept page contains **Meaning and scope**, **Informative explanation**, **Normative foundations** and **Related implementations**. Explain the concept in library-independent terms. Link to the relevant standard page and requirement section instead of repeating its normative analysis. Link to DBMS pages for platform constraints and versioned library pages for usage or API details. Examples are informative unless explicitly attributed to a verified normative source. A format concept distinguishes standard formats, LongitudeOne extensions and vendor representations without defining new support promises. ## DBMS reference The initial platform scope is PostGIS, MySQL, MariaDB and SQL Server. The [DBMS overview](../dbms/index.md) describes these platforms; each has one reference file directly under `docs/dbms/`: `postgis.md`, `mysql.md`, `mariadb.md` and `sql-server.md`. This layout follows Alexandre's approved direction for [Story #63](https://github.com/longitude-one/spatial-docs/issues/63). Each platform reference identifies the product and applicable release/version range, authoritative vendor documentation and the LongitudeOne library versions to which its integration statements apply. PostGIS references identify both PostGIS and PostgreSQL versions when their behavior depends on either. Use these sections: **Platform and version scope**, **Spatial behavior**, **Differences from standards**, **LongitudeOne integration and support**, and **Related references**. Within spatial behavior, cover applicable spatial types and geometries, coordinate dimensions, CRS/SRID handling, serialization formats and restrictions. Mark irrelevant subjects as not applicable rather than silently implying support. Attribute database behavior to the vendor and version. Cite the standard reference when comparing it with a verified normative requirement. A database restriction, extension or implementation choice must never be promoted to a normative spatial requirement. Explain LongitudeOne limitations and required adaptations using the same support record as standard pages. ## Common support record Standards and DBMS references use a support table with one row per feature and implementation scope. Concepts link to these records; library pages provide the release-specific usage details. Do not assign one blanket conformance status to an entire standard merely because a subset is implemented. | Field | Required information | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Feature | Precisely identified requirement, behavior or capability; link to its owning reference section. | | Implementation scope | Library and major version, minimum minor release when relevant, and DBMS/version constraints where applicable. | | Status | `Supported`, `Partially supported`, `Unsupported` or `Not assessed`. | | Limitations | Restrictions, supported subset and known gaps; state `None identified` only when supported by evidence. | | Implementation decision | Deliberate LongitudeOne choices and the approved decision or implementation evidence. | | Extensions | Deliberate behavior beyond the identified standard; label it as a LongitudeOne extension and identify its scope, or state `None documented`. | | Evidence | Versioned library documentation, tests or implementation references, and approved decisions where relevant. | `Supported` means the identified feature is implemented in the stated scope. `Partially supported` requires an explicit supported subset and missing behavior. `Unsupported` explicitly identifies a feature that is not supported in that scope. `Not assessed` records missing verification; it must not be interpreted as either support or lack of support. Support statements are documentation of evidenced behavior, not authorization to add features or decide unresolved governance gates. ## Authority of statements Use explicit headings, table fields or paragraph labels to distinguish: - **Normative requirement:** a verified specification requirement with its source, edition and exact section reference. - **Informative explanation:** a conceptual explanation or illustrative example. - **LongitudeOne implementation decision:** an evidenced project choice, including its implementation/version scope and approved decision where applicable. - **LongitudeOne extension:** behavior deliberately added beyond a cited standard. - **Support or limitation:** an implementation capability or gap in a stated scope. - **DBMS behavior:** a vendor-specific capability, restriction or extension with product/version attribution. A nearby normative citation does not make an implementation decision normative. Keep different authorities in separate paragraphs or table fields. Escalate an unresolved normative interpretation or architectural decision through project governance before publishing it as an established contract. ## Cross-references and publication Each subject has one owning reference page. Library pages link to concepts; concepts link to normative foundations, DBMS behavior and library implementations; DBMS pages link to concepts and standards; standard pages link to related concepts and implementation evidence. Use section links where they identify the relevant requirement or support record precisely. For example, `concepts/crs.md` links to the verified [ISO 19111 requirement record](../standards/iso/iso-19111.md#relevant-requirements) and the [Spatial Core geometry guide](../spatial-core/v1/geometry/index.md). DBMS behavior can be referenced through sections such as [MySQL spatial behavior](../dbms/mysql.md#spatial-behavior). Authors must create or verify target pages and sections before publishing links. All domains follow the [portable Markdown publication contract](portable-markdown-publication-contract.md). Use lowercase, hyphen-separated `.md` source names, mandatory `title` and `description` front matter, and no `slug`. Use relative `.md` cross-references with valid GFM heading fragments. For example, a source at `docs/standards/rfc/rfc-7946.md` publishes as `/standards/rfc/rfc-7946.html` and `/standards/rfc/rfc-7946.md`; no library version component is added. Use GFM headings, tables, lists and fenced code blocks. Do not rely on MDX, raw HTML, tabs or custom components to convey authority or support status. HTML and portable Markdown must retain the same scope, citations, limitations and labels. Existing generation, link verification and resource publication rules apply to these pages without a separate reference-specific publication mechanism. This contract defines the structure and authoring rules. Complete reference content, individual library APIs, navigation and search implementation remain separate work items.