science

SOSI

SOSI is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand SOSI rather than just read about it. In short: SOSI is a geospatial vector data format predominantly used for exchange of geographical information in Norway. SOSI is short for Samordnet Opplegg for Stedfestet Informasjon (literally "Coordinated Approach for Spatial Information", but more commonly expanded in English to Systematic Organization of Spatial Information).

Key takeaways

SOSI belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect SOSI to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of SOSI from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

SOSI is a geospatial vector data format predominantly used for exchange of geographical information in Norway. SOSI is short for Samordnet Opplegg for Stedfestet Informasjon (literally "Coordinated Approach for Spatial Information", but more commonly expanded in English to Systematic Organization of Spatial Information). The standard includes standardized definitions for geometry and topology, data quality, coordinate systems, attributes and metadata. The open standard was developed by the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority. It was first published in 1987 (version 1.0). It is continuously being revised and further developed. The long term development points towards international standards (ISO 19100). This work is being done by ISO/TC211, currently chaired by Olaf Østensen with the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority.

References

Further reading Morten Borrebæk and Olaf Østensen (1997). "Coördinated Approach for Spatial Information (SOSI) Norway". In Harold Moellering; Richard L. Hogan (eds.). Spatial Database Transfer Standards 2: Characteristics for Assessing Standards and Full Descriptions of the National and International Standards in the World. Elsevier. ISBN 0-08-042433-3.

References GML 3.1 specification (requires EULA to read) Digital Earth: GeoWeb GeoRSS - Geographically Encoded Objects for RSS Feeds Recommended XMLGML encoding of common CRS definitions, Open Geospatial Consortium Demonstration of a Coordinate Reference System Registry, Open Geospatial Consortium Coordinate Reference System Registry of the OGP Archived 2020-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, - Supersedes above demonstration registry. OGP = Oil and Gas Producers Association. C++ Data Binding for GML sosi2kml utility

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with SOSI

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what SOSI claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to SOSI before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about SOSI ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of SOSI

In research: SOSI appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses SOSI in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: SOSI is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics GIS file formats, Standards and measurement stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for SOSI outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study SOSI in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what SOSI means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain SOSI out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is SOSI in simple terms?

Why does SOSI matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study SOSI?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on SOSI.