Member Login

The ModSpec Model

The ModSpec defines a model and related requirements and recommendations for writing and structuring modular standards documents. Further, this model is designed to enable consistent and verifiable testing of implementations of a standard that claim conformance. The ModSpec is a meta-standard: A standard specifying requirements for crafting and documenting modular and testable standards.

The goals of using the ModSpec are:

  • To define characteristics and a structure for the development of modular standards which will minimize the difficulty in writing testable standards while maximizing usability and interoperability; and

  • To ensure that a standard specifies requirements in a common and consistent manner and that these requirements are testable.

Downloads

(Hover over Type for full description)
Document title Version OGC Doc No. Type
The ModSpec Model - Part 1: Core - A Standard for Designing and Writing Modular Standards 1.1 08-131r7 IS

The ModSpec Model

Related links

No Results Found.

Go To OGC News Page →
OGC Open Call Requests
Overview

This OGC Standard for Designing and Writing Modular Standards, also known as the ModSpec:

  • Specifies rules for the internal structure and organization of a standard;

  • Defines requirements for specifying the structure of a standards document as organized sets of criteria, those that are to be tested (“requirements”) and those that are not tested (“recommendations” and “permissions”);

  • Is designed to enable the clear and concise specification of requirements (the shalls or musts in a standard) that fully supports the ability to define implementable conformance tests; and

  • Formalizes implementing the requirements specified in the ModSpec so that reusable, modular standards can be developed.

The standardization goal of the ModSpec is to define characteristics and a structure for the specification of modular and testable standards that will encourage implementation by minimizing difficulty determining requirements, mimicking implementation structure, and maximizing usability and interoperability. The ultimate goal of this approach is to enable interoperable implementations of a standard that can be tested and deemed conformant or not.

The ModSpec standardization target type is standards.

Open Calls and Requests

Members of the public can review draft standards and share feedback to ensure they are practical and widely applicable.

OGC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed EmissionML Standard

Due by:

June 18, 2026 12:00 AM

Learn More

OGC Seeks Public Comment on Candidate BigTIFF Standard

Due by:

May 24, 2026 12:00 AM

Learn More

Insights

You’ll find the latest thought leadership from OGC here.  

OGC Releases the Features and Geometries JSON (JSON-FG) Standard

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) announces the release of the OGC Features and...

Learn More

OGC Publishes openEO as a New Community Standard

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) announces the publication of the openEO specification as...

Learn More

From Research to Implementation: Building Shared Infrastructure for an Automated World

For several years, OGC has been asking an important question: how must geospatial...

Learn More
Join OGC