On Interoperability in Distributed Geoinformational Systems

Means for providing in a centralized manner a technical interoperability of distributed geographic information systems are suggested. A "format conversion module" which is optimal from the point of view of security and scalability of geoinformational systems and a low cost of software upgrade is developed. The solution is based on the file-server-embedded software that performs the format conversion hidden from the user. The authors have developed algorithms and implemented computer programs for converting data formats. The format description *.ion was analyzed and restored in the course of modernization of Russian vertical ionosphere sounding stations. The problems of embedding the format conversion module into the geoinformational system structure and also technical problems of integration of Russian geoinformational systems into the structure of World Data Centers are considered. A model for building a common information space of geographic informational systems is suggested.