Finding the ``right'' geographic feature is a common source of
interoperability difficulties. This paper reviews the
issues and discusses how
persistent feature identifiers can be
used to support relationships and incremental updating in dispersed
inter-operating information systems. Using such identifiers requires
common definitions for concepts such as ``scope'' of datasets and
identifier namespaces. This work extends current understanding
in the Features Special Interest Group of the Open GIS
Consortium (OGC).
Submitted to Interop'99
The 2nd International Conference on Interoperating
Geographic Information Systems, Zurich, March 10-12, 1999
