ISO 19108:2002定义了描述地理信息时间特征的概念。它依赖于时态信息交换的现有信息技术标准。它为定义时态特征属性、特征操作和特征关联，以及定义地理信息元数据的时态方面提供了基础。由于该国际标准涉及地理信息从现实世界中抽象出来的时间特征，因此它强调有效时间而不是交易时间。

ISO 19108:2002 defines concepts for describing temporal characteristics of geographic information. It depends upon existing information technology standards for the interchange of temporal information. It provides a basis for defining temporal feature attributes, feature operations, and feature associations, and for defining the temporal aspects of metadata about geographic information. Since this International Standard is concerned with the temporal characteristics of geographic information as they are abstracted from the real world, it emphasizes valid time rather than transaction time.