This document specifies the framework, concepts and methodology for conformance testing and criteria to be achieved to claim conformance to the family of applicable standardization documents regarding geographic information and relevant application domains. This document provides a framework for specifying abstract test suites composed of abstract test cases grouped in conformance classes and for defining the procedures to be followed during conformance testing.

Conformance can be claimed for data or software products or services or by specifications including any profile or functional standard. The structure of, and relationships between, conformance classes as defined in this document underly a systematic approach to configuration management involving managing dependencies within and between modules.