The objective of this Standard is to define the XML Schema syntax, mechanisms and conventions that: (a) provide an open, vendor-neutral framework for the description of geospatial application schemas for the transport and storage of geographic information in XML; (b) allow profiles that support proper subsets of GML framework descriptive capabilities; (c) support the description of geospatial application schemas for specialized domains and information communities; (d) enable the creation and maintenance of linked geographic application schemas and data sets; (e) support the storage and transport of application schemas and data sets; and (f) increase the ability of organizations to share geographic application schemas and the information they describe.