Implementing Rules for Network Services of SDI FBiH Published in the Official Gazette of FBiH

In the “Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, No. 16/26 of February 27, 2026, the Implementing Rules for Network Services of the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were published. Their adoption represents an important step in the further regulatory and technical development of the SDI FBiH, in accordance with the Law on Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH”, No. 55/21).

These implementing rules establish the requirements for the establishment and maintenance of network services defined by the Law, as well as the obligations related to their availability. The rules cover discovery, view, download, transformation, and invoke services, thereby defining in more detail the technical framework for access to and exchange of spatial data in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is particularly important that the document, in addition to the traditional OGC web services, also recognizes equivalent OGC API standards as an innovative way of implementing network services. Among others, OGC API Records are recognized for discovery services, OGC API Maps and Tiles for view services, OGC API Features for download services, and OGC API Processes for invoke services. In this way, additional space is opened for more modern, flexible, and interoperable technical approaches in the development of spatial services.

The annexes to the implementing rules also regulate in detail issues related to the quality of network services, including performance, capacity, and availability criteria, which apply to both OGC Web Services and OGC API implementations. This ensures more reliable and efficient access to data, with clearly defined technical requirements for the SDI FBiH stakeholders responsible for establishing and maintaining these services.

The publication of these implementing rules was preceded by public consultations launched on October 23, 2025, in accordance with the conclusion of the SDI FBiH Council from its 48th session. The preparation of this by-law was also discussed at the 49th session of the Council held on December 22, 2025, as well as at the 50th session held on February 17, 2026. This continuity of activities confirms a systematic approach to the development of the regulatory and technical framework of the SDI FBiH.

The implementing rules enter into force on the eighth day following their publication in the “Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.