001    /*
002     *    GeoAPI - Java interfaces for OGC/ISO standards
003     *    http://www.geoapi.org
004     *
005     *    Copyright (C) 2006-2012 Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.
006     *    All Rights Reserved. http://www.opengeospatial.org/ogc/legal
007     *
008     *    Permission to use, copy, and modify this software and its documentation, with
009     *    or without modification, for any purpose and without fee or royalty is hereby
010     *    granted, provided that you include the following on ALL copies of the software
011     *    and documentation or portions thereof, including modifications, that you make:
012     *
013     *    1. The full text of this NOTICE in a location viewable to users of the
014     *       redistributed or derivative work.
015     *    2. Notice of any changes or modifications to the OGC files, including the
016     *       date changes were made.
017     *
018     *    THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS," AND COPYRIGHT HOLDERS MAKE
019     *    NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
020     *    TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT
021     *    THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY
022     *    PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS OR OTHER RIGHTS.
023     *
024     *    COPYRIGHT HOLDERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR
025     *    CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION.
026     *
027     *    The name and trademarks of copyright holders may NOT be used in advertising or
028     *    publicity pertaining to the software without specific, written prior permission.
029     *    Title to copyright in this software and any associated documentation will at all
030     *    times remain with copyright holders.
031     */
032    package org.opengis.feature.type;
033    
034    import org.opengis.referencing.crs.CoordinateReferenceSystem;
035    
036    /**
037     * The type of a Feature.
038     * <p>
039     * Beyond a complex type, a feature defines some additional information:
040     * <ul>
041     *   <li>The default geometric attribute
042     *   <li>The coordinate referencing system (derived from the default geometry)
043     * </ul>
044     * </p>
045     *
046     * @author Jody Garnett, Refractions Research
047     * @author Justin Deoliveira, The Open Planning Project
048     */
049    public interface FeatureType extends ComplexType {
050    
051        /**
052         * Features are always identified.
053         *
054         * @return <code>true</code>
055         */
056        boolean isIdentified();
057    
058        /**
059         * Describe the default geometric attribute for this feature.
060         * <p>
061         * This method returns <code>null</code> in the case where no such attribute
062         * exists.
063         * </p>
064         * @return The descriptor of the default geometry attribute, or <code>null</code>.
065         */
066        GeometryDescriptor getGeometryDescriptor();
067    
068        /**
069         * The coordinate reference system of the feature.
070         * <p>
071         * This value is derived from the default geometry attribute:
072         * <pre>
073         *   ((GeometryType)getDefaultGeometry().getType()).getCRS();
074         * </pre>
075         * </p>
076         * <p>
077         * This method will return <code>null</code> in the case where no default
078         * geometric attribute is defined.
079         * </p>
080         * @return The coordinate referencing system, or <code>null</code>.
081         */
082        CoordinateReferenceSystem getCoordinateReferenceSystem();
083    }