Can use of GML Simple Features profile by Web Feature Service (WFS) be advertised?

Question

The ArcGIS 10.1 documentation on Working with WFS services says:

The GML Simple Features profile is recommended for use with ArcGIS and is the basis for WFS support in ArcGIS.

Is there an easy way to determine whether a particular WFS is encoding using that or an alternative profile - perhaps by looking at its GetCapabilities?

It's interesting to note that not a single service URL was suggested when I asked whether anyone knew of a public WFS using the Simple Features profile.

I'm also trying to uncover an answer to this via the ArcGIS Discussion Forums now.

Answer 1

Yes, in GetCapabilities and DescribeFeatureType as stated in the GML Simple Feature profile documentation:

GetCapabilities:

The following XML fragment shows how a WFS may advertise in its capabilities document that it can generate schemas that comply with this profile:

1. <ows:Operation name="DescribeFeatureType">
2.   <ows:DCP>
3.     <ows:HTTP>
4.       <ows:Post xlink:href="http://www.BlueOx.org/wfs"/>
5.     </ows:HTTP>
6.   </ows:DCP>
7.   <ows:Parameter name="outputFormat">
8.     <ows:Value>text/xml; subType=gml/3.1.1</ows:Value>
9.     <ows:Value>text/xml; subType=gml/3.1.1/sfgml</Value>
10.   </ows:Parameter>
11. </ows:Operation>

Line 9 indicates that this WFS can generate a GML application schema that conforms to this profile.

DescribeFeatureType XML-encoded request:

The following example XML fragment shows a DescribeFeatureType request indicating that the response should conform to this profile:

<DescribeFeatureType outputFormat="text/xml; subType=gml/3.1.1/sfgml"/>

DescribeFeatureType KVP-encode request:

The following example URL shows a DescribeFeatureType request indicating that the response should conform to this profile:

http://www.BlueOx.org/wfs/wfs.cgi?service=WFS&version=1.1.0&request=DescribeFeatureType&outputFormat=text/xml;+subType=gml/3.1.1/sfgml