HMA takes into account the requirements for the future ESA Earth observation ground segment and provides a harmonised and standardised access to ESA mission data and also to other mission ground segment through the EO Data Access Integration Layer (EO-DAIL).

The EO Data Access Integration Layer is flexible such to support specific missions or national facilities constraints. Within GMES space component the EO-DAIL is part of the Coordinated Data Access System (CDS) infrastructure and therefore supports the GMES operational scenarios needed to provide the GMES Services with the required data. HMA is using the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) as the forum to discuss the proposed standards; CEN was as well instrumental in formalising an initial set of standards. OGC is an international industry consortium, government agencies and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available interface standards. OGC standards support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the web, location-based services, and mainstream information technology, therefore enlarging the market potential for EO related applications.

The HMA information models used to describe collections, datasets and Earth observation products rely on well established International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Open GeoSpatial Consortium - OGC standards.

• EO collection metadata: ISO 19115 Geographic Information - Metadata.
• EO product metadata: OGC's GML Application Schema for EO Products
• Collection and service discovery: OGC's Cataloguing of ISO Metadata using the ebRIM profile of CS-W
• Catalogue Service: OGC's Catalogue Services Specification 2.0 Extension Package for ebRIM Application Profile: Earth Observation Products.
• Order: OGC's Ordering Services for Earth Observation Products
• Feasibility Analysis: OGC's Sensor Planning Service Application Profile for EO Sensors
• Online Data Access: OGC's WMS EO Extension
• Identity (User) Management: OGC's User Management Interfaces for Earth Observation Services.