United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Statistical Division
Introduction to
Steven Vale
UNECE
steven.vale@unece.org
Information objects

Things that flow between GSBPM subprocesses

Things that drive and integrate subprocesses
GSIM and GSBPM

GSIM describes the information objects and
flows within the statistical business process.
So what is GSIM?


A reference framework of information objects:
•
Definitions
•
Attributes
•
Relationships
GSIM aligns with relevant standards such as
DDI and SDMX
GSIM gives us standard terminology
History
• First ideas when GSBPM was released
• Initial development by the Statistical
Network in 2010-11
• Identified as a priority by the HLG
• Major international project in 2012
• GSIM 1.0 released in December 2012
GSIM Revision
• Part of 2013 HLG project on standards and
frameworks for statistical modernisation
• Changes based on feedback from early
implementations
• Simplified - 150 110 information objects
• Incorporates revised Neuchâtel Model of
classification terminology
• Better aligned with other standards,
particularly DDI
GSIM at
different
levels of
detail in a
business
process
Examples of GSIM Information
Objects

Taken from “Clickable GSIM”
http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/GSIMclick
Using GSIM
Combining standards


Standards-based modernisation
GSBPM provided the starting point, but
more was needed:
•
Information model
• Data / metadata formats
• Modular architecture
• Shared development of tools and methods
Mapping of Standards
Data / metadata formats for
implementing GSIM
Others?
What is SDMX?
Statistical Data and
Metadata Exchange
An initiative to foster standards for the
exchange of statistical information
What is DDI?
The Data Documentation Initiative
(DDI) is an effort to create an
international standard for describing
data from the social, behavioral, and
economic sciences
Can we use just SDMX or DDI?

SDMX
•

Too heavy!
DDI
•

Suitable for micro-data??
Suitable for exchange of statistical
aggregates??
Not designed for this!
Use both?
•
Trial by Australian Bureau of Statistics
DDI and SDMX in the GSBPM
DDI
SDMX
GSIM Implementation in Norway



RAIRD - Remote Access Infrastructure
for Register Data
National research infrastructure for
register data on people and businesses
Needed an information model
•

Used GSIM as a starting point
Case study at
•
http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/
gsim/RAIRD+Information+Model+RIM+v1_0
GSIM Implementation in France


Implementation as part of a project to
overhaul the INSEE metadata
repository
Generic information model based on
GSIM
GSIM Implementation in Sweden


In 2010 Statistics Sweden decided on a
register and data warehousing vision and
strategy
A GSIM based central metadata
repository has a key role in providing
information on data and controlling
GSBPM processes
GSIM Implementation – The
Copenhagen Mapping



Implementing GSIM 1.1 statistical
classifications using DDI 3.2
Describes the classification model in DDI
3.2 and maps to GSIM classification model
Identifies gaps in the DDI coverage of the
GSIM classification model, and provides a
controlled vocabulary for use with DDI 3.2
to cover these gaps
GSIM Implementation Case Studies


Template being created
Presentations at:
•
Workshop on International
Collaboration for
Standards-Based
Modernisation
• Geneva, 5 to 7 May 2015
More information – GSIM Wiki
http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/gsim