2015-05-06
Workshop: Community of Practice on Core Data
Models
Meeting Minutes
DRAFT FOR REVIEW
Date: 09/02/2016
Workshop: Community of Practice on Core Data Models
Venue
Ministry of Environmental Protection
and Regional Development, Riga
Meeting
date
2015-05-06
Meeting
time
09:00 – 15030
Stijn Goedertier
Authors
Nikolaos Loutas
Stefanos Kotoglou
MINUTES
This section documents the discussions that took place during the workshop.
The workshop started with a round-table discussion where all the participants to had
the opportunity to introduce themselves and explain their interest in being part of
the CoP.
1.1.
Introduction
VP introduced the topic and the goals of the workshop.
“It is necessary to establish a common terminology for the core data models.
We are working for similar goals in isolation. I invite everyone to share his/her
experiences and collaborate within the Community of Practice (CoP) for
agreeing and for achieving consensus”.
VP introduced the CoP to the new members.
VP gave a brief overview of the Community of Practice workshop in November 2014
and the webinar in March 2015.
VP presented the goals of the workshop. He emphasised on the need to agree on a
common terminology for the CoP and explained that the CoP can provide the means
for improving internal and external communication around core data models and
reference data.
1.2.
Setting the scene
NL presented the view of ISA regarding the key building blocks in the core data
models.
The semantic view of the European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA) 1
presents a harmonised view of the core data models landscape. The EIRA is currently
developed in collaboration with public administrations in the Member States and has
been endorsed by the ISA Coordination Group.
The semantic view of the EIRA defines the different building blocks that can play a
roles when setting up and implementing core data models and reference data
initiatives within and across borders.
1
Further information can be found on the following folder containing the development version of the EIRA:
https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/site/eia/EIRA/EIRA_beta_dev/
09/02/2016
Page 1 of 13
The semantic view of the EIRA will be submitted for review to the members of the
CoP on 12 May 2015 via the mailing list.
In order to facilitate harmonisation and alignment between core data models
initiatives, the ISA Programme has piloted a Core Data Model Mapping Directory 2.
The CoP will be invited to provide feedback on this pilot and requirements for
improving it further. Some documentation to support this will be provided via the
mailing list.
Figure 1 Simplified semantic view of EIRA
1.3.
Lighting talks from the participants and discussion
At this stage, the participants presented the initiatives in their country and described
the current situation.

Belgium – Flemish Region (OSLO 2.0):
o OSLO characteristics :
 Is local government driven;
o
2

there is already an internationalisation effort;

there is a focus on how people made it reusable;

extended based on Core vocabularies.
In collaboration with the Flemish regional government, V-ICT-OR
developed a software catalogue, documenting which software solutions
http://mapping.semic.eu
09/02/2016
Page 2 of 13
by local administrations are conforming to the OSLO standard. This
was done in order to encourage the use of OSLO by local governments.
o
The OSLO model has been piloted in the “digital declaration of death”
public service. After assessing the implementation of the standard, it
was found that the reusing OSLO led to cost reductions of EUR 20.000
per year.


o
The OSLO specifications are also included in the MAGDA platform of
the Flemish Government, which is used to connect to the base
registries.
o
OSLO is now part of an international standardisation effort in the
context of LOLA3.
Cyprus:
o

3
There are public administrations that are starting to follow standards
in a common direction for creating a core data model.
Germany (KoSIT - XOV):
o

There is a governmental data warehouse project that was recently
started. The data model of the data warehouse will be based on the
ISA Core Vocabularies and it will store a large amount of data that will
be used for information exchange with other countries.
Georgia:
o

ISA is interested to know more about how this cost analysis was
done.
There is a core model in place and the objective is to explore the
potential advantages that ISA could provide especially on an
international level.
Japan (Japanese Infrastructure for Multilayer Interoperability (IMI)):
o
Mappings can be created at the conceptual level and at the data type
level.
o
The meaning of the mapping relationships such as ‘exact match’, ‘close
match’, ‘narrow/broad match’ needs to be defined more clearly. For
example, for an exact match is it sufficient to have semantic
equivalence, or do you also need to have syntactical equivalence (e.g.
correspondence of the data type)? Or based on which criteria should
one select ‘close match’ vs. ‘exact match’?
o
Some mappings may be more complicated and require a conditional
statement (mapping rules). Some fields shall be combined or be
separated to include or better match the needs and the concepts of
each specific mapping.
http://lola-ict.org/
09/02/2016
Page 3 of 13
o

Latvia:
o
o


4
There is in place the “Unified data space programme 4” is project
portfolio for 2014-2020. It is now piloted with Latvian base registries.

Legal perspective – establishing
management framework
Information
resource

Organizational perspective clarifies responsibilities for involved
parties

Semantic perspective deals with Standardization, vocabularies,
business rules, metadata etc.

Technical perspective - Solutions – register of EA artifacts, data
marketplace, caching solution
There is an interest for collaborating and receiving feedback regarding
lessons learnt and best practices followed by other countries.
Lithuania:
o

Japan offered to share with the CoP some work that will help clarifying
the mapping relationships.
It is very important (from a legal point of view) to identify the parties
that are exchanging information, e.g. what is the organisation and
legal constraints of exchanging information between two information
systems.
Netherlands (Stelselcatalogus):
o
The public administrations are decentralised and the main objective is
to increase transparency and to create one single point of retrieving
information.
o
Data from base registries has the potential to be reused within public
administrations. In order to foster the reusability of such data, the
Stelselcatalogus gives users, customers, suppliers and other
stakeholders a complete view and explanation of the available data
and terms within base registries.
Poland:
o
Agreeing on the syntax is equally important to agreeing on the
semantics in order to achieve interoperable information exchanges.
o
The CoP could work on identifying a list of recommended syntaxes for
interoperability in specific policy areas.
o
The objective of creating mappings should be clearly defined.
https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/isa_field_path/presentation_by_dita_gabalina_core_dat
models_in_e-governement_interoperability_-_roadmap_for_latvia.pdf
09/02/2016
Page 4 of 13


o
When mapping, some information may be lost. In some cases this may
be an issue but in other it may not be important. It depends on the
context and the requirements of the specific information exchange.
o
How detailed should a (core) data model be? More detail means higher
expressivity, but requires higher cost and more effort in order to collect
the required information.
Spain:
o
EM emphasised that the model and its properties should be defined
only after the analysis and the information requirements are defined.
o
For each data model, it is important to consider the context in which
such an interoperability specification can be used. The models are a
means to an end. She explained that the CoP should focus on a small
set of models related to cross-border information exchange.
Sweden:
o

The internationalisation of core data models is very important,
especially for implementing cross border e-services.
USA (NIEM 3.0):
o
In a model like NIEM (with more than 6000 elements), the challenge
is to create and maintain a model that does not differentiate
periodically and a model that is compatible with new entries (new
services that are created).
o
The mappings are mainly used to harmonise the data models in NIEM
(NIEM Core, NIEM domain models, NIEM IEPD). The mappings are
also important to internationalise the vocabularies of NIEM. Therefore,
before starting the mapping, it is important to decide with parts of the
vocabulary should be internationalised.
o
NIEM will run a pilot in the context of the Geospatial Enhancement for
NIEM (Geo4NIEM) initiative to enhance NIEM’s geospatial exchange
capabilities and improve inter-government information sharing of
homeland security, law enforcement, emergency management and
public safety missions in the US. The pilot will also explore access
control features and data access standards.
o
NIEM is currently defined in XML Schema. It can be represented in
UML. To ensure the NIEM Program is growing its technical architecture
and capabilities in alignment with community needs—future targets for
representation may include JSON, RDF, and others.
Additionally, Jesper Abrahamsen from DG COMP presented the Reference Data
Deployment Adaptor (REDDA). The workshop also contained two presentations on
spatial data modelling from ISA Action 2.13 (European Union Location Framework)
and ISA Action 1.13 (Reusable ARE3NA reference platform). :

Spatial data modelling in the context of intelligent transportation
systems: the INSPIRE Data Specifications on Transport Networks have been
extended with data elements related to static road information such as speed
09/02/2016
Page 5 of 13
limits, vehicle restrictions, etc. The EULF transportation pilot demonstrated
how data from mapping agencies and road authorities can be exchanged with
vendors of navigation systems and maps to provide better navigation support
to road users.

Call interest in INSPIRE Linked Data pilots: The JRC is planning to
conduct INSPIRE linked data pilots, involving the use of URIs and the encoding
INSPIRE data specifications in RDF. There is a clear demand for that from the
member states. Any EU Member State that is interested to participate can
contact Robin Smith and Michael Lutz of the Joint Research Centre for this.
1.4.
Discussion
VP emphasised on the opportunity for initiatives that are now starting in the MSs to
start from and extend the ISA Core Vocabularies. The ISA Programme can support
them in this process.
The CoP agreed that measuring and demonstrating the extra value that the
implementation of core data models can bring are required for convincing people to
adopt them.
EM asked for a way of easily finding on Joinup data models which have already been
defined in an EU context. This will facilitate their reuse and adoption. This feedback
will be share with ISA Action 4.2.4 European Federated Interoperability Repository 5.
VP encouraged the members of the CoP to contribute ideas for future work on core
data models, which can be funded under ISA Action 1.1. Everyone is invited to share
their thoughts via the mailing list.
The members of the CoP agreed to collaborate on the creation of a document, in
coordination with the UN, to provide common guidelines, good practices and lessons
learnt for core data models. This exercise will build further on the Methodology and
tools for Metadata Governance and Management for EU Institutions and Member
States6.
Proposed activities:
5

Co-define the scope (based on the EIRA semantic view);

Share ideas on how to assess practices and lessons learnt shared by the
members of the CoP;

Co-create a template for documenting the efforts from the different MSs;

Agree on a timeplan and allocation of roles and responsibilities; and

Identify and start working on some first candidate cases.
http://ec.europa.eu/isa/actions/04-accompanying-measures/4-2-4action_en.htm
6
http://joinup.ec.europa.eu/site/core_vocabularies/governance_and_management_of_structural_met
adata/Methodology-and-tools-for-Structural-Metadata-Management-and-Governance-for-EUInstitutions-and-Member-States_v1.00.pdf
09/02/2016
Page 6 of 13
The members of the CoP agreed to document not only “good” practices but also
initiatives that did not take up. This will allow the CoP to derive lessons learnt that
are equally valuable and can benefit everyone. Hence, a set of criteria will be created
to categorise practices.
NIEM shared some advice and lessons learnt:

codelists and reference data are hard to be applied;

extending the core data models should be consistent for achieving
interoperability;

the information exchange model should be created based on the Core
Vocabularies.
Next webinar meeting of the Community of Practice will take place in June. ISA will
send out an invitation and will prepare the webinar.
1.5.
The Core Public Service Vocabulary Application Profile (CPSV-AP)
A special session was organised in the context of the workshop to demonstrate how
a core data model, i.e. the ISA Core Public Service Vocabulary, was extended in order
to address the information requirements of the Service Directive and its
implementation on the Points of Single Contact. This led to the definition of the Core
Public Service Application Profile (CPSV-AP7). This work is carried out in the context
of ISA Action 1.3 Catalogue of Services8.
The CPSV-AP was developed by a working group, which was a subgroup of the EUGO
network9 of DG GROW, following an open consensus building approach 10.
The following 10 EU Member States participated in the development of the CPSV-AP:
Austria, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and
Sweden. X+2 out of these 10 countries participated in the workshop.
Some of those countries made specific interventions in the workshop:

Estonia:
o
There is a pilot project for describing the different public services
provided from 7 public authorities using and extending the CPSV. The
objectives are:

to increase the maturity level of the authorities;

to make it available in a machine readable format (JSON);
7
https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/asset/cpsv-ap/description
8
http://ec.europa.eu/isa/actions/01-trusted-information-exchange/1-3action_en.htm
9
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/eu-go/index_en.htm
10
https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/node/43160
09/02/2016
Page 7 of 13

o
In this pilot, the Estonian metadata reference architecture will be
piloted in the domain of public service provision, in order to facilitate
the public service portfolio management initiative of the Estonian
administration.
o
The CPSV-AP is used as the common vocabulary for creating
descriptions of public services.
o
The pilot, which is supported by ISA Action 1.1, comprises the
development of two reusable software tools:


An editor for creating descriptions of public services based on
the CPSV-AP.

A harvester for collecting CPSV-AP based descriptions of public
services published in a decentralised fashion on the websites of
local authorities, and storing these descriptions in a central
repository.

Emphasis has been placed on the need for developing tools that
are reusable, so that other MSs can also benefit from those.
Finland:
o


There is one common model (updated) that is compatible with the ISA
Core Vocabularies.
Poland:
o
Each authority follows its own XML schema.
o
Currently, there is an effort to synchronise and harmonise all existing
data models for describing public services (both for citizens and
businesses) into one data model. The main objective for initiating this
was to provide a more efficient and faster way to update and store
information on the PSC.
o
It is an opportunity to reuse the CPSV-AP when developing this new
data model for public services in Poland. Something to be explored
together with ISA, who is willing to provide support.
Spain:
o
There is a common data model for representing public services for all
Spanish public administrations.
o
For Spain, the CPSV-AP provides opportunities for aligning regional and
local models for describing public services and business events.
o
PN supported the use of the CPSV-AP for international alignment of
public service descriptions to facilitate the exchange of such
descriptions between PSCs and/or other government portals across
borders and at the European level.
o
There is a need for coordination between ISA Action 1.3 and e-SENS.
Sweden:
09/02/2016
Page 8 of 13
o
The focus is on G2C collaboration. The CPSV-AP should be extended to
cover also life events of citizens.
In order to support adoption of the CPSV-AP by EU Member States, the EC is creating,
in collaboration with the 10 participating Member States, functional specification for
the following tools:
o
public service description editor;
o
data validator (checking conformance and give feedback to the
owners of the descriptions);
o
harvesting tool that publishes the description at the common portal;
o
mapping tool for the harmonisation of data models.
The participants expressed the following suggestions for future work under ISA Action
1.3:

to co-define a taxonomy for types of public service outputs, e.g. permission,
authorisation etc.;

run a pilot of a European catalogue of public services by federating
descriptions of public services from different Member States based on the
CPSV-AP. This will assess the feasibility of the approach and will reveal
practical challenges to be solved.

Extend the CPSV-AP to cover also life events for citizens.
NEXT STEPS
As a result from the workshop the next steps listed in the table below were agreed.
ID
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
09/02/2016
Description
Material of the semantic view of the EIRA (providing
definitions for all the elements of the semantic view)
to be uploaded for review on Joinup and a notification
e-mail will be sent to the members of the CoP.
To provide feedback on the semantic view of EIRA.
To provide input regarding the mapping types to the
Core Vocabularies.
To contact ISA for providing the mappings of the
initiatives with the Core Vocabularies.
The objective is to have mappings that are approved
by the core data owners.
To contact the responsible of core data model
initiatives mapped to the ISA Core Vocabularies in
order to ask them to validate the mappings
The responsible of core data model initiatives mapped
to the ISA Core Vocabularies to provide feedback and
approval for the mappings that exist already
Owner
Due date
ISA/
PwC
2015/05/16
CoP
2015/05/30
ST, TW
2015/05/20
CoP
2015/06/15
ISA/
PwC
2015/06/15
CoP
2015/06/30
Page 9 of 13
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
To make available the formal mappings of the core
data models (initiatives) with the Core Vocabularies.
To circulate the Core Data Models Mapping Directory
(mapping tool) for validation.
To review and validate the Core Data Models Mapping
Directory (mapping tool) and provide comments and
suggestions.
MS participants to consider whether they want to do
an INSPIRE Linked Data Pilot. Contact Robin Smith
and Michael Lutz of the ISA Programme (ARE3NA
Action) for further information.
To share the updated version of the core data model.
To collaborate on the creation of a document in
coordination with the UN, to provide common
guidelines for core data models. This exercise is
linked to the Methodology and tools for Metadata
Governance and Management for EU Institutions and
Member States. The documentation will follow a
common template that will be agreed among the
members of the CoP.
To share with the CoP a proposed scope, template
and timeplan for the common document.
To provide feedback on the proposed scope, template
and timeplan for the common document.
To support the creation of web visualisation of the
guidelines document for easy access.
To invite all the members to play the role of the editor
or any other role that the members consider to be
vital for the guidelines document.
To share the existing information about data
exchange between countries to be included in the
guidelines document.
To share the workshop material with the members of
the CoP.
To include the new members of the CoP in the mailing
list.
Members of the CoP to propose additional colleagues
to be included in the list.
To develop formal definitions for the mapping
relationships.
To organise the next webinar of the Community of
Practice
ISA/
PwC
ISA/
PwC
2015/07/15
2015/05/16
CoP
2015/05/30
CoP
2015/07/15
JK, JKo
2015/06/01
All
On-going
ISA/
PwC
2015/06/15
CoP
2015/06/30
ISA
2015/09/15
ISA/
PwC
2015/06/15
JVDW
2015/06/15
ISA/
PwC
ISA/
PwC
CoP
ISA/
PwC
ISA/
PwC
2015/05/08
2015/05/08
On-going
2015/06/15
2015/06/30
23.
To provide ideas for future work
CoP
On-going
24.
To provide feedback on the meeting minutes
CoP
2015/05/22
09/02/2016
Page 10 of 13
LIST OF WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
Name
Abbreviation
Organisation
Andrzej Jarzewski
AJ
Ministry of Economy, Poland
Dita Gabalina
DG
Sunberry Systems Ltd, Latvia
Donna Roy
DR
DHS Information Sharing Environment
Office (NIEM), USA
Eduards Cauna
EC
Ministry of Environmental Protection and
Regional Development, Latvia
Elena Munoz
EM
Directorate of Ministry of finances and
public administrations, Spain information
and Communications Technologies, Spain
Enric Staromiejski
Torregrosa
EST
Everis
Francesco Pignatelli
FP
Joint Research Centre, European
Commission
Hans Ekstal
HE
Bolagsverket - Swedish Companies
Registration Office
Hideaki Takeda
HT
National Institute of Informatics, Japan
Ilze Magrica
IM
Regional State Development Agency of
Latvia
Jari Kallela
JK
Ministry of Finance, Finland
Jarno Kovero
JKo
ELY - Centre for Economic Development,
Transport and the Environment, Finland
Jaroslaw Tomaszewski
JT
Instytut Logistyki i Magazynowania, Poland
Johan Van Der Waal
JVDW
V-ICT-OR, Belgium
Julius Belickas
JB
Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of
Lithuania
Kristian Mul
KM
Logius, Netherlands
Lutz Rabe
LR
Finanzien (KoSIT), Germany
09/02/2016
Page 11 of 13
Makx Dekkers
MD
AMI Consult
Nikoloz Gagnidze
NG
Head of the Division of DEA infrastructure
Data Exchange Agency, Georgia
NKP
Information Technology Officer A
Department of Information Technology
Services, Ministry of Finance, Cyprus
Government
Patrocinio Nieto
PN
Directorate of Ministry of finances and
public administrations, Spain information
and Communications Technologies, Spain
Peter Reichstädter
PR
Bundeskanzleramt Österreich, Austria
Risto Hinno
RH
Ministry of Economic Affairs and
Communications, Estonia
Schuichi Tashiro
ST
IPA, Japan
Takashi Wada
TW
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
Japan
Jesper Abrahamsen
JA
DG COMP (REDDA), European Commission
Luisa Guedes
LG
DG MOVE/SRD.4, European Commission
Vassilios Peristeras
VP
DG DIGIT/ ISA Programme
Tuende Czink
TC
DG DIGIT/ ISA Programme
Athanasios Karalopoulos
AK
DG DIGIT/ ISA Programme
Miguel Alvarez
Rodriguez
MAR
DG DIGIT/ ISA Programme
Peter Burian
PB
DG DIGIT/ ISA Programme
Stijn Goedertier
SG
PwC EU Services
Nikolaos Loutas
NL
PwC EU Services
Nicolas Loozen
NLz
PwC EU Services
Stefanos Kotoglou
SK
PwC EU Services
Norma Klippi Pekri
09/02/2016
Page 12 of 13
09/02/2016
Page 13 of 13