International Organization for Standardization www iso org Reinhard

International Organization for Standardization www. iso. org Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 1

The ISO Concept Database Moscow, 15 August 2008 Reinhard Weissinger ISO Central Secretariat Group Manager, Project management & e-services Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 2

Topics Use of databases for standards development in ISO TMB Group “Standards as databases” Why a “Concepts” database? (ISO/CDB) Functions & expectations re. the ISO/CDB Implementation Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 3

Applicability of the DB approach Standard consists in full or in part of a “collection of items”, e. g. graphical symbols - terms and definitions - product properties - reference data of all types - classification systems - codes (for various types of objects) - units of measurements - etc. - Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 4

Increasing use of DBs in standards development Results of surveys done by ISO Central Secretariat: June 2005: Approximately 15 TCs/SCs June 2007: Over 40 TCs/SCs March 2006: First DIS disseminated in the form of a database (ISO/TC 61/SC 1 – Plastics vocabulary) Standards written as « framework documents » with reference data maintained in external databases Emerging approach to standards development Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 5

Use of databases Use type 1: For maintenance after development traditional Approved Work Item development process Publication of a standard as a document extraction Database upload to Use type 2: For development from scratch development Approved Work Item Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 storage of concept status set to Database proposed/draft concepts Database « approved » « standard » The ISO Concept database 6

Current use of databases by ISO committees Advantages: Large number of items can be easier managed and maintained Consistency can be easier ensured Database tools readily available Challenges/problems: Lack of support in terms of IT infrastructure Grass root developments Lack of compatibility (e. g. regarding data categories), maintenance problems Access modalities to content are unclear No integration in workflow processes Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 7

TMB AHG “Standards as databases”Participation Committees represented in the TMB AHG: ISO/IEC JTC 1 Information technology ISO/IEC JWG 1 Product classification ISO/TC 10/SC 10 Technical product documentation ISO/TC 23/SC 19 Agricultural electronics ISO/TC 29 Small tools ISO/TC 37 Terminology and other language and content resources ISO/TC 46 Information and documentation ISO/TC 61 Plastics ISO/TC 145 Graphical symbols ISO/TC 172 Optics and photonics ISO/TC 184/SC 4 Industrial automation ISO/TC 199 Safety of machinery ISO/TC 215 Health informatics IEC TC 3 Information structures, documentation and graphical symbols IEC Central Office Representatives from AFNOR, ANSI, BSI, DIN, JISC Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 8

TMB AHG – Main output Generic procedure for the development and maintenance of standards in database format (approved by TMB in June 2007 – Annex ST to ISO Supplement to the Directives) Specification of basic functions of a concept database (CDB) Initial data model for CDB Definition of four access layers related to different types of objects in the CDB including a public access layer allowing free access to some content (approved by CPSG in June 2007) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 9

Why a « Concept » database? Concepts – Designations – Referents/Objects Unit of Thinking (Concept) Designation (Symbol, Sign, Term, Formula etc. ) Different types of designations/representations Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 (Unit of Thought, Unit of Knowledge) Referent (Concrete Object, Real Thing, Conceived Object) The ISO Concept database 10

ISO/CDB – Main functions & expectations Hosts “concepts”, “items” – already standardized or currently subject to standardization – The repository for such content in ISO Cross standard & cross committee visibility of standardized content or content currently under development Makes inconsistencies, overlaps visible Input for harmonization Supports a structured development process (e. g. workflows, version control for items etc. ) and allows faster development/maintenance Integrated with existing IT infrastructure of ISO (e. g. role-based access control – ISO/GD, balloting systems etc. ) Integration with standards writing tools (XML-template project) End user access: Subscription, download and API-access for customers & businesses (with webstore-integration) Independent hosting by ISO members Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 11

ISO/CDB - Implementation time frame: 2007 Q 4 – 2009 Q 1 (first release for production) Cooperation agreement with external software partner: “Paradine” (Austria) – www. paradine. at Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 12

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (1) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 13

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (2) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 14

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (3) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 15

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (4) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 16

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (5) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 17

ISO/CDB (first prototype – May 2008) Sample screen (6) Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 The ISO Concept database 18