Dr Christian Lange, Project Manager for the German standardisation initiative, explains the basics of the German approach to modelling eGovernment data.
Germany has recently added 25 of these core components as interoperability assets to the SEMIC.EU repository for reuse.
SEMIC.EU What are the specific objectives you pursue with the XRepository and how relevant is the XRepository for data exchange within the German administration?
Dr Christian Lange The XRepository functions as the central platform for the publication of "XÖV standards" of the German administration and thus it is the first address for new standardisation projects. It is our goal that everyone who is interested ? from developers to users ? can find all relevant information about these public administration standards at one central platform. New projects in particular benefit from the platform since they find standards and components in the XRepository which they can reuse.
SEMIC.EU What kind of data content do you provide in the XRepository?
Dr Christian Lange Core components as well as specific components, standards and code lists are published in the XRepository. In addition all functional and technical material artefacts will be found in the XRepository. This can range from UML-Models to description charts, technical XSD-files and also comprises documentations.
SEMIC.EU How can the XRepository and its data content serve as a model for other European countries, regions and projects?
Dr Christian Lange A central platform is an important component for each standardisation project, regardless in which country or in which region. The content of our XRepository is available for free and reusable. We would be happy to see other countries use our data as a basis for their own standardisation projects. Furthermore I?d like to say that for the most part our data is based on the methods of the UN/CEFACT ? which sets a good example for other projects.
SEMIC.EU In comparison to other European countries ? where do you see specific challenges for the electronic data exchange in Germany? Can you give us a specific example?
Dr Christian Lange As a federal republic, Germany has three administrative levels: the central government (Bund), the federal states (Bundesländer) and the municipalities (Kommunen). Data exchange occurs within and between these three levels of administration. That?s why standardisation of data exchange plays such an important role in Germany. Evidently, all administrative levels are involved in the standardisation process as well - thus the alignment effort is immense.
SEMIC.EU XÖV core components have already been published in the XRepository and also on SEMIC.EU. What are your experiences in applying the methods of UN/CEFACT, and ? in this context - what is the difference between the German core component concept to its French counterpart?
Dr Christian Lange The methods of the UN/CEFACT have been a very good starting point for the development of the XÖV library of core components. We hope that this common background will help the German core components to establish themselves in other European standardisation projects. Indeed, there are different approaches in different countries. The French standardisation initiative did not only use UN/CEFACT's methods but actually translates components from the UN/CEFACT library systematically and adjusts them to French specifications. In Germany we focused on the UN/CEFACT methodology rather than on the library to develop XÖV core components.
SEMIC.EU What are the duties and responsibilities of the German Federal Office for Information Technology (BIT) regarding the XRepository?
Dr Christian Lange Besides the technical administration and the operation of the XRepository, the German Federal Office for Information Technology (BIT) within the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) functions as a moderator and an advisory body. To guarantee the quality of the content, we check all new data for whether they overlap with previous content. Only after this clearing process the new data is published. Hence the BIT plays an important role for the qualitative review of new data. In this connection thematic intersections can be identified, duplication of work can be avoided and synergy effects can be generated.
Dr Lange is the Head of Division BIT7, Standards and Methods, Competence Centre OSS, German Federal Office for Information Technology (BIT)
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