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URL:
http://metadata-stds.org/11179/
Humans are aware of things or ideas that exists through
their properties. Data represents the properties of these things or ideas. A
data element is the construct by which we consider the thing or idea, one of
its properties, and the possible representations of the property as data. A
value domain specifies how a data element is represented, i.e., is the set of
allowed values for that data element. Specification of data elements, value
domains, and related data entities involves documenting relevant
characteristics of each. Data that has been carefully specified greatly
enhances its usefulness and shareability across systems and organizations.
Sharing data involves the ability to locate and retrieve desired data and to
exchange the data with others. When data elements and value domains are well
documented according to ISO/IEC 11179 and the documentation is managed in a
metadata registry (MDR), finding and retrieving them from disparate databases
as well as sending and receiving them via electronic communications are made
easier.
The documentation and harmonization of data elements
used in communications through automated information processing systems is an
ongoing and essential activity. The success of this activity and its
application throughout the world is of vital importance if international
communications among governments, businesses, and scientific communities are to
be improved. The primary data sharing and harmonization problems addressed by
the development of ISO/IEC 11179 include, but are not limited to the following:
·
There is a lack of mechanisms for enabling global data acquisition and
interchange, particularly across application areas;
·
Unique global identifiers for data elements and value domains currently
do not exist;
·
Documentation of data element characteristics is inadequate to support
fully automated sharing of data, including locating, retrieving, and exchanging
the data;
·
There is a lack of uniform guidance for identification, development, and
description of data elements and value domains;
·
Finding and retrieving a specific data element or value domain among
thousands or millions is difficult or impossible;
·
No universal means for organizing data elements and value domains
exists;
·
While data is sometimes standardized within an organization, there are
few common data standards between organizations;
·
Exchange of data among organizations results in a proliferation of
customized data interchange representations;
·
Data definitions and descriptions are not sufficiently precise to
support reuse or multiple users of data;
·
Current inventory structures for reducing logical data redundancies are
inadequate;
·
Global implementation of electronic data interchange including the use
of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is impeded by a lack of well-specified data
elements and value domains.
The six parts are:
·
Part 1: Framework, introduces and discusses fundamental ideas of
data elements, value domains, data element concepts, conceptual domains, and
classification schemes essential to the understanding of this set of standards
and provides the context for associating the individual parts of ISO/IEC 11179.
·
Part 2: Classification, provides a conceptual model for managing
classification schemes. There are many structures used to organize
classification schemes and there are many subject matter areas that
classification schemes describe. So, this Part also provides a two-faceted
classification for classification schemes themselves.
·
Part 3: Registry Metamodel and Basic Attributes, specifies a
conceptual model for a metadata registry. It is limited to a set of basic
attributes for data elements, data element concepts, value domains, conceptual
domains, classification schemes, and other related classes, called administered
items. The basic attributes specified for data elements in ISO/IEC 11179-3:1994
are provided in this revision.
·
Part 4: Formulation of Data Definitions, provides guidance on how to
develop unambiguous data definitions. A number of specific rules and guidelines
are presented in ISO/IEC 11179-4 that specify exactly how a data definition
should be formed. A precise, well-formed definition is one of the most critical
requirements for shared understanding of an administered item; well-formed
definitions are imperative for the exchange of information. Only if every user
has a common and exact understanding of the data item can it be exchanged
trouble-free.
·
Part 5: Naming and Identification Principles, provides guidance
for the identification of administered items. Identification is a broad term
for designating, or identifying, a particular data item. Identification can be
accomplished in various ways, depending upon the use of the identifier.
Identification includes the assignment of numerical identifiers that have no
inherent meanings to humans; icons (graphic symbols to which meaning has been
assigned); and names with embedded meaning, usually for human understanding,
that are associated with the data item's definition and value domain.
·
Part 6: Registration, provides instruction on how a registration
applicant may register a data item with a central Registration Authority and
the allocation of unique identifiers for each data item. Maintenance of
administered items already registered is also specified in this document.
Keywords:
Widespread usage
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