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

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

3. 3The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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

4. 4The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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.

5. 5The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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

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

7. 7The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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

8. 8The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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

9. 9The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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)

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

11. 11The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 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

12. 12The ISO Concept database Reinhard Weissinger 16 August 2008 ISO/CDB - Implementation Implementation time frame: 2007 Q4 – 2009 Q1 (first release for production) Cooperation agreement with external software partner: “Paradine” (Austria) – www.paradine.at

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

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

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

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

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

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