1. RAMON Re-engineering An Update
Item 8.1 of agenda Standards Working Group Meeting July Luxembourg
Danny DELCAMBRE
Eurostat, Unit B.5
Data and Metadata Services and Standards

2. Introduction
Wider context
What we are presently doing about RAMON
Main requirements for new RAMON
Next steps and timeline

3. Introduction HOWEVER THEREFORE RAMON is an old application
officially presented for the first time in 1997
main focus was to populate the database: content matters, not the container !
HOWEVER
internet is now cornerstone for everything
new technologies and formats have appeared that can simplify or improve users' experience
semantic web is growing more and more in importance and classifications are typically an element that can benefit from these developments as classification information is highly structured
THEREFORE
decision was taken to thoroughly revise this tool !

4. Wider context
Migration from ColdFusion to Java (imposed by Directorate-General for IT)
New Dissemination Chain in Eurostat
LOD (Linked Open Data) pilots at Eurostat
ESSnet on LOD
ISA² Programme (“Improving Statistical Data and Metadata Discoverability and Analysis”)
Linked-open data oriented project
One Work Package deals with "Metadata Strategy and Architecture" : intention is to integrate RAMON in the new strategy and architecture to the largest extent possible

5. What has been done so far
Collection of user requirements
Call for feedback at last year Standards W.G. meeting
Post published on the home page of RAMON
Post published on Eurostat's intranet
Occasional feedback received via the functional mailbox of RAMON
Personal notes made over time about possible improvements or corrections
Drafting of an internal synthesis paper

6. Main requirements for new RAMON
Improved presentation of classifications (e.g. grouping by classification families, classifications, classification versions)
Example
Now
New RAMON

7. Main requirements for new RAMON
Links to other classifications should be shown also on classification pages (and not only under the "Correspondence tables" section) Example

8. Main requirements for new RAMON
Develop augmented search application based on the Integrated System of International Statistical Classifications (and possibly linked to the CLASS project developed by Directorate-General TAXUD - Taxations and Customs Union)

9. Main requirements for new RAMON
Make satellite information (general information about the classification, download button) more visible

10. Main requirements for new RAMON
Search tool to be improved (including on individual pages)
Improved sorting functions (possibility to sort on all columns)
New download formats: MS-Excel, XML (based on SDMX), web services, RDF, JSON
Make classification categories (web) addressable, i.e. each single code of a classification will have a distinct URL (examples: #folder-15)
National classifications and metadata should be exposed in RAMON

11. Main requirements for new RAMON
Improve performance (slow loading)
Some more internal harmonization (GSIM, SDMX Information Model, all CLs in RAMON – not only the SCL)
More modern web design
Miscellaneous:
Add territorial classifications as well as LAEA_ETRS89 classification as Census data will be disseminated with this geometry
Guidelines for publishing rights of UN Classifications not available

12. Next steps and timeline
Decouple migration to Java from other initiatives (this migration will come first)
End of this year ? Also depending on the resources of external contractor
Express the requests for changing RAMON into functional requirements so that IT people can estimate the price and the time necessary to re-engineer RAMON
End of this year
IT developments
Depending on the reply from the contractor, but most probably between 6 and 12 months, i.e. end 2019
Potential interactions with other actions (ISA² project, LOD initiatives) may also have an impact on the calendar.

13. Questions to Member States
What about having a section referring to national metadata pages ?
Should we take advantage of this work to re-consider the scope of RAMON ? For instance, one country questioned the inclusion of the Australian and New Zealand standard classifications in RAMON.
Could we consider a more collaborative approach ? In a context of scarce resources, can we consider sharing the burden of populating a database such as CODED (Concepts and definitions)
Thank you !