Information models

For the representation and communication of information


Communicating information


For the communication of any information we always need:


An information model is a formal description of types of ideas, facts and processes which together from a model of a portion of interest of the real world and which also provides an explicit set of rules to interpret the data.  An information model written in a computer sensible representation, such as EXPRESS (ISO 10303-11), has the additional benefit of being computer processable (Shenck. D and Wilson, P. ‘Information Modeling the EXPRESS Way’, Oxford, New York, 1994.  ISBN 0-19-508714-3).


Avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity

Everyone in a communication process must use the same information model and the same dictionary in order to avoid any ambiguity in the communication.

A sentence in a natural language and the numerical representation of a calendar date are examples of standardised information models. An information model can be re-used many times by creating an instance of the standard model by adding data items to the appropriate places in the model to communicate a particular piece of information.


The achievement of ISO TC184/SC4 is to develop a new technology - product data technology - for creating information models and dictionaries for all engineering information that are computer - understandable, computer- processable and independent from proprietary software.


A dictionary of the terms and definitions for engineering test methods and their properties can be developed using the information model defined in IEC 61360 and adopted by ISO 13586-42 Parts library.  Software implementations of ISO 10303-235 can make reference to this dictionary to obtain the names and definitions of test methods and their properties.



Home About us ISO 10303-235 Information Engineering