ISO/IEC 11179

DDI-L reflects ISO/IEC 11179 structure in several respects. First, it maps the core structures Concept, Universe, ConceptualVariable, and RepresentedVariable to the ISO/IEC 11179 Data Element Classification Structure. The structure presented in DDI 3.2 aligns with the representation of this ISO standard through the GSIM structure. (See GSIM discussion within this section).

Secondly, DDI-L has adopted the combination of the Agency, ID, and Version as the full unique identification of an object. This is reflected in the identification model and content of the DDI URN. Finally, DDI-L has incorporated the ISO/IEC 11179-5 structure of providing a Name, Label, and Description for all primary objects (maintainable and versionable) that are not considered publication structures. Publication structures have complete citation information plus an abstract. The objects with this common descriptive set are those that are commonly managed with registries over time.

This standard describes the structure and content of a data element as the basic building block of information. DDI -L is particularly concerned with providing the information needed to populate an ISO/IEC 11179 data element and support a registry structure. The following diagram provides the Data Element Structure.

Figure 1. ISO11179 Data Element Structure

figure1

International Standard ISO/IEC 11179-1: Information technology – Specification and standardization of data elements – Part 1: Framework for the specification and standardization of data elements Technologies de l’informatin – Spécifiction et normalization des elements de données – Partie 1: Cadre pout la specification et la normalization des elements de données. First edition 1999-12-01 (p26) https://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6233/c002349_ISO_IEC_11179-1_1999%28E%29.pdf

In DDI terminology, the Object Class is defined by the universe, its Property is the concept, and the Representation is the Representation content used by the Variable that measures it.

ConceptualComponent contains Universe and Concept definitions while Representation is described within the Variable. In most DDI instances it is the Variable that ties the three sections of this definition together. Note that if the Variable does not include a concept reference the instance is not compliant with ISO/IEC 11179.

DDI 3.2 has added the ability to create the more abstract (or reusable) descriptions of an ISO/IEC 11179 Data Element and Data Element Concept. These have been structured to align with the GSIM description (see GSIM in this section). The 3.1 element DataElementConcept has been replaced by a ConceptualVariable located within ConceptualComponent. This object links a Concept with a Universe creating the equivalent of the ISO/IEC 11179 Data Element Concept. A RepresentedVariable located in Logical Product, adds the expression of the representation to the concept and universe. This is the reusable set of information for a Variable which is the implementation of a RepresentedVariable within a specific usage. The underlying RepresentedVariable may be referenced from the Variable.