The market demand for efficient communication among different CAx systems (including communication in time, i.e. long time archiving) is increasing. Apart from the required technical infrastructure this requires that the involved computer systems "understand" the communicated concepts in the same way. This common understanding is achieved through the application of common information models.

Information models are therefore developed and included as a major or minor integral part of some standards.

Main publications

ISO 10303-210 Industrial automation systems and integration -- Product data representation and exchange, Part 210: Electronic assembly, interconnect and packaging design, and ISO 10303 –212 Industrial automation systems and integration -- Product data representation and exchange, Part 212: Electrotechnical design and installation, is believed to cover the most urgent needs for product modelling. These models are using the EXPRESS modelling language. These standards were developed in a Joint Working group between ISO TC184/SC4 and IEC TC3.

An information model is also provided for the management and maintenance of data element types, in IEC 61360-2 Standard data element types with associated classification scheme for electric components - Part 2: EXPRESS Dictionary schema (the same model also documented in ISO 13584-42). This model is also development in EXPRESS.

IEC 61360-5 Standard data element types with associated classification scheme for electric components - Part 5: Extensions to the EXPRESS dictionary schema describes an extension that is not yet part of ISO 13584-42.

Information models are also provided for the management of technical documents, in IEC 82045-2 Document management, Part 2: Reference collection of metadata and reference models. This model is provided in three variants: EXPRESS, XML and a flat table.

Closely related topics: Structuring principles and identification, Formal definitions for objects , Data element types.

Maintenance work and new projects (2010-01)

The project IEC 62507 Ed. 1 Rules for identifcation systems (carried out in TC3/PT39) considers also an infomation model (for identification).

The revision of IEC 61666 has revealed a need for an information model for the description of attributes related to terminal designations. A proposal for project for this is under preparation.