Fiatech and PCA lead charge for unified industry interoperability activities
Fiatech and the POSC Caesar Association (PCA) have endorsed unifying all industry-wide ISO 15926 interoperability initiatives under the name iRING. The iRING name represents the solution architecture and best practices for achieving global information interoperability based on the ISO 15926 reference data standard, and it includes documentation, methodology, certification, services and technology solutions (both commercial and open-source).
The ISO 15926 standard has evolved through the work of many collaborative efforts supported by Fiatech, PCA and the industry at large. These projects have converged on a broad, unified set of ISO 15926 (iRING) guidelines, specifications, solutions and services.
Architecture will provide owners and operators, contractors and equipment suppliers the capability to exchange information between different applications and technologies without the need for costly, error-prone data interpretation and translation. Information can be shared accurately in the context of each phase of the lifecycle, from planning, design, procurement, construction and commissioning to operations, maintenance and eventual decommissioning.
“iRING provides the opportunity for huge value and benefits across the lifecycle of capital projects. We encourage the industry to embrace the iRING Solution Architecture and to collaboratively engage to further the systems, tools and processes needed for global information interoperability,” said Ray Topping, director of Fiatech.
Industry interoperability initiatives and projects are accelerating the development and adoption of the iRING solution architecture. iRING implementation solutions are becoming available as a result of ongoing industry collaborations such as Proteus, dot15926 editor and iRINGTools.
Software service providers today are advancing both commercial and open-source technology solutions to support the wide range of business demands.
In February 2010, Fiatech and PCA agreed on a single “Joint Operational Reference Data” (JORD) project plan and have been working since then to create a stable, scalable and commercially viable operation of the ISO 15926 reference data system and associated services.
Phase 1 of the JORD project has recently been completed. Key deliverables include:
• An internet endpoint to serve core library reference data and host sandboxes of reference data created by user businesses and development projects
• Compliance guidelines to support interoperable uses from simple schema-based exchanges to full semantic technology-based integrations
• The mapping methodology for compliant mapping of information interfaces using template signature patterns adopted by all companies deploying or planning to deploy iRING (ISO 15926).
“The strong industry support for JORD, both in the form of funding and in-kind contributions, is evidence of how far the industry has come. Completing Phase 1 is a significant step forward in realizing the benefit of interoperability of facility operations and projects," said Nils Sandsmark, General Manager, POSC Caesar Association.
For more information and to learn more about iRING advancements, visit www.iRINGToday.com, a web site supporting the iRING community with thought-leading content and management-orientated best-practice insights.
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