
In the transportation and logistics sector, data models play a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, optimizing operations, and improving decision-making processes. Data models provide a structured representation of relevant information, such as routes, schedules, vehicle capacities, and customer demands, enabling companies to understand and visualize their operations comprehensively. By leveraging these models, organizations can analyze historical and real-time data to identify patterns, predict demand fluctuations, and optimize routes and schedules. Standard data methods, such as data normalization, data cleaning, and data integration, ensure data consistency and integrity across different systems and sources, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration within the supply chain. These tools enable transportation and logistics companies to achieve cost reductions, minimize delays, improve resource allocation, enhance customer satisfaction, and adapt to dynamic market conditions, ultimately leading to a more agile and competitive industry.
Rail
RailML
Acronym:ย railML
Organisation responsible:ย railML.org
Official web page:ย https://www.railml.org/
Description:ย RailML is an XML-based data model used for the exchange of railway infrastructure data. It defines standardized schemas for representing track layouts, signaling systems, timetables, and other related information.
Current Version:ย 3.2 (26 April 2022)
Schema location:ย https://www.railml.org/en/download.html
Standard:ย It is used as an industry standard
Type of data:ย XML
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย No, but API code available
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
General Transit Feed Specification
Acronym:ย GTFS
Organisation responsible:
Official web page:ย ย https://gtfs.org/
Description:ย GTFS is a widely adopted data format for public transit systems, including railways. It provides a standardized schema for representing static timetable and geographic information, allowing applications to plan routes, display schedules, and calculate trip durations.
Current Version:ย 2.0
Schema location:ย https://gtfs.org/schedule/reference/
Standard:ย It is used as an industry standard
Type of data:ย CSV
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย No, but API codeย available
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
RailTopoModel
Acronym:ย RailTopoModel
Organisation responsible:ย railML
Official web page:ย ย https://www.railtopomodel.org/
Description:ย ย RailTopoModel is an information model for railway infrastructure data, developed by the International Union of Railways (UIC). It defines a unified schema to represent the topological and geometrical aspects of railway networks, including tracks, switches, and stations.
Current Version:ย Released asย International Railway Standardย (IRS)ย 30100 in April 2016. RTM development (from RTM 1.2) went on as a fork initiated by the railMLย community and managed by the organisationย railML.org
Schema location:ย https://www.railtopomodel.org/download-rtm.html
Standard: ย International Railway Standardย (IRS)ย 30100
Type of data:ย UML based on connexity graph theory / Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose :ย Structured data storage
API available:ย Not applicable
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
Rail Industry Standard Classification
Acronym:ย RISC
Organisation responsible:ย railML
Official web page:ย ย https://www.rssb.co.uk/
Description:ย RISC is a classification system used in the rail sector to categorize products, services, and equipment. It provides a standardized framework for organizing and identifying railway-related assets, facilitating procurement and supply chain management.
Current Version:ย Issue 5 (26 Nov 13)
Schema location: Various at https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards
Standard: ย Not applicable
Type of data:ย Various
Primary purpose :ย Various
API available:ย Not applicable
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Not available
Technical Specification for Interoperability relating to Telematics Applications for Freight/Passenger Services
Acronym:ย TAF TAP TSI
Organisation responsible:ย Joint Research Group
Official web page:ย ย https://rne.eu/it/taf-tap-tsi/
Description:ย TAF/TAP TSI is a European standard for exchanging railway operational data, including train schedules, rolling stock information, and infrastructure details. The data model defines the structure and format for interoperable data exchange between different rail systems.
Current Version:ย 3.3 available here
Schema location:ย http://taf-jsg.info/?page_id=172
Standard: ย Not applicable
Type of data:ย XML
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย Not applicable
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
Road and public transport
Transmodel
Acronym:ย Transmodel
Organisation responsible:ย European Committee for Standardization
Official web page:ย ย https://transmodel-cen.eu/
Description:ย Transmodel is a standard data model developed by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) that provides a conceptual framework for describing public transport data. It covers various aspects such as network infrastructure, schedules, fares, and real-time information.
Current Version:ย v6
Schema location:ย https://transmodel-cen.eu/downloads/
Standard: ย Not applicable
Type of data:ย UML / Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose :ย Structured data storage
API available:ย Available here
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
DATEX II
Acronym:ย DATEX II
Organisation responsible:ย European Committee for Standardization
Official web page:ย ย https://www.datex2.eu/
Description:ย DATEX II (Data Exchange for Traffic Information) is an international standard for the exchange of traffic-related data. It defines a common data model and schema for representing information about road traffic, including traffic flows, incidents, and travel times.
Current Version:ย v3
Schema location:ย https://www.datex2.eu/datex2/specifications
Standard:ย Standardised jointly by CEN TC/278 andย ISO TC/204
Type of data:ย XML
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย Available here
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
OpenLR
Acronym:ย OpenLR
Organisation responsible:ย TomTom
Official web page:ย ย http://www.openlr.org/
Description:ย OpenLR is an open standard for encoding and decoding location references related to road networks. It provides a compact way to represent geographic locations on the road and is often used for dynamic traffic information exchange.
Current Version:ย v3
Schema location:ย http://www.openlr.org/method.html
Standard:ย Not applicable
Type of data:ย XML
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย Not available
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request
Logistics
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business
Acronym:ย OpenLR
Organisation responsible:ย TomTom
Official web page:ย ย http://www.openlr.org/
Description:ย OpenLR is an open standard for encoding and decoding location references related to road networks. It provides a compact way to represent geographic locations on the road and is often used for dynamic traffic information exchange.
Current Version:ย v3
Schema location:ย http://www.openlr.org/method.html
Standard:ย Not applicable
Type of data:ย XML
Primary purpose :ย Structured data exchange
API available:ย Not available
License details: Open standard
Data model (Power BI):ย Available on request