Standard data model

A standard data model is a data model that is widely used in a particular industry. The use of standard data models gives heterogeneous organizations a standard vocabulary and pre-negotiated semantics, format, and quality standards for data, which allows easier and faster information exchange. Standards are often defined by standards bodies or technology companies.

Typically these use the popular relational model of database management, but some use the hierarchical model, especially those used in manufacturing or mandated by governments, e.g., the DIN codes specified by Germany.

Industry applications
Effective standard models have developed in the banking, insurance, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. These models reflect stringent standards required in these industries for customer information gathering, customer privacy, consumer safety, or just in time manufacturing.

The most complex data models known are in military use. Consortia such as NATO tend to require strict standards for their members' equipment and supply databases. While standards for commercial software are usually open to view and implement, military data standards are often private and internal.

Issues
The format of the standard may have implementation trade-offs. Standardization affects software architecture development, as new solutions that vary from a standard may cause data sharing issues.

Examples

 * ISO 10303 CAE Data Exchange Standard - includes its own data modelling language, EXPRESS
 * ISO 15926 Process Plants including Oil and Gas facilities Life-Cycle data
 * IDEAS Group Foundation Ontology agreed by defence departments of Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, UK and USA
 * EN12896 CEN Reference Data Model For Public Transport. covering public transport scheduling, fare management, operations and passenger information
 * Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) is a data dictionary standard model sponsored by the U.S. government that is used widely in the United States education system
 * SIF is an interoperability specification used as a standard data model in Australia, the UK, and the US.