IES Common

What will IES Common be?

IES Common will comprise a foundational ontology layer or Top Level Ontology (TLO), and a general, cross-domain, layer. IES Common will underpin the Information Exchange Standard (IES), providing a structured, standardised, and extensible framework for defining and exchanging data across multiple domains.

The foundation ontology layer, or TLO, will contain 4D abstract concepts that form the basis of all other layers. These concepts are stable and change infrequently. These include:

  1. 1

    Abstract Concepts

    Thing, Element, GroupOfItems, PossibleWorld, Stuff
  2. 2

    Spatio-Temporal Concepts

    Entity-State, PeriodOfTime, Location, Event, EventParticipant
  3. 3

    Meta Classes

    ClassOfElement, ClassOfEntity-State, ClassOfEvent

The general, cross-domain layer will contain cross-domain concepts used across multiple domains and provide the shared vocabulary that connects domains. These include:

  1. 1

    Physical Concepts

    for example, Actor, Asset, Device, Vehicle, GeoPoint, Country, and Region
  2. 2

    Geographical Concepts

    for example Location, Address, Altitude, Country, Crossing, GeoPoint, and GeographicFeature
  3. 3

    Social Concepts

    for example, ResponsibleActor, Person, Organisation, and Post
  4. 4

    Core Events

    for example, Movement, LifecycleEvent, BusinessEvent, Communication, EndToEndActivity
  5. 5

    Information & Representation

    for example, Representation, Name, Identifier, MeasureValue, language, and Document

IES Common will ensure that all data—regardless of sector or system—adheres to a consistent structure, enabling seamless integration, interpretation, and reuse across industries. It serves as the common model, upon which domain-specific extensions, such as IES Built Environment and IES People, can be developed to address sector or industry-specific requirements while maintaining interoperability.