The Data Reference Model (DRM) describes, at an aggregate level, the data and information supporting government program and business line operations. This model enables agencies to describe the types of interaction and exchanges occurring between the Federal government and citizens.
The DRM categorizes government information into greater levels of detail. It also establishes a classification for Federal data and identifies duplicative data resources. A common data model will streamline information exchange processes within the Federal government and between government and external stakeholders.
The DRM provides a standard means by which data may be described, categorized, and shared. These are reflected within each of the DRM's three standardization areas:
- Data Description: Provides a means to uniformly describe data, thereby supporting its discovery and sharing
- Data Context: Facilitates discovery of data through an approach to the categorization of data according to taxonomies; additionally, enables the definition of authoritative data assets within a community of interest (COI)
- Data Sharing: Supports the access and exchange of data where access consists of ad-hoc requests (such as a query of a data asset), and exchange consists of fixed, re-occurring transactions between parties
The FEA PMO is collaborating with members of the interagency DRM Working Group, chartered by the Architecture and Infrastructure Committee (AIC) of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council, to implement and maintain this reference model.
