Regulation often specifies in detail
The collection and processing of personal data, for example, are subject to detailed regulation. This is why it is a good idea to start designing the data model by familiarising yourself with regulation, in other words regulatory interoperability.
In an ideal situation, you will already have considered the data model design, in other words semantic interoperability, before the procurement. In practice, the procurement can start with designing the data model, vocabularies and code sets of the information system in question
The data model describes the relationships between vocabularies and code sets. It may also include the vocabularies and code sets. An open data model will be freely reusable.
The data model links the vocabularies, code sets and records into a hierarchical structure.
Each information system comprises a database. When designing the database, you specify its data types, including text, numbers, or dates.
However, field names do not always unambiguously indicate the meaning of the data, which is why semantic interoperability is also needed. In practice, for example a 'name' field in a database may mean different things, such as the name of a person, animal or object.
You should note that creating data models, code sets and vocabularies takes time. When creating them, it is advisable to ensure that the publishing organisation has a solid understanding of modelling the data it publishes. A good example of this is the Ministry of the Environment's Ryhti project, which created open and reusable data models.
The better the information needs are identified, the more efficient and targeted development will be. If the requirements are known, draft APIs can be produced even before the tendering process starts.
Well-specified data models
You cannot always specify the data model before software development or procurement starts, and the need to develop it may come as a surprise.
In agile development, the data model can be developed in stages. You can initially focus on architecture design, which will speed up development and reduce work later.