The FEDeRATED proposition

FEDeRATED proposes an EU federated network of platforms – data sharing grid – for logistics (EU Mobility Data Space). This is an interoperable network of virtual worlds based on digital twins and connecting Events that can be accessed at the same time by millions of users, who can exert property rights over virtual items. Data holders and data user can meet and conduct business. Security and scaling are essential. Ecosystems must be interoperable, connected through the functional requirements and technical specifications of the data sharing grid. The organisational requirements set the terms for login, registration and certification safeguarding interoperability.

The urge is for EU collaboration between companies and public authorities towards devising and adopting open standards. The market that this will unlock will be much bigger than any of them alone could create alone; - a common format creates a bigger market. For various ecosystems already taking shape within the supply chain, it makes economic sense to share data and interoperate. Portability of data or for that matter property rights over virtual items will drive standardisation and interoperability over time.

Using data and providing services to another through a EU data sharing grid - EU Mobility Data Space - would most likely change the way logistic operators experience the internet, with the advent of things like navigation apps, transport monitoring and container and cargo tracking systems, situational awareness and smart mobility Apps also to facilitate eEnforcement, eCustoms and eCompliance. 

The FEDeRATED project assists the EC in developing a future proof data sharimng grid.
How to make a FEDeRATED data sharing grid ?

FEDeRATED data sharing grid

The FEDeRATED project is developing a Masterplan, containing of several requirements and specifications. inclusion of the FEDeRATED functional requirements and technical specifications will empower all participants to connect, either within one ecosystems or platform or between a multitude of platforms or ecosystems.  Business can be conducted through a set of arrangements (protocol stack)

The functional requirements of the infrastructure provision - the core requirement is data at source.  refer to the need for:

  1. Common” language – the semantics and interaction order (process choreography) for data processing by heterogeneous systems or platforms
  2. Discoverability of data and participants – it is about being able to search and find (query) service providers and data that an organization needs for its tasks. The latter is filled in with 'Linked Data': an organization receives a link to data as an indication of the data they may access.
  3. Security for all participants - to provide trust for all participants.
  4. Controlled Access to all participants – enabling any company to give another company or competent authorities access to data that either the company is willing to make available to others or the need to provide in accordance with legislation. This can be done through open data or via links that have been shared. In practice, this access will be limited, thus controlled access. Not everybody will have access to all of each others data

The technical specifications for any data holder or user to participate in the data sharing grid in a FEDeRATED way are:

  1. Apply the semantic web technology and a common semantic model (Semantic adapter)
  2. Utilize an Identification, and Authentication infrastructure and Authorisation mechanisms (IAA) – the unique identification and authentication of a person and their authority granted by their employer (verification of authorization). Authorization itself is part of procedures of each participating organization.
  3. Apply a Service Registry - allowing for a distributed development of data sharing according to common concepts. This configures a node of a participant meeting its business service/- goals data requirement
  4. Deploy an Index – providing any participating organisation a transparent overview of the event-based data being available to share for conducting business and administrative compliance procedures

The organisational requirements - the set of agreements enabling organisations to connect based on their capacities - consists of the following implementing protocols (protocol stack):

These architecture requirements and  specifications sum up to enable the participants to become a node in the data sharing grid – EU Mobility Data Space. The Node:

These requirements and specifications will be further developed and incorporated into the final FEDeRATED Master Plan.  As such they establish an interoperable grid of trusted nodes.

How the federated network of platforms concept would work
The licence to operate for any organisation  to act as a node within the grid is based on a set of agreements, they comply with. Based on its technical and semantic abilities this organisation can browse the data sharing grid, and its connected ecosystems. They randomly query – not based on any predefined data search method – generic available linked data. Controlled access, based on agreed Identity, Authentication , and Authorisation mechanisms allow a secure connectivity.   An Index is available and used enabling data owners to make data elements available, not sharing duplicated data. A Service Register will help to find the suitable partner accessing not only the data, but also the services. Third parties, not logistic operators can participate providing and developing services. A change management system approach is provided. The governance is distributed on a centralised (EU, important for safeguarding interoperability) and decentralised, local level. The power of pull is advocated.  

Browsing

 

The EU policy requirements

In order to succesfully develop a federated ata sharing  grid a pro active policy approach is required. The policy requirements: than enable the development of a data sharing grid for logistics – EU Mobility Data Space - are

  1. An overarching EU and national regulatory approach and policy incentives – to support and stimulate data sharing i.e., fostering the EC data spaces policy for logistics in conjunction with cross sectoral data sharing practices. This relates to the need to:
    • Define the functional requirements for the data sharing infrastructure provision (the Mobility Data Space for logistics)
    • Establish a long-term and transparent data sharing infrastructure framework, thus enabling organisations to invest in digital readiness.
    • Enhance the current state of digital competence (readiness) of organisations (companies and public authorities) through dedicated programmes and projects.

  2. An EU and national governance structure possibly including standardisation and certification. The governance of the federated data sharing grid should preferably:
    • Establish and maintain the technical specifications of the data sharing grid, also adjusting it to future developments
    • Organize the registration (or certification) of the various organisation that would like to act as a node within the infrastructure provision.
    • Monitor the development of the infrastructure provision, thereby also checking the compliance and conduct/performance of the various nodes within the grid.

The effective governance of a federated network of platforms should take into consideration the division of tasks - who must play what role supervising the governance – also within the perspective of distributed governance.

The FEDeRATED project can help to deliver the components such a legislative framework would require.  The legislative framework could be identified as a EU Data Mobility Space. For logistics, this could be further developed under the auspices of DTLF.

The reasoning for a legal  EU Data Mobility Space framework could be as follows: