In the spotlight - Forging a path using SDMX at ESDS International

Article dated: 16 July 2010

Over the last two years ESDS International has been working closely with one of its key data providers, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on an innovative project to improve the way data is delivered to its users.

Innovative development work

Using the OECD's new Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) web service, ESDS International is the first organisation to connect its data delivery software directly to the OECD's data warehouse. By taking advantage of new standards and technologies ESDS International has been able to present OECD data in a more intuitive, user-friendly way, and as there is no longer a need to wait for data files to be transferred via CD, ESDS International’s users can be sure the data is always up to date.

It is anticipated that other Intergovernmental Organisations will create SDMX web data services in the future and, with its expertise, ESDS International is well positioned to respond quickly to these new developments in the international data world. It is important to note that although the ingest formats for international datasets may well be in flux, users will not be adversely affected as they continue to benefit from only needing to learn one software application, Beyond 2020, in order to access the huge range of socio-economic data available.

Paul Murphy, ESDS International Developer, who has been working on the SDMX project, comments: "It's been great working alongside our colleagues at the OECD on such a cutting edge and interesting project. The improved interface will make understanding and using the data much easier for our users. Our use of advanced, standards based technologies such as SDMX will also allow us to produce more exciting developments to the service in future."

What is SDMX?

SDMX is a set of international standards and guidelines for describing the social science data produced by national statistical offices and Intergovernmental Organisations. The adoption of the new SDMX standards will allow data producing organisations to exchange and pool their data resources more efficiently and enable services like ESDS International to make data updates available to users as soon as they become available.

The SDMX initiative

Sponsored by a number of ESDS International's data providers including the OECD, Eurostat, International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and The World Bank, the SDMX initiative aims to foster these standards for the exchange of statistical data and metadata which will improve efficiency and avoid duplication of effort in the field of statistical information.

These sponsoring institutions have worked together to create common SDMX technical and statistical standards and guidelines, together with an IT architecture and IT tools, to be used for the efficient, automated production, processing, exchange and sharing of statistical data and metadata.

ESDS International has been enthusiastically involved in this key area of development in the international data community and is keeping a close watch on the adoption of these standards across the Intergovernmental Organisations through which it receives its data.