There are many data sources available or desired. These data sources are stored on various media, ranging from an Excel file to a database. The format in which the data is stored often differs even though it concerns the same type of objects. Information models are often available, in various levels of completeness and each organization decides how to implement and expose these models to the outside world.
With the Objecttypes API an attempt is made to go beyond an information model and create a standard on a message exchange level, in the form of JSON schema.
The Objects and Objecttypes API idea is not unique but combines international standards, ideas and existing applications and data models. There are several projects that are related or similar to this project.
- The municipality of Amsterdam has a similar initiative using Amsterdam Schema (link)
- Information models in Norway use JSON schema (link)
There are many existing data sources that could potentially be converted to an objecttype definition.