Describes a cross-industry framework based on lexical semantics that enables knowledge sharing and data integration across the different industries in the Airport ecosystem.

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ACRIS
ACI ACRIS Semantic Model
An Introduction
aci.aero© 2018 Airports Council International
Segun Alayande, Heathrow Airport
Bob Logan, Rockport Software
V1.0, November 2018

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ACRIS Semantic Model Introduction
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Introduction
What is the
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
The scope
of the
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Purpose of
the ACRIS
Semantic
Model
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Principles
Users and
Uses of the
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Appendices
•Example
models
© 2018 Airports Council International

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What is the ACRIS Semantic Model?
The ACRIS Semantic Model
• An organising framework based on IT industry best practices and ISO
standards for documenting the Airport ecosystem’s vocabulary, knowledge,
re-usable standard information components and data structures.
• It is a cross-industry component of the airport digital ecosystem.
• The ACI Standard for Airport ecosystem knowledge sharing and
management.
• The ‘Semantic’ in the “ACRIS Semantic Model” means Lexical Semantics
which is concerned with the meaning of words within various Airport
contexts.
© 2018 Airports Council International

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An airport is a biological ecosystem comprising collaborating people
The ants form a connected
ecosystem of cooperating
organisms conducting
complex tasks.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Ants communicate
using pheromones to
convey meaningful
information.
The architecture of
an ant is extremely
simple, because of
the communication
mechanism.
Improving community communication and information
sharing simplifies Airport system architecture and improves
performance.

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Airport collaborations require meaningful communication
The airport ecosystem
comprises people and
organisations working
together to serve a common
customer – the passenger.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Effective Airport collaborations require
meaningful communication supported by
community knowledge captured within a
semantic framework that drives data
standards.

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Airport shared ecosystem knowledge simplifies the Airport business architecture
and improves performance
© 2018 Airports Council International
• The ACRIS Semantic model enables movement of ecosystem
knowledge to the edge of ecosystem organisations resulting in
intelligent interfaces.
• Intelligent interfaces improve situational awareness and service
delivery.

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The ACRIS Semantic Model enables meaningful communication in the
Airport Ecosystem
© 2018 Airports Council International
• The OCI Communication
Model depicts the three types
of interoperability that exist in
an ecosystem.
• The ACRIS Semantic Model
enables semantic
interoperability through the
reduction of semantic
heterogeneity in Airport
ecosystem shared data

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Business Scope of the ACRIS Semantic Model
© 2018 Airports Council International
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Air Traffic
Management Architecture,
Engineering
and
Construction
Highways
Retail
Government
Agencies
Passengers
Airlines
Public
Transport
Airports
• The Airport domain has many
organisations operating collaboratively
to serve the passenger.
• This collection of collaborating
organisations is known as the Airport
ecosystem or domain.
• The scope of the ACRIS Semantic
Model is the Airport ecosystem.
• The ACRIS Semantic Model therefore
leverages Airline, Air Traffic
Management, Public Transport,
Highways Agencies and
Architecture/Engineering/
Construction (AEC) Partners and other
Travel industry data standards.

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The ACRIS Semantic Model is a cross-industry model
© 2018 Airports Council International
• The business domain models hold
business objects of interest to
collaborators within a functional
business domain in the Airport
ecosystem
• The industry models hold business
objects of an enterprise in a specific
industry. Example includes the IATA
AIDM
• A cross-industry model holds business
objects common to many different
enterprises operating across different
industries to deliver goods and
services to a common customer .
• The ACRIS Semantic Model has been
architected as a cross industry model
and relies on quality partner industry
models
Business Domain
Models (ACI
Seamless Travel &
IATA Baggage XML)
Industry Models
(IATA AIDM & ICAO
AIRM)
Cross-industry
Models (ACRIS
Semantic Model)

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Content Scope of the ACRIS Semantic Model
© 2018 Airports Council International
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
Vocabulary
AIDX AIRM AIDM
Top down
Bottom
up
AODB
Data Exchange Schema
Motivators EntitiesMoments
Agreements
Database Schema Documents
Controls Plans CasesEventsInteractions
• The ACRIS Semantic Model vocabulary
contains parts of partner industry models.
• The Semantic Model vocabulary is used to
integrate partner industry vocabularies.
Parties Places Resources Offerings

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Incorporation of Partner Industry Models into ACRIS Semantic Model
© 2018 Airports Council International
IATA
AIDX
ICAO
AIRM
IATA AIDM
EU
Transmodel
Ground
Handling
Industry
Model
Time
Content
maturity
2007 2019

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Purpose of the ACRIS Semantic Model
Transform the Airport Ecosystem
• Enabling external information ecosystems
• Pushing relevant content in context
• Speeding up agility via standard data exchanges
Grow the Airport Ecosystem by
• Delivering common situational awareness
• Streamlining and automating processes through single versions of master data
• Supporting performance management to optimise growth
Operate the Airport Business optimally by
• Reducing information risks
• Increasing productivity by improving data accuracy
• Increasing opportunities for business and service innovation
© 2018 Airports Council International
The Semantic Model
provides multiple
benefits for the Aviation
industry.

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Airport Management Requirements for the Semantic Model
© 2018 Airports Council International
Enable the mass customisation of
Airport services
Reduce missed bags and improve
baggage system resilience
Enable innovation that achieves a
environmentally sustainable Airport
Enable collaborative decision making
and situational awareness
For example:

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The use of the ACRIS Semantic Model in IT Projects Contributes Business Value
© 2018 Airports Council International
Increase
Business
Value
Reduce
Cost
Increase
Quality
Reduce
Time
Reduce
Risk
Reduce
Scope
Change
Reduce development cost through
the reuse of analysis patterns and
generation of artefacts.
Increase quality of
deliverables by using
consistent requirements
captured as models.
Reduce development time
by reusing model
components such as the
data element library, and
generating artefacts.
Reduce risk through
visual prototyping that
validates outcomes.
Reduce scope changes by
preventing rework and
managing requirements
consistently.

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The ACRIS Semantic Model use best practice frameworks and standards
© 2018 Airports Council International
Semantic
Model
Notation
Knowledge
Representatio
n Methods
Data Element
Standard-
isation
Semantic
Framework
Analysis
Patterns
OMG UML
• ISO 1087-1
• Concept taxonomies
• Fact orientation (FCO-
IM, NIAM, ORM, ISO /
TR 24156, and OMG
SVBR).
ISO 11179Ogden and
Richards
Silverstien,
Hays,
Peter Coad

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The Ogden and Richards’ Semantic Framework eliminates semantic ambiguity
The Ogden and
Richards “Triangle of
Meaning” framework
establishes a semantic
foundation for the
business vocabulary,
the ecosystem
knowledge and the
actual objects within
the Airport context.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Term
Example: Flight
Concept
Example: Service,
Aircraft Movement
Object
Example: BA75,
Apron Movement
Language Models
Knowledge Models
Data Element Library
Models
Projects (Technology
Realisation)

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The ACRIS Semantic Model comprises four distinct layers
The ACRIS Semantic
Model has four distinct
layers for organising
content and is based on
Ogden and Richards’
“Triangle of Meaning”
semantic framework.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Designed to support
collaborating groups
within the Airport
ecosystem and will
support multi-functional
groups across the Aviation
supply network.

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Content of the ACRIS Semantic Model layers
© 2018 Airports Council International
Layer Purpose Content Example
Language Models To remove semantic
ambiguity.
Collection of Airport
ecosystem business
terms and definitions.
Flight
Knowledge Models To capture Airport
ecosystem knowledge
in a machine readable
format.
Classified business
concepts and
statements of facts that
must be true in the
Airport domain.
Aircraft Movement,
Aircraft Transport, Flight
Service
Data Element
Library Models
To standardise data for
semantic
interoperability.
Contains standard and
reusable information
components.
Aircraft
Movement.OffBlockTime
Aircraft
Transport.SeatCount
Technology
Realisation Models
To enable the design of
quality technology
schema.
Contains technical
artefacts designed to
realise projects.
Aircraft Boarding use
case

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Airport Ecosystem Knowledge Classification. A Concept Taxonomy
The content of the ACRIS
Semantic Model is
further organised using a
knowledge classification
scheme developed by
Queensland Government
in Australia.
© 2018 Airports Council International
The Semantic Model
represents the collective
knowledge of the Airport
industry.

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Rudyard Kipling 5W + 1H
The ACRIS Semantic Model content classification scheme was validated using
Rudyard Kipling’s 5W+1H – What, When, Where, Who, Why and How.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Events Cases Interactions
What When Where Who
How Why
Plans Controls Agreements
Resources Offerings Time Places Parties
Mapping Semantic Model taxonomy against the 5W+1H

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Airport ecosystem knowledge is captured as statements of fact
© 2018 Airports Council International
Party
Transport
Passenger Party
Aircraft Transport
is transported by
Using the Human Biology analogy, the concept
taxonomy is the skeleton, the statement of facts
are the muscles and organs, and the business
rules are the ligaments.
A “Fact Model” or
“Concept Map” is
used to make explicit
the Airport
ecosystem common
knowledge

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The Data Element Library layer of the ACRIS Semantic Model enables data element
standardisation which is a requirement for semantic interoperability
© 2018 Airports Council International
Passenger Party
Aircraft Transport
• First Name
• Last Name
is transported by
• Registration
Number
• Data Element Names are
standardised using ISO
11179.
• Guidance is provided in the
ACRIS document on Data
Element Naming and Design
Rules
• The output is a library of re-
usable information
components – objects and
data elements

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ACRIS Semantic Model delivers a library of XML Schema currently at v1.2
© 2018 Airports Council International
BagServiceWrapper BagServiceData
Bag Object Schema
Bag Service Schema Files
Envelop Schema
ACRIS Semantic Model XSD Library
Controls Events Interactions Offerings
Parties Plans Places Resources
ACRIS Semantic Model Service Schema Architecture

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The ACRIS Semantic Model is used by various roles in an Airport ecosystem
Many IT management
roles from IT application
planners to Technical
Architects and
Developers may use the
ACRIS Semantic Model.
Programme
Manager
Enterprise
Solution
Architect
Application
Developer
Records &
Information
Manager
ACRIS
Semantic
Model
© 2018 Airports Council International
Business users can also
use the Semantic Model
to analyse their domain,
and model and design
changes to their
domain. Business
Analyst

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How may an Airport use the ACRIS Semantic Model?
Govern data quality
• Enables the standardisation of data structures which improve shared data across the
Airport ecosystem
Develop business insight from data
• Enables Business Intelligence application development that supports situational
awareness and business performance monitoring
Integrate functional and inter-organisational data to support collaboration
• Enables standards based interfaces that enables adaptive ecosystem integration
Define scope of new applications in project portfolio
• Enables application portfolio definition
Enhance existing applications to reduce project risk
• Reorganise the scope of new applications by including new entities and reorganising
application schema for improved performance
• Application compliance and Vendor selection
© 2018 Airports Council International

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A Number of Important Learnings from ACRIS SM Development
Learnings:
• The ACRIS Semantic Model is a
necessary instrument to enable digital
transformation of airports.
• It supports the planning and
implementation of data projects.
• The data projects support business
change that results in adaptive and
sustainable airports.
• These adaptive airports sense business
conditions and passenger needs to
respond with speed and agility.
• It enables information sharing to support
inter-functional and inter-organisational
collaborations.
© 2018 Airports Council International
Implications:
• The model is independent of any
technology.
• It acts as a template for projects.
• It reduces the effort (time and cost) of
clarifying business objects, by re-use.
• It’s easier to build sustainable systems.
• Linkages between systems are less
brittle and data more meaningful.

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Contributors from Multiple Disciplines
Airports
• Heathrow Airport
• San Francisco Airport
• Frankfurt Airport
• Munich Airport
• Schiphol Airport
• Dubai Airports
• Brisbane Airport
© 2018 Airports Council International
Management and IT Consultancies
• Apple
• ARUP
• Capgemini
• Cognizant
• Rockport Software
• Ultra Electronics
Please contact Serge to join in.

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Summary
1. The ACI ACRIS Semantic Model is the Airport ecosystem cross-industry
framework and a standard for information management.
2. The main focus of the Semantic Model is on collaborating groups within and
between organisations in the Airport ecosystem.
3. The Semantic Model supports business and digital transformation by
reducing risk of technology changes and reducing the negative impact of
change on the organisation.
4. The ACI mandates that airports adopt the Semantic Model as a best practice.
5. ACI WAITSC should maintain and publish information on level of adoption. It
should also designate “ACRIS Airports”
6. Airport CIOs should mandate the use of the Semantic Model in projects and
RFPs.
© 2018 Airports Council International

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Any questions?
© 2018 Airports Council International

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ACI ACRIS Semantic Model
An Introduction
aci.aero© 2018 Airports Council International
Segun Alayande, Heathrow Airport
Bob Logan, Rockport Software
V1.0, November 2018

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Appendix
© 2018 Airports Council International

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The Semantic Model is based on the following Principles
• The models must enable meaningful sharing of the right quality content within the right
Airport ecosystem context.
• The statement of facts expressed in the knowledge models must be true within the Airport
ecosystem.
• The models must use accessible diagramming notations and be targeted at the right audience
within the Airport ecosystem.
• The models must enable digital transformation programmes identifying opportunities for
digital innovation within the Airport ecosystem.
• The models must enable model-driven rapid and low cost generation of minimum viable
software products.
• The models must adopt IT industry best practices for information and knowledge
management where appropriate.
• The models must be able to incorporate partner industry information and data standards.
© 2018 Airports Council International

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List of OMG and ISO standards
• Adopted the following ISO and OMG Standards including
• OMG The Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SVBR)
• ISO 1087-1. Terminology Work – Vocabulary
• ISO 11179. Information Technology. Metadata Registries. Parts 3 and 5.
• ISO / TR 24156. Guidelines for using UML notation in terminology work
• OMG Unified Modelling Language (UML)
• OMG Ontology Definition Language (ODM)
© 2018 Airports Council International

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Glossary
FCO-IM Fully Communication Oriented Information Modeling
IFW Information Framework
ISO International Standards Organisation
NAIM Natural language Information Analysis Method
QGCIO Queensland Government Chief information Office
ORM Object Role Modelling
UDEF Universal Data Element Framework
UN/CEFACT United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business
© 2018 Airports Council International

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References
© 2018 Airports Council International
1. Richards, IA and CK Ogden. The Meaning of Meaning. Harvest/HBJ 1989
2. Ronald Stamper. A Semiotic Theory of Information and Information Systems.
3. Building Digital Ecosystem Architectures. A Guide to Enterprise Architecting Digital
Technologies in the Digital Enterprise.
4. Cross-industry Semantic Interoperability, Parts 1-5. Victor Berrios, Richard Halter,
Mark Harrison, Scott Hollenbeck, Elisa Kendall, Doug Migliori, John Petze, and J.
Clarke Stevens, June 29, 2017.
5. "What Are Fact Models and Why You Need Them (Part 1)" Business Rules Journal
Vol. 1, No. 5, (May 2000) . Ronald G. Ross.
http://www.brcommunity.com/a2000/b008a.html
6. The Business Agility Manifesto: Building for Change, by Roger T. Burlton, Ronald G.
Ross, and John A. Zachman, (2017) https://busagilitymanifesto.org/