S1000D - What is it?
S1000D is an international specification for technical publications, utilising a Common Source Database. It was originally introduced to the European community by the Association Européenne des Constructeurs de Matériel Aérospatial (AECMA), representing the aerospace industry.
By definition: S1000D is an international specification for the procurement and production of technical publications. While this definition appears to restrict its use to technical publications, it has been found through application that the principles of the specification can also be applied to non-technical publications.
Today, the S1000D standard is supported by the successor to AECMA, the AeroSpace and Defence Industries of Europe (ASD) and the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA), and is controlled by the Technical Publications Specification Management Group (TPSMG), which has the full responsibility of maintaining the specification. The TPSMG includes members from both government agencies and industry. To address the rapid development of information technology, a group of specialists, the Electronic Publications Working Group (EPWG), supports the TPSMG in technical matters.
What benefits can S1000D offer?
Most experts will agree that the single greatest benefit offered by S1000D is the ability to re-use data. With S1000D, specific data modules are created (containing text and/or graphics), and then stored in the Common Source Database (CSDB). You can then re-use and redistribute that very same data module in many other different projects or publications. This can bring a tremendous amount of time savings to the authoring process, as data modules are simply "plugged in" to any publication or project documentation as needed.
In short, with S1000D there is no longer a need to recreate the same information over and over again for each individual publication. Some of the other related benefits of using the S1000D specification are:
- S1000D is based on internationally agreed neutral standards
- Many different output forms can be generated from a single data source, thus ensuring consistency of data delivered to users
- Cost savings associated with reuse of information (vs. recreating new information each time)
- Facilitates complete configuration control
- Reduces maintenance costs for technical information and overall Product Life-Cycle costs
- Allows sub-sets of information to be generated to meet specific user needs
- Facilitates transfer of information and electronic output between disparate IT systems
- S1000D data module concept can be applied to legacy data
- It is non-proprietary and allows neutral delivery and management of data
- Incorporates data storage in electronic form while supporting output of information as either paper or IETPs (Interactive Electronic Technical Publications) or IETMs (Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals) using XML and web technologies
- Provides a single standard to support communications and data exchange among all participants in a given project
- Standard data exchange format can also readily support future development projects
- A very active standards body keeps up with evolving technologies while keeping an eye on backward compatibility, thus ensuring that the standard stays up to date as well as protecting your existing data investment.
How does S1000D work?
Information produced in accordance with the standard is in a modular form, called a "data module". This is defined as "the smallest self contained information unit within a technical publication". The important part of this definition is ‘self-contained’. A data module must contain enough information to be standalone, in that it must have sense and meaning when viewed without any supporting data other than graphics.
All data modules that are applicable to the subject equipment are stored and managed in a database, which is referred to as the Common Source Data Base (CSDB). The benefit of a CSDB is to enable production output in either page-oriented or Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETP) that is consistent regardless of the IT platform used. Information is not duplicated in the CSDB although individual data modules can be used many times in the output.
Every data module has a unique data module code (DMC) that serves as an identifier and provides a mechanism for preventing duplication of data. Along with the issue number the DMC also ensures that every data module placed in the CSDB is unique. The standard provides detailed schemas and explanations to guide the determination of the DMC. If used in conjunction with the product breakdown, when creating the project Standard Numbering System (SNS), the DMC also identifies how the subcomponents being documented relate to larger components that comprise a piece of equipment.
The data module types that DTDs and Schemas are provided for are:
- Descriptive
- Procedural
- Crew/operator
- Fault information
- Maintenance planning
- Illustrated parts data
- Process
- Wiring data
- Business rules
All information in both header and content sections of a data module is tagged in accordance with the relevant S1000D SGML Document Type Definition (DTD), or XML DTD or Schema as defined by the standard.
It is these tags and their attributes that provide the functionality that allows the information to be presented dynamically in the IETM, they provide the mechanism by which the logic and behaviour required for the IETM to display the information is determined. Using SGML or XML to tag information required solely for the printed page, or a linear IETM, would only require the information to be marked with tags that define that type of structure. i.e. chapters, paragraphs, warnings, cautions, tables, lists etc.
By using such tags and attributes as applicability, Boolean, variable and the numerous tags in the process data module S1000D allows for a much more dynamic and interactive presentation of information within the IETM.
Cost-Effective Standardisation -
S1000D & More
Over the years, the technical publications community has recognized significant benefits from adopting publication standards, including:
- Time Savings for Technicians and Other End Users of Technical Data – With standards applied, technical manuals will appear consistent across similar types of equipment. Training requirements for technicians are reduced and information can be accessed more rapidly, reducing down time for mission-critical or revenue-generating equipment.
- Cost Savings in the Authoring Process - Technical publication authors can produce information in a manner that will be repeatable across multiple publications, even for different equipment. By applying standards, the amount of time and cost required to produce each publication is significantly reduced.
- Interoperability Across Different Programs or Between Alliance Partners – As one example, by adopting the Air Transport Association’s ATA iSPEC 2200 standards for aviation technical publications, the commercial aviation community has been able to deliver and exchange technical information using a standardized platform that can be applied to all aviation manufacturers, and all operators of commercial aircraft. With the advent of other internationally recognized standards such as S1000D, coalition partners on military programs are able to facilitate improved exchange of information, regardless of the country of origin for the data, or even the type of equipment involved in the program (whether aircraft or land-based vehicles). Because of these clear benefits, S1000D is now rapidly being mandated by defense organizations around the world.
S1000D & Industry
The impact of S1000D on industry
AIA President and CEO John W. Douglass has said that suppliers and users of military equipment will realise substantial savings from reducing the cost of future technology updates, and from cutting costs for the way changes in IETMs are developed and maintained in commercial as well as military applications. He also said that allied and coalition partners expect to achieve major benefits from meeting interoperability objectives through the use of this international specification.
S1000D is now rapidly being mandated by defence organisations around the world. The MoD have gone further in specifying Trilogi as the method for viewing S1000D data.
Commercial aerospace interest is increasing with the distinct possibility that S1000D will replace ATA 2200 as the main industry standard for aerospace technical documents. S1000D is currently being assessed by ATA to see if it meets the requirements of their Future Data Exchange (FDE) Standards Program.
About CDG
CDG provides a comprehensive suite of services and solutions for the creation, conversion, management and delivery of information. Driven by a goal to help its customers to effectively manage data and information and streamline business processes, CDG offers services and solutions for virtually every type of company.
To add value to its own strong portfolio of products and services, CDG has also established strategic alliances with several leading technology and service provider companies.
For over 35 years, Continental DataGraphics (CDG) has provided mission-critical technical publications and services to support the aviation industry. Today as a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, CDG has continued to expand beyond its historical roots in aviation to provide advanced products and services for other customers across a diverse range of industries. Our employees are constantly integrating new ideas into our processes, striving for higher quality standards, higher speed, and lower cost solutions for our customers.
With over 1,000 employees worldwide, CDG production and customer service facilities are located in multiple locations throughout the US and the UK/Europe.
For information about support available to help you assess the potential advantages that S1000D could bring to your organization click here if you are based in the USA and here if you are based in the UK/Europe.
You can also request a copy of the White Paper entitled "What You Should Know About S1000D"
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