GESMES/TS (GEneric Statistical MESsage for Time Series) is a
data model
A data model is an abstract model that organizes elements of data and standardizes how they relate to one another and to the properties of real-world entities. For instance, a data model may specify that the data element representing a car be c ...
and message format
appropriate for performing standardised exchange of
statistical data
In the pursuit of knowledge, data (; ) is a collection of discrete values that convey information, describing quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted. ...
and related
metadata.
It is based on the GESMES message (a
UN/CEFACT
UN/CEFACT is the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business. It was established as an intergovernmental body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 1996 and evolved from UNECE's long tradition of ...
standard using the
EDIFACT
United Nations/Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT) is an international standard for electronic data interchange (EDI) developed for the United Nations and approved and published by UNECE, the UN Econ ...
syntax).
Its most common use is in the exchange of official statistics.
The data model is optimised to represent multi-dimensional arrays of
floating point
In computing, floating-point arithmetic (FP) is arithmetic that represents real numbers approximately, using an integer with a fixed precision, called the significand, scaled by an integer exponent of a fixed base. For example, 12.345 can b ...
numerical data where one dimension is time.
The essential
design pattern
A design pattern is the re-usable form of a solution to a design problem. The idea was introduced by the architect Christopher Alexander and has been adapted for various other disciplines, particularly software engineering. The "Gang of Four" boo ...
resembles a
star schema
In computing, the star schema is the simplest style of data mart schema and is the approach most widely used to develop data warehouses and dimensional data marts. The star schema consists of one or more fact tables referencing any number of dim ...
.
GESMES/TS promotes automation by its ability to explicitly declare the
dimensions
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a mathematical space (or object) is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus, a line has a dimension of one (1D) because only one coordin ...
and allowable
metadata fields in a standardised way.
Software can then translate these declarations into a
database schema suitable to hold the multi-dimensional data.
This mechanism makes GESMES/TS versatile enough for efficient use in many domains.
The initial name of GESMES/TS was GESMES/CB (GEneric Statistical MESsage for Central Banks),
but has been changed in order to reflect its wider application.
The model and format are maintained under the auspices of the
SDMX
SDMX, which stands for Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange, is an international initiative that aims at standardising and modernising ("industrialising") the mechanisms and processes for the exchange of statistical data and metadata among intern ...
initiative.
In this context, GESMES/TS is known as SDMX-EDI.
References
SDMXinitiative.
SDMX-EDIA UML Model
(developed by the EBES EG6 WG1 Group)
GESMES/TS
and SDMX on the web site of the European Central Bank
The OECD statistical glossary
(entry: “GESMES”)
Information technology management
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