Overview
ISO 26683-1:2013 - part of the ISO 26683 series - defines the context, high-level architecture and referenced standards for identifying and communicating the contents of freight land conveyances. It frames how existing technologies and international standards (for item, package and container identification) can be combined to agglomerate/aggregate cargo data and exchange that data via standardized application interface profiles. The part is intended to present data to cargo application systems (tracking, tracing, auditing and monitoring) rather than prescribe end-to-end system designs.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Context and scope: Establishes the relationship of ISO 26683 to related freight, fleet and intermodal standards and the objectives for the ISO 26683 series.
- Data concepts: Defines information entities (data elements), grouped/aggregated entities and message concepts to support transport interface exchanges.
- Architecture overview: High-level architecture for data collation and transfer, including cargo/vehicle information layers, sensor data, item data, agglomeration and aggregation of data, and data transfer mechanisms.
- Operational aspects: Consideration of road transport hand-offs, sealed conveyances (e.g., intermodal containers), multiple trailers, and the collection of on-board cargo stress measurement information (referenced for later parts).
- Application interface profiles: Specifies how profiles can be used to agglomerate/aggregate and transfer land cargo transport data using current ICT technologies (detailed profiles are in Part 2).
- Referenced standards and annexes: Lists normative international standards (Annex A) and implementation examples (Annex B); includes treatment of ISO 6346 for land conveyance identification (Annex C).
Practical applications
- Enables real-time cargo visibility, improved tracking and tracing across intermodal hand-offs by providing a consistent data model for cargo content and condition.
- Supports auditing of sealed loads and monitoring cargo condition (cargo stress measurement) as data sources are agglomerated/aggregated and transmitted to cargo management systems.
- Facilitates interoperability between logistics IT systems, telematics providers, carriers, freight forwarders and customs/regulatory interfaces by mapping to established data carriers and EDI/data-element frameworks.
Who should use ISO 26683-1:2013
- Logistics and supply chain architects and integrators
- Telematics and ITS solution vendors
- Freight carriers, intermodal operators and shippers
- Systems integrators implementing cargo monitoring, tracking and auditing
- Standards developers and regulators aligning transport data exchanges
Related standards (examples)
ISO 26683-1 is complementary to and references standards such as ISO 6346, ISO 17687, ISO/TS 24533, UN/CEFACT, OASIS/UBL, ISO 7372 and IEEE 1512.3. Part 2 of ISO 26683 defines the concrete application interface profiles; Parts 3 and 4 address cargo stress measurement handling and security profiles respectively.