NIEM technical overview
Conceptually NIEM is essentially a data model providing the reference vocabulary for consistent and repeatable interagency and inter-domain exchanges of information. The model is represented in a number of forms, including a data dictionary, and a reference schema, and includes the body of concepts and rules that underlie its structure, maintain its consistency, and govern its use.
NIEM uses extensible markup language (XML) as its rendering language. XML allows the structure and meaning of data to be defined through simple but carefully defined syntax rules, thereby providing a common framework for information exchange.
The models unique architecture enables data components to be constrained, extended, and augmented as necessary to formulate XML exchange schemas, and XML instance documents defining the information payloads (content) for data exchange. These exchange defining documents are packaged in IEPDs that are re-usable, modifiable and extendable.
