NIEM-UML
NIEM offers two ways to develop information exchanges—one through XML Schema, and another through UML tooling. NIEM also offers the ability to transform XML schema to other data formats, such as JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and Java objects.
Overview
The NIEM Unified Modeling Language (UML) Profile is based on the Object Management Group’s (OMG) international Model Driven Architecture (MDA) standards.
NIEM-UML provides a way for creating NIEM-conformant information exchanges in UML rather than directly coding XML Schema (XSD). In addition, resources who build NIEM exchanges don’t need to worry as much about the technology details, as outlined in the NIEM Naming and Design Rules (NDR) and the Model Package Description (MPD) Specifications. These specifications and rules are already written into the profile, minimizing complexity. When implemented in a tool, NIEM-UML generates NIEM-conformant exchanges and provides a visual representation that is understandable to both technical and business users. That visual representation of UML diagrams helps developers collaborate closely with business users to drive requirement definition and validation.
NIEM-UML diagrams
To give you an idea of what NIEM looks like in UML, we are working to provide diagrams for your viewing pleasure.
Tooling and training
Training on NIEM-UML is dependent on the tools that implement the profile. Currently, NIEM-UML is incorporated into two commercially available products: No Magic’s MagicDraw and Sparx System’s Enterprise Architect (SparxEA). These tools and others can be found in the NIEM Tools Catalog for the convenience of NIEM users.
As UML is an industry standard, training on its use exists in the marketplace. For the convenience of the NIEM community, we are working to identify NIEM-UML training that the program office is aware of to link to on this page. If you know of other free NIEM-UML training available online, please contact us so we can share the information with the NIEM community.
Use cases
NIEM is currently working with members of the community who have leveraged NIEM-UML in exchange development. Please contact us if you have any examples of how you’re using NIEM-UML.