The STEP Integration Information Architecture

Traditionally, when the term ‘integration’ is used to refer to the interoperability of disparate, heterogeneous computer systems, it means the ability to exchange digital data between the systems. For the more sophisticated systems designers, ‘integration’ may mean shared, distributed databases or a federated database system. Within the development of the STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP — ISO 10303), ‘integration’ refers to an information architecture composed of conceptual constructs that is independent of implementation considerations.