Standards and advisory
Open standards for connected systems
We help organisations apply shared rules for data, devices and digital twins, supporting interoperability, clear governance and secure access.
Devices
Open Connectivity Foundation
Our standards experience includes Brian Bishop's former presidency of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) and contributions to data sharing and digital twin programmes. Brian, our CEO, has also contributed to ISO/IEC 30118 and OCF's IoT specifications.
OCF is a global, member-driven standards organisation. It develops open specifications, published through ISO/IEC, for secure and interoperable communication between IP-connected IoT devices. Its work includes the Secure IP Device Framework, an open-source reference implementation called IoTivity, and a certification programme.
Through OCF we work with hardware manufacturers so that their devices are secure by design and can connect openly with other systems. The approach began in the smart home and is now moving into building automation systems.
National programmes
UK data sharing and digital twins
- Digital Twin Hub
- Our CEO sits on the National Working Group at the Digital Twin Hub, which looks at data sharing architectures and the development of the Gemini framework.
- UKRI
- Our CEO is on the UKRI panel of experts for smart cities.
International
United Nations and overseas programmes
We are on the United Nations roster of smart city consultants.
- Open & Agile Smart Cities
- We have a memorandum of understanding with OASC, and our CEO sits on its MIMs working groups 3, 6 and 8: exchanging data, securing data and local digital twins.
- ITU and U4SSC
- Our CEO contributes to ITU-T Y.4505 and to thematic groups 7 and 9 of the ITU and United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC).
We have been in discussions on smart city and digital twin programmes in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and India. Project work so far includes smart home energy data with South Korean partners, and a memorandum of understanding with ITS University in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Regulation
Standards we design for
From policy to applications
Cyber Resilience Act
The EU Cyber Resilience Act introduces cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements. It came into force on 10 December 2024. Its main obligations apply from 11 December 2027, with reporting obligations applying from 11 September 2026. nodeStream's planned evidence workflows are intended to help organisations organise relevant supplier and product information.
Minimal interoperability mechanisms
Our architecture is designed to align with the Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) of Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC), used by cities across Europe to make data and digital twins work together. This is intended architectural alignment, not a claim of certification. We will publish any formal recognition once it is confirmed. How each layer of the spine maps to the MIMs.
Gemini Principles
Our information management framework draws on the Gemini Principles, the UK principles for building digital twins that serve the public good, are secure and can evolve. We apply them alongside the MIMs.
Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 raises what public buyers must know about their suppliers. nodeStream is designed to help buyers organise supplier information and maintain records against their procurement requirements. The required checks and decisions remain specific to the procurement.
Research
Digital twins that serve people and places
Our research covers digital twins, smart cities and secure data sharing frameworks, with governments, universities and industry. A digital twin is a working model of a real system, built to mirror it, predict how it will behave and improve it.
We aim to make trusted data sharing practical: Buttress controls access to data, while nodeStream coordinates workflows and services across organisations.
The Gemini Principles
Nine principles, in three groups, set out by the Centre for Digital Built Britain for the national digital twin. Our own information management framework draws on them.
PurposeMust have clear purpose
- Public goodMust be used to deliver genuine public benefit in perpetuity
- Value creationMust enable value creation and performance improvement
- InsightMust provide determinable insight into the built environment
TrustMust be trustworthy
- SecurityMust enable security and be secure itself
- OpennessMust be as open as possible
- QualityMust be built on data of an appropriate quality
FunctionMust function effectively
- FederationMust be based on a standard connected environment
- CurationMust have clear ownership, governance and regulation
- EvolutionMust be able to adapt as technology and society evolve
Redrawn from The Gemini Principles, Centre for Digital Built Britain and Digital Framework Task Group, 2018, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Research summary from DPC's research page, dpc-ltd.com/research.
Working on a standards or smart city programme?
We advise local and central government, and the organisations that supply them.