Methodology
AAMVA currently uses the Information Technology Lifecycle Management (ITLM) methodology to develop new applications. ITLM provides AAMVA with the flexibility to develop applications with a small user base using Rapid (Agile like) approach and develop applications with a large user base (i.e. for all the states) using a waterfall approach.
Electronic Data Interchange
AAMVA uses a number of standards for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Some of the standards used were developed by AAMVA to support its needs, other standards were existing standards that AAMVA has adopted.
The existing standards:
- XML: Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a commonly used convention used to in EDI to format data. Newer AAMVA applications often use XML.
- NIEM: AAMVA provides subject matter expertise for the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), which is a repository of standardized XML business elements. AAMVA applications often use XML.
- X-12: Is an EDI standard. Current AAMVA is not using X-12, though it is used by many of our members.
- There are a number of standard Character encoding schemes (i.e. ASCII, EBCDIC, etc). AAMVA and its members have encountered a number of issues related to exchanging information between environments using different schemes. The Character Encoding scheme page discusses some of the challenges.
The standards were developed to facilitate communication between computers in motor vehicle agencies, however they have been found to be useful in other applications too. When AAMVA develops new computer applications, AAMVA typically uses one or more of these standards.
- ANSI-D20: AAMVA is a standards development organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the use of the canvass method. AAMVA currently maintains the Data Dictionary for Traffic Record Systems (ANSI-D20) which is a standardized dictionary of business data elements used in the motor vehicle arena. Please refer to the ANSI-D20 page for updates to this standard.
- AMIE: AAMVA manages the AAMVA Message Interchange Envelope (AMIE) protocol. AMIE is the legacy protocol used on AAMVA’s private network. AAMVA provides tools to convert data to and from AMIE in the UNI and AMIE/ba software.
- MAX: AAMVA manages the Messages over AAMVA in XML (MAX) protocol. MAX is the new XML protocol used on AAMVA’s private network. Users of the network may contact AAMVA for details of the protocol.
Contact: Pierre Y. Boyer, (703) 908-2821 or Mark Pritchard, (703) 908-5790.