dcsimg
  About AAMVA/Contact Us | Online Member Directory | System Alerts | Career Center
Login
Home > Technology Services > Technology Standards

  • Technology Standards

  • Technology standards support and optimize the exchange of data between organizations. Standards include data element standards, message exchange protocols, and others that can be used in private and public environments. For example, standards can be used over virtual private networks (VPNs), the Internet, and batch exchange environments.

    AAMVA uses and develops many standards for exchanging motor vehicle and driver information, grouped into the following categories.

    These types of standards...
    Provide...
    And include...
    Data Standards Data element definitions and coding instructions to promote uniformity of data elements communicated between organizations. This allows you to identify and exchange data between you and your partners and jurisdictions to assure the issuance of accurate licenses, registrations, and title.
    Message Protocols Encoding of data so that it can be transferred between organizations that use any platform, with any application. AAMVA uses and provides protocols that can be used in any exchange environment, including the Internet, AAMVAnet, GXS Information Exchange, and batch file transfer.

     

    Standards Development

    AAMVA actively participates in standards development with AAMVA's member organizations as well as:

    In addition, AAMVA provides subject matter expertise to organizations for best practices in storing and exchanging motor vehicle and driver information. If you are interested in partnering with AAMVA for standards development or implementation, contact AAMVA Enterprise Architecture.

    The following data standards are used in AAMVA systems.

    Standard
    Description
    More Info
    ACD The AAMVA Code Dictionary (ACD) is a set of codes used nationwide to identify the type of driver conviction or the reason for a driver withdrawal. ACD codes are maintained by AAMVA and used in messages sent over AAMVAnet. ACD
    D20

    The Data Element Dictionary for Traffic Records Systems (D20) provides standard terminology and coding instructions to promote uniformity of data elements communicated between organizations in the motor vehicle arena. The Dictionary is maintained by AAMVA.

    D20
    NIEM

    The National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) is a Federally-supported initiative that provides a framework and best practices for exchanging information between government agencies.

    NIEM uses XML as its foundation. AAMVA is a long-standing member of the Global Justice XML Structure Task Force, providing subject matter expertise for driver license and vehicle records.

    NIEM

     

    The following message protocols are used by AAMVA. AAMVA also supports other protocols used by jurisdiction members, such as ASC X12 and Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

    Protocol
    Description
    More Info
    AMIE

    The AAMVAnet Message Interchange Envelope (AMIE) is a protocol developed by AAMVA to enable organizations to exchange information on AAMVAnet. It is also used for batch exchange and in GXS Information Exchange, provided by AAMVA Network Services.

    To convert messages to and from AMIE format, you can use AAMVA's UNI and AMIE/ba software.

    XML

    EXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a set of rules for encoding documents electronically based on descriptive tags. XML is defined and maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

    AAMVA implements XML through web services and MAX, which is AAMVA's XML counterpart of AMIE. For data standards within XML, AAMVA uses the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). 

    AAMVA is a standards development organization. AAMVA actively participates in development of standards and provides subject matter expertise to organizations detailed below.

    If you are interested in partnering with AAMVA for standards development or implementation, contact AAMVA Enterprise Architecture.

    For this organization...
    AAMVA provides...
    Association of Transportation Safety Data Professionals (ATSIP) Subject matter expertise and guidance on best practices in the motor vehicle arena. AAMVA is a liaison to the ATSIP Executive Board.
    Department of Homeland Security (DHS)   Support for exchange of data standardized through NIEM (implemented in AAMVA systems).
    Department of Justice (DOJ) Support for exchange of data standardized through ANSI-D20 and NIEM (implemented in AAMVA systems). AAMVA also provides feedback on web service specifications, including the Global Record Architecture (GRA) Service Specification Guidelines.
    Department of Transportation (DOT) Support for exchange of data standardized through ANSI-D20 (implemented in AAMVA systems).
    National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Subject matter expertise. In the initial NIEM model, AAMVA contributed driver and vehicle elements that the motor vehicle community use.

     

  • Related Content

  • Related Organizations