Dedl - An Information Model-Based Data Ecosystem Description Language

Data ecosystems are complex networks that connect various stakeholders to share and use data and thereby generate added value. Various approaches, e.g., data spaces and data trustees, lead to specialized data ecosystems. However, there is currently no possibility to abstractly describe the system behavior and the system architecture of a data ecosystem from a technical perspective. This complicates the development process as well as the comparability and compatibility of varying data ecosystem solutions. This paper therefore proposes the Data Ecosystem Description Language (DEDL) for describing system architecture and system behavior of data ecosystems and introduces the underlying core model, an information model-based representation of data ecosystem processes and components. Three applications, a centralized, a federated, and a hybrid data ecosystem show its applicability. The introduced information model provides a basis for an ontology, further supporting research and practical implementation of data ecosystems.