1. UN/LOCODE System Business Requirements Specification UN/LOCODE
Yan Zhang
Economic Affairs Officer
UNECE
December 2017, Geneva

2. In This Presentation Project background Study report Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Project background
Study report
Brief of BRS
Way-forward

3. Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The First UN/LOCODE Conference, 24 April 2015, Geneva
Objectives:
• Drawing Member States' attention on the issue of UN/LOCODE maintenance; • Seeking more support by having a nominated focal point per country; and • Brainstorming on how to improve UN/LOCODE

4. Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The Second UN/LOCODE Conference, 28 April 2016, Geneva

5. Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The Second UN/LOCODE Conference, 28 April 2016, Geneva

6. On a volunteer basis, representatives from
Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The UN/LOCODE Feasibility Study Team
BIC, Brazil, Esri, IHS Markit, IMO, Japan, Sweden and Thailand.
On a volunteer basis, representatives from
Japan
IMO
Norway
IBC
Spain
GT-Nexus
Thailand
IHS
UN/CEFACT
INTTRA
European Union
COSCO
ESRI

7. Project Background The UN/LOCODE Feasibility Study
Confluence UN/CEFACT Environment (CUE)

8. Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The Third UN/LOCODE Conference, 30 March 2017, Geneva

9. On a volunteer basis, representatives from
Project Background
UN/LOCODE
The Re-engineering UN/LOCODE System Project Team
On a volunteer basis, representatives from
BIC
Brazil
ESRI
IHS Markit
IMO
Japan
Sweden
Thailand

10. In This Presentation Project background Study report Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Project background
Study report
Brief of BRS
Way-forward

11. Current UN/LOCODE System:
Study Report
UN/LOCODE
Current UN/LOCODE System:

12. Study Report Current workflow Front-end:
UN/LOCODE
Current workflow
Front-end:
.Net + SQL server (Since 2004)
DMRs prepared off-line
Data Synchronisation
Back-end:
MS ACCESS (since 2002)
Bi-annually, free of charge

13. Study Report Drawbacks from users’ perspective:
UN/LOCODE
Drawbacks from users’ perspective:
No editing after submission
Need to edit a DMR after submission before validation
No tracking after submission
Don’t know validation results unless look it up on the latest release published on the website
No notification of when the release is published
No web form for requests for modification
No ‘real-time’ update
Bi-annual publication, average 6-month-delay
No sub-dataset download

14. Drawbacks from the secretariat’s perspective:
Study Report
UN/LOCODE
Drawbacks from the secretariat’s perspective:
No data-interface between front-end and back-end system
No online validation with support of online tools
Heavy workload to creation of DMRs for modification
No supporting to the workflow associated with Focal Points
No supporting to the customized workflow
No ‘real-time’ validation

15. Drawbacks from the system perspective No central database
Study Report
UN/LOCODE
Drawbacks from the system perspective
No central database
Multiple applications on different platforms
No data interface between front-end and back-end system
No good input validation on the front-end system

16. UN/LOCODE system to be re-engineered ASAP
Study Report
UN/LOCODE
Summary:
UN/LOCODE system to be re-engineered ASAP
Current free-of-charge services MUST be continued
The new UN/LOCODE system should be supported by one central database
Legacy data must be migrated to the new system

17. Future UN/LOCODE System
Study Report
UN/LOCODE
Future UN/LOCODE System

18. Study Report The future system:
UN/LOCODE
The future system:
The current free-of-charge services will be continued
- Free registration
- Free DMR online submission
- Free download of directories
- Free online inquiry
The new functions, such as web service for ‘real-time’ update, might be charged as value-added services
One web-based application with one central database developed on the UN ICT standard platform and hosted in the UN ICT environment
Meet new business requirements, especially escaladed validation workflow
Easy maintenance and enhancements
Data quality will be improved

19. In This Presentation Project background Study report Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Project background
Study report
Brief of BRS
Way-forward

20. Business Requirements Specification
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Background
Business Requirements Specification
To standardize the Business processes

21. Brief of BRS References
UN/LOCODE
References
UNECE Recommendation 16 – Code for Trade and Transport Locations, (ECE/TRADE/227 (revised), third edition, adopted, dated December 1998)
UN/LOCODE Focal Point Terms of Reference (ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2016/16, issued for the Twenty-second Session of UN/CEFACT plenary, document dated: 11 February 2016)
UN/LOCODE Advisory Group – Mandates and Terms of Reference (ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2017/17, issued for the Twenty-third Session of UN/CEFACT plenary, document dated: 17 January 2017)

22. Brief of BRS Terms UN/LOCODE
A Five-character coded representation for the names of ports, airports, inland clearance depots, inland freight terminals, other transport related locations and trade related locations which are used for the movement of goods.
COUNTRY
Countries, territories and special areas based on ISO
LOCATION
Any named geographical place, recognized by a competent national body, either with permanent facilities used for goods movements associated with trade, and used for these purposes, or proposed by the Government concerned or by a competent national or international organization for inclusion in the UN/LOCODE.
PORT
Any location with permanent facilities at which vessels can load or discharge cargo moving in maritime traffic.
AIRPORT
Any location with permanent facilities at which aircraft can load or discharge cargo moving in air traffic.
Inland Clearance Depot (ICD):
A common user facility, other than a port or an airport, approved by a competent body, equipped with fixed installations and offering services for handling and temporary storage of any kind of goods (including containers) carried under Customs transit by any applicable mode of transport, placed under Customs control and with Customs and other agencies competent to clear goods for home use, warehousing, temporary admission, re-export, temporary storage for onward transit and outright export. (Definition applies also to synonyms like Dry Port, Inland Clearance Terminal, etc.)
Inland freight terminal
Any facility, other than a port or an airport, operated on a common-user basis, at which cargo in trade is received or dispatched.
CODE
Data transformation or data representation in different forms according to pre-established rules. (Definition adapted from ISO :1983)
CODE ELEMENT
Result of applying a code to an element in a set of elements to be coded (In UN/LOCODE, one code element represents the name of a port, an airport, inland clearance depot, inland freight terminal, or a location). (Definition adapted from ISO /1987)

23. Data Requirement Statement
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Data Requirement Statement
LOCODE
Name
NameWoDiacritics
Subdivision
Status
Function
Date
IATA
Coordinates
GB CDF
Cardiff
CRF AF
1101
CWL
5130N 00312W
Number
Data Requirement Statement B1
A DMR for a new entry may specify Country, Location Code, Location Name, Subdivision, Function(s), Geographical Coordinates, Web Link, etc. B2
Country is ISO two-alphabet code B3
Location Code is not case sensitive with using 26 alphabets and numbers (2 to 9) B4
Location Name is in Latin characters including diacritical marks adopted characters specified in the UNECE Rec. No 16 B5
Subdivision is based on ISO B6
Function(s) is a set of values (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,B) specified in the UNECE Rec. No 16.
1- Port
2- Railway Station
3- Road Terminal
4- Airport
5- Postal Exchange Office
6- ICD
7- Fixed Transport, i.e. fixed oil well
B- Border B7
Status B8
Geographical Coordinates are in format ddmmN/S dddmmE/W
dd=degrees (00 to 90),
ddd=degrees (000 to 180),
mm=minutes (00 to 59) B9
Web Link is an hyperlink to refer the location, i.e.

24. Brief of BRS Business Process Roles Participants and Stakeholders
UN/LOCODE
Business Process Roles
Participants and Stakeholders
DMR Requester
UN/LOCODE User Community
Validating Authority
UNECE Secretariat, UN/LOCODE Focal Points
Publisher
UNECE Secretariat
Consumer /User

25. Submitted Pending for Validation
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Lifecycle of DMR
DMR
Drafted
DMR
Submitted Pending for Validation
DMR
Being Validated
DMR
To be published
DMR
Withdrawn
DMR
Rejected
DMR
Approved

26. Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Conceptal Model

27. Brief of BRS Business Requirement List Number
UN/LOCODE
Business Requirement List
Number
Business Requirement Statement
Business Transaction Name for this Requirement
A.1
The Requestor submits a DMR for a new entry
Submit a DMR for a New Code
A.2
The Requestor submits a DMR for modification of an existing entry, including deletion of an existing entry
Submit a DMR for Modification
A.3
The Requestor submits DMRs by batch
Submit DMRs by Batch
A.4
The Validating Authorities perform validation for a DMR
DMR Validation
A.5
The Publisher issues the bi-annual directories
Directory Publication
A.6
The Consumer looks up UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE Inquiry
A.7
The Consumer exports a dataset of UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE Download

28. Brief of BRS DMR Submission: DMR Submission Submit DMR Requestor
UN/LOCODE
DMR Submission:
DMR Submission
Submit
DMR Requestor

29. Form for Business Process
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
DMR Submission:
Form for Business Process
General
Name
DMR Submission
Description
The requestor sends a DMR to the validating authority.
Details
Classified to Business Areas and Process Areas
Business Area: Transport & Logistics
Process Area: Ship
Participants and their interests
DMR Requestor
Stakeholders and their interests
The UN/LOCODE User Community
Reference(s)
Start/End Characteristics
Pre-condition
The requestor has logged in with registered credentials.
There is a need to send a DMR.
Post-condition
DMR Drafted/Submitted
Begins When
DMR Awaited
Ends When
DMR is submitted to the validating authority
Actions
Filling in a web form and passing input validation
Exceptions
Duplication of request or input validation not met
Relationships
Included Business Processes
Affected Business Entities
DMR

30. Brief of BRS DMR Submission: New Request Request for Modification
UN/LOCODE
DMR Submission:
New Request
Request for Modification
DMRs by Batch

31. Brief of BRS DMR Validation 2. DMR Validation Participate Validate
UN/LOCODE
DMR Validation
2. DMR Validation
Participate
Validate
Validation Authory
DMR Requestor

32. Form for Business Process
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
DMR Validation
Form for Business Process
General
Name
2. DMR Validation
Description
When the Validating Authority receives the DMR, he or she checks the specified inclusion criteria. The validating authorities also check accuracy of metadata of DMR. If no discrepancies or mistakes after being corrected by the Validating Authority, the DMR is approved and ready for being published. Otherwise, if with discrepancy detected or against the inclusion criteria, the DMR is rejected, withdrawn or postponed for further clarification.
Details
Classified to Business Areas and Process Areas
Business Area: Transport & Logistics
Process Area: Ship
Participants and their interests
Validating Authority
Stakeholders and their interests
The Secretariat, UN/LOCODE Focal Points
Reference(s)
Start/End Characteristics
Pre-condition
The DMR is submitted successfully and ready for validation.
Post-condition
The DMR is approved, withdrawn, rejected or postponed.
Begins When
The DMR ready for validation.
Ends When
The DMR is given a validation result.
Actions
According to validation criteria, the status of the DMR is changed based on validation result.
Exceptions
Relationships
Included Business Processes
DMR Submission
Affected Business Entities
DMR

33. Brief of BRS Directory Publication 3. Directory Publication Publish
UN/LOCODE
Directory Publication
3. Directory Publication
Publish
Publisher

34. Form for Business Process
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Directory Publication
Form for Business Process
General
Name
3. Directory Publication
Description
After cut-off date, all approved DMRs are updated as a latest release and published on the UNECE website.
Details
Classified to Business Areas and Process Areas
Business Area: Transport & Logistics
Process Area: Ship
Participants and their interests
Publisher
Stakeholders and their interests
The Secretariat
Reference(s)
Start/End Characteristics
Pre-condition
The DMR is ready for publication after the cut-off date.
Post-condition
The DMR is published.
Begins When
The DMR is ready for publication.
Ends When
The new approved DMR is published with change indicator.
Actions
After the cut-off date, all DMRs approved for publication will be updated to the latest release and published on the UNECE website in agreed formats free-of –charge.
Exceptions
Relationships
Included Business Processes
DMR Submission, DMR Validation
Affected Business Entities
UN/LOCODE

35. Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE use
Request
4. UN/LOCODE Use
User

36. Form for Business Process
Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE use
Form for Business Process
General
Name
4. UN/LOCODE Use
Description
Look up UN/LOCODE with different search criteria.
Details
Classified to Business Areas and Process Areas
Business Area: Transport & Logistics
Process Area: Ship
Participants and their interests
User
Stakeholders and their interests
The UN/LOCODE User Community
Reference(s)
Start/End Characteristics
Pre-condition
The database is open for inquiry
Post-condition
The result is returned.
Begins When
The inquiry is sent.
Ends When
The inquiry result is returned.
Actions
Based on the inquiry, the database will be looked up and returns the result.
Exceptions
Relationships
Included Business Processes
Affected Business Entities
UN/LOCODE

37. Brief of BRS UN/LOCODE use UN/LOCODE lookup UN/LOCODE download

38. In This Presentation Project background Study report Brief of BRS
UN/LOCODE
Project background
Study report
Brief of BRS
Way-forward

39. Way-forward Technical proposals: ESRI
UN/LOCODE
Technical proposals:
ESRI
Presented at the Third UN/LOCODE Conference on 30 March 2017
IHS Markit
To be presented at the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group Lauch Meeting on 30 November 2017
Others …

40. Thank you! UN/LOCODE Yan Zhang Economic Affairs Officer UNECE
November 2017, Geneva