What is the Municipal Infrastructure Data Standard (MIDS)?

The Infrastructure Data Standard (MIDS) is a set of definitions that are organized according to a series of business rules that specifies how to store and manage information about networked infrastructure. The infrastructure currently included in MIDS is roads, water distribution, wastewater and storm collection, rail, trails and structures. MIDS is essentially a specification for infrastructure owners that facilitates the collection, management and analysis of data.
Municipalities and other infrastructure owners will use the standard as a tool to design and implement their infrastructure database and to ensure that all information pertaining to those networks is accounted for. MIDS is not a database in itself, it provides the foundation on which to design database and application systems that provide a high degree of integration and information sharing. MIDS promotes the strategic management of information and supports the sharing of data amongst multiple business applications while further enabling the exchange of that same information with service delivery partners, adjoining infrastructure owners and other stakeholders.

The MIDS standard has the following characteristics:

• Integrated data: data that is organized by topics (e.g. all data about bridges) rather than by use or application (e.g. maintenance data about bridges, financial data about bridges, etc.) There are many advantages to integrated data in modern business and service delivery.
• Open data standard: accessible to anyone on reasonable terms.
• Non-proprietary data standard: not controlled by a private-sector organization for exclusive financial benefits (also called a vendor-independent standard)
• Technology-independent data standard: enables the creation of a database under different conditions (computer technology, design methodology, application system, etc.) without compromising the essential specifications of meaning and representation of the data. This is not a black-and-white issue. There are degrees of technology independence. Higher degrees of technology independence correlate to lower costs of conversion of the database from one technology environment to another.

The following diagram depicts the components that together make up MIDS. Structure defines the way in which data elements relate to one and other in terms of connectivity. The Content defines attributes ie. name, format and valid values of the data elements comprising the data model.
The Rules defines how to keep the data valid and consistent.

What is the MIDS program?

The objective of the program is to create, promote and sustain a data standard that assists municipalities in achieving their business objectives - obtaining better information to make better decisions regarding their programs and services. In addition, a consistent data standard will promote the creation of innovative applications in the private sector that will have broad appeal to many jurisdictions. Data will be managed and viewed as a strategic asset and will assist with activities such as performance measurement and capital planning. The program will be structured to provide an environment of collaboration between the public and private sectors while ensuring that the business needs of municipalities are achieved. Financial support for the improvement and maintenance of the standard will be derived from membership fees, with the initial investment being contributed to by federal, provincial and municipal governments.
The program structure will encourage involvement from both the private and public sector while improving efficiency and effectiveness in the management and use of information. The MIDS program is managed by the Ontario Good Roads Association on behalf of the Tri-committee of Ontario. The MIDS business plan provides detail on the structure and the financial management of the program. It can be downloaded from www.tricom.org.