Page 48 - Redefining smart city platforms: Setting the stage for Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms - A U4SSC deliverable on city platforms

northbound interfaces described in this Recommendation can be provided by a generic smart
city platform, only the basic ones, which constitute an interoperability layer for IoT data provision.

More specifically, a generic architecture for a local government would contain a set of standardized
components with more interoperability points.

6.2 Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms

The concept of Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) is based on what is needed to provide
simple, straightforward ways for a city to implement the essential aspects of well-established
standards quickly. The aim of defining these is to enable the digital capabilities of a city to be
based on a firm foundation. By embedding them within the smart city architecture, the city can be
sure it has the data-handling capabilities and the interoperability needed.

Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs) are the minimal but sufficient capabilities needed to
achieve interoperability of data, systems, and services between buyers, suppliers, and regulators
across governance levels around the world. By basing the mechanisms on an inclusive list of
baselines and references, they can take account of the different backgrounds of cities and
communities and allow cities to achieve interoperability based on a minimal common ground.

Implementation can be different, as long as crucial interoperability points in any given technical
architecture use the same interoperability mechanisms. The MIMs need to be vendor neutral and
technology agnostic, enabling anybody to use them and integrate them in existing systems and
offerings, complementing existing standards and technologies.

MIMs need to be simple and transparent mechanisms, ready to use in any city, regardless of size
or capacity. The interoperability points assure the replicability of the solutions built on top of an
open city platform, as these are decoupled from the specific technological implementation and
deployment of the architectural components. 33

Below is a list of the relevant MIMs.

38 Redefining smart city platforms: Setting the stage for Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms