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Schema and Data Exchanges
General Information on Data Exchanges
Network partners who have successfully built and tested a node may begin implementing network data exchanges. As network partners develop the resources to implement data exchanges, they are made available in the Exchange Network Web site. This allows future trading partners to take advantage of existing tools. Additional information is also available in the Getting Started Guide on Joining an Existing Exchange.
NOTE: A data exchange is the Exchange Network term for any routine exchange of information between two or more network partners.
Exchange Network Documentation
To search existing data exchange documentation (XML schemas, flow configuration documents, user guides, etc.), select from one of the following communities of interest. Note: These links take you to the Exchange Network Web site.
- Air - Exchange Network listings that support exchanges of air-related data between network partners
- Water - Exchange Network listings that support the exchange of water-related data between network partners
- Waste - Exchange Network listings that support exchanges of waste-related data between network partners
- Health - Exchange Network listings that support exchanges of public health data between network partners
- Natural Resources - Exchange Network listings that exchanges of natural resource data between network partners
- Cross-Program - Exchange Network listings that support exchanges of data that may cross the boundaries of several different communities of interest or programs
Other Data Exchange Resources
The National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) 
NIEM enables information sharing, focused on current or intended business practices. It is designed to develop, disseminate, and support enterprise-wide information exchange standards and processes to effectively share critical information in emergency situations in addition to day-to-day operations of disparate agencies. An Information Exchange Package Documentation (IEPD) is the set of specifications, represented in Extensible Markup Language (XML), that describe the function and structure of a NIEM information exchange. The Universal Core (UCore) of NIEM is a set of the most common data elements used in many exchanges. These data elements represent the concepts of "who," "what," "where," and “when” contained in the Federal Enterprise Architecture Data Reference Model (FEA-DRM).