This specification defines an Information Model for analysers. This Information Model is also referred to as the ADI Information Model. Analysers can be further refined into various groups such as light spectrometers, particle size monitoring systems, imaging particle size monitoring systems, acoustic spectrometers, mass spectrometers, chromatographs, Imaging systems and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers. These groups can be extended and each group can also be further divided. The requirements for all of these groups of analysers can vary, but this specification defines an Information Model that can be applied to all groups of analysers.

OEM integrators often build specialized analytical devices, e.g. octane monitor, by combining several off-the-shelf analysers and accessories. That kind of compound analytical device can be treated as yet another type of Analyser to which this Information Model applies.