This specification was created by a joint working group of the OPC Foundation and FieldComm Group Project Group Device Information Model. It defines the OPC UA Information Model to represent and access Process Automation Devices.

OPC Foundation

OPC is the interoperability standard for the secure and reliable exchange of data and information in the industrial automation space and in other industries. It is platform independent and ensures the seamless flow of information among devices from multiple vendors. The OPC Foundation is responsible for the development and maintenance of this standard.

OPC UA is a platform independent service-oriented architecture that integrates all the functionality of the individual OPC Classic specifications into one extensible framework. This multi-layered approach accomplishes the original design specification goals of:

• Platform independence: from an embedded microcontroller to cloud-based infrastructure
• Secure: encryption, authentication, authorization and auditing
• Extensible: ability to add new features including transports without affecting existing applications
• Comprehensive information modelling capabilities: for defining any model from simple to complex

FieldComm Group

FieldComm Group is a global standards-based non-profit member organization consisting of leading process end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations that work together to direct the development, incorporation and implementation of communication technologies for the process industries. Membership is open to anyone interested in the use of the technologies. In addition to HART and Foundation Fieldbus communication technologies, FieldComm Group is responsible for ongoing development of Field Device Integration (FDI) Technology.