Sparx Systems Supports 2010 European CIM Initiative

Sparx Systems supports users of the Common Information Model (CIM) in the global utility sector. The users now include ENTSO-E who have adopted the CIM for information exchange in Europe.

Creswick, Australia, June 10, 2010 – Sparx Systems, a leading vendor of modeling tools based on the UML standard, will attend the Common Information Model User Group (CIMug) to be held in June in Milan, Italy. Since the adoption of its flagship modeling platform, Enterprise Architect, by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Sparx Systems has been a regular invited guest at these events. CIMug is responsible for combining relevant IEC specifications to form the CIM, a globally accepted standard for modelling the information exchanges required by electric utilities. This interoperability is a key factor for achieving the Smart Grid vision.

The primary focus of the Milan meeting, which includes delegates from some 43 companies based in Europe and North America, will be Role of the CIM in the Smart Grid and its use at ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity). This meeting, the only general CIMug meeting scheduled in 2010 in Europe, will be hosted by Terna and CESI.

Commenting on Sparx Systems attendance at this event, Sparx Systems Chief Operations Officer, Ben Constable, noted "Enterprise Architect has a strong following within the utilities industry in general and is well received by the CIM User Group. Being directly involved in the user group meetings is an excellent way to get feedback and helps to ensure that we continue to meet the changing needs of our utilities customers, specifically those leading the standards development effort."

The CIMug program will include presentations by Sparx Systems, focusing on using Enterprise Architect to extend the CIM standard with collaborative approaches to modeling. These sessions will be aimed at helping editors of the CIM standard manage revisions and assisting those delegates responsible for deploying and extending the CIM model within their own organizations.

Mr Constable went on to explain: "As utilities continue to standardize on CIM, Enterprise Architect plays a vital role in helping both utility and vendor organizations manage team-based model development and the integration of extensions to the CIM standard. Enterprise Architect is well positioned to do this because of its breadth of built-in collaboration functionality and version management capabilities".

More information about Sparx Systems' participation in the CIM user group and its parent organization UCAIug, is available from the company's web site:
www.sparxsystems.com/partners/standards.html#UCAIug

About Sparx Systems

Sparx Systems specializes in high performance and scalable visual modeling tools for the planning, design and construction of software intensive systems.

With customers in industries ranging from aerospace and automotive engineering to finance, defense, government, entertainment and telecommunications, Sparx Systems is a leading vendor of innovative solutions based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and its related specifications. A Contributing Member of the Object Management Group (OMG), Sparx Systems is committed to realizing the potential of model-driven development based on open standards.

The company's flagship product, Enterprise Architect, has received numerous accolades since its commercial release in August, 2000. Now at version 8, Enterprise Architect is the design tool of choice for over 200,000 registered users world-wide.

Media Enquiries:
Estelle Gleeson
Sparx Systems
[email protected]