GeoXBRL: Integration Standard between Geographical and Business Data

Context: The usage of geographic data and geovisualization in financial auditing and analytics is increasing among auditors and accountants. Business information systems can process and analyze data through geographic approaches (e.g. financial insight on a virtual geographic map). Although many business information systems have been developed considering geographic data as one of data sources, there is no a standard for modeling both kind of data together (i.e. business and geographical). Conversely, it is also known that Geographic Markup Language (GML) and eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) are W3C technologies worldwide used for representing geographic and business data, respectively. Given this absence of standardization to represent geospatial data within business taxonomies, this paper proposes the GeoXBRL to fill this gap. This paper specifies an integration between geographic and business/financial data. For this, W3C technologies such as XLink, XML schema, GML and XBRL have been used to make the data structure of this integration. As an assessment, a XML-based representation and a Java-based web application have been developed on a real-world business taxonomy (available on US-SEC website). A comparison is shown between previous business data scenario and the new one proposed in this paper. Finally, this proposal allows to explain how to use the GeoXBRL. Some comparisons with current tools and technologies are shown in order to illustrate the GeoXBRL features and contributions

XLDM: an xlink-based multidimensional metamodel

The growth of data available on the Internet and the improvement of ways to handle them consist of an important issue while designing a data model. In this context, XML provides the necessary formalism to establish a standard to represent and exchange data. Since the technologies of data warehouse are often used for data analysis, it is necessary to define a cube model data to XML. However, data representation in XML may generate syntactic, semantic and structural heterogeneity problems on XML documents, which are not considered by related approaches. To solve these problems, it is required the definition of a data schema. This paper proposes a metamodel to specify XML document cubes, based on relationships between elements and XML documents. This approach solves the XML data heterogeneity problems by taking advantages of data schema definition and relationships defined by XLink. The methodology used provides formal rules to define the concepts proposed. Following this formalism is then instantiated using XML Schema and XLink. It also presents a case study in the medical field and a comparison with XBRL Dimensions and a financial and multidimensional data model which uses XLink

XBRL financial reporting supply chain architecture

Recently the Internet with XML technologies and especially XBRL technology has impacted what is recognised as the financial reporting supply chain. Some claims in the market report that XBRL has the potential to reduce inefficiencies, automate and optimise the financial reporting supply chain. Nevertheless the real nature of the impact still remains unclear. The growing number of XBRL projects around the world together with strong interest from bodies such as the SEC in the United States, CEBS in the European Union and the IASB building XBRL taxonomies demonstrate the need for research in the area of XBRL application in the context of financial accounting and accounting information systems as well as in the financial reporting supply chain context. In order to answer the demand on the research in this area this research addresses financial reporting supply chain on the basis of financial accounting literature. With the introduction of information systems for enterprises, financial reporting was often discussed as a part of the AIS literature. Nevertheless the supply chain character and information systems context of financial reporting are rarely considered in the research literature in any theoretically constituent manner. This study examines the impact of XBRL on the financial reporting supply chain architecture. First goal of this thesis is to properly state and set the boundaries of financial reporting supply chain. In order to realise the goal modelling of financial reporting domain as financial reporting supply chain architecture is conducted. The second goal is to critically assess impact of XBRL on the modelled financial reporting supply chain architecture components. This assessment is conducted by enhancing financial reporting supply chain architecture with XBRL components thus modelling XBRL financial reporting supply chain architecture. The secondary goal of the assessment is the construction of the reference model of XBRL financial reporting supply chain architecture

Flexible Integration and Efficient Analysis of Multidimensional Datasets from the Web

If numeric data from the Web are brought together, natural scientists can compare climate measurements with estimations, financial analysts can evaluate companies based on balance sheets and daily stock market values, and citizens can explore the GDP per capita from several data sources. However, heterogeneities and size of data remain a problem. This work presents methods to query a uniform view - the Global Cube - of available datasets from the Web and builds on Linked Data query approaches

The Transaction Costs Perspective on Standards as a Source of Trade and Productivity Growth

This paper discusses the design, implementation and use of standards from the perspective of transaction costs economics. A proper design and implementation of standards may lead to a considerable reduction of transaction costs, which enhances trade and, consequently, economic welfare. A major example is the use of containers, which has drastically changed the worldwide transport infrastructure, and lowered the costs of transport of goods considerably. The example of containers also shows that network externalities play a major role in the use of standards, and that, on the other hand, worldwide standards with large sunk investment costs may lead to a lock-in. This may call for government intervention in the design and use of standards, and in the transition processes to new standards. The paper provides ample further examples of standards and on the role of the government, or clubs, with respect to these standards

Flexible Integration and Efficient Analysis of Multidimensional Datasets from the Web

If numeric data from the Web are brought together, natural scientists can compare climate measurements with estimations, financial analysts can evaluate companies based on balance sheets and daily stock market values, and citizens can explore the GDP per capita from several data sources. However, heterogeneities and size of data remain a problem. This work presents methods to query a uniform view - the Global Cube - of available datasets from the Web and builds on Linked Data query approaches