Process Automation Device Information Model

The Process Automation Device Information Model (PA-DIM) is a specification that defines protocol agnostic communication of common process automation instrument parameters, including semantic IDs as defined by IEC 61987, using OPC UA information modeling techniques. Eliminating protocol dependencies simplifies the integration of IT and OT systems while enabling a semantic device information approach for unambiguous machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Seamless communication is achieved through data-mapping of field device parameters using the address space defined in the PA-DIM specification.

End users will benefit from a protocol agnostic data integration approach leveraging PA-DIM to move process data seamlessly from the field to the cloud to realize improved data standardization across networks.

The PA-DIM owners encompass standards development and end user organizations that share a common interest in collaboratively developing specifications and technology to accelerate the digital transformation of the process automation industry. Each participating organization is a shared owner of the PA-DIM specification, which is managed by the working group hosted by the FieldComm Group. Current PA-DIM owners are FDT Group, FieldComm Group, ISA 100 WCI, NAMUR, ODVA, OPC Foundation, PROFIBUS and PROFINET International, VDMA, and ZVEI.