Introducing the BOOST ERD Navigator

Dear BOOST Community Group Members,

We're excited to share a significant milestone in the development of the
Biomass Open Origin Standard for Tracking (BOOST). We hope this makes
engaging with the content a little more approachable than the exhaustive
issues list we previewed on our last call. We've launched an
interactive *Entity
Relationship Diagram (ERD) Navigator* that maps out the core data structure
for biomass chain of custody tracking, and we need your expertise to help
refine it.

We will be introducing this tool at our upcoming BOOST meeting 11AM this
morning. The agenda for today is posted here
<https://github.com/carbondirect/BOOST/blob/main/meetings/BOOST_meeting_6_25_2025.md>
.

What We've Built*🗂️ ERD Navigator:* An interactive web tool that
visualizes the 17 *indicative *core entities that  form the foundation of
BOOST's data standard. The ERD is in draft from and subject to change. You
can explore the complete data model, zoom in on specific relationships, and
jump directly to detailed discussions about each entity.

*📍 Access the Navigator:*
https://carbondirect.github.io/BOOST/#stakeholder-feedback

*💬 GitHub Discussions:* Each of the 17 entities has a dedicated discussion
thread where we're gathering detailed feedback on schema design,
attributes, and real-world applicability.

Where We Are in DevelopmentBOOST is currently in the *entity schema design
phase*. We've consolidated our research from multiple certification
programs (SBP, FSC, PEFC, RSB, LCFS, RFS, and others) into a focused set of
17 core entities that capture the essential data needed for biomass supply
chain tracking:


   - *Organizations & Certification:* Organization, Certificate,
   CertificationScheme, CertificationBody
   - *Materials & Supply Chain:* Material, Supplier, Customer,
   DTSTransaction, TransactionBatch
   - *Claims & Verification:* Claim, SalesDeliveryDocument,
   VerificationStatement
   - *Mass Balance & Tracking:* MassBalanceAccount, ProductGroup,
   EnergyCarbonData
   - *Compliance & Reporting:* SupplyBaseReport, Audit

This represents a practical, implementable model that balances
comprehensive tracking with real-world usability. These entities represent
a first draft and, as such, feedback is very welcome.

What We're Asking For*We're not expecting everyone to comment on
everything.* Instead, we encourage you to engage where your expertise and
interests align:

🎯 *Engage Where You Have Expertise*

   - *Supply chain operators:* Focus on entities like Material,
   DTSTransaction, Supplier/Customer
   - *Certification bodies:* Review Certificate, CertificationScheme, Audit
   entities
   - *Software developers:* Examine data types, relationships, and
   integration challenges
   - *Regulatory experts:* Assess compliance-related entities like
   VerificationStatement, SupplyBaseReport
   - *NGOs and sustainability advocates:* Evaluate tracking capabilities
   for environmental and social criteria

🔍 *Types of Feedback We Value*

   - *Field completeness:* Are we missing critical attributes?
   - *Data types:* Are the proposed data structures realistic and
   implementable?
   - *Real-world applicability:* Will this work with your current systems
   and processes?
   - *Validation requirements:* What business rules and constraints are
   essential?
   - *Integration challenges:* What obstacles do you foresee in adoption?

📝 *How to Participate*

   1. *Explore the ERD Navigator* to understand the overall data model
   2. *Click on entities buttons* below the interactive ERD that relate to
   your work or interests
   3. *Join the GitHub discussions* for those specific entities
   4. *Share your perspective* - even brief comments are valuable

*New to GitHub?* No problem! Creating a free account takes just 2 minutes:
github.com/signup

Why This MattersYour feedback during this schema design phase directly
influences the final standard. The decisions we make now about data
structure, required fields, and relationships will impact:


   - How easily systems can integrate with BOOST
   - What information can be tracked and verified
   - How effectively the standard serves different stakeholder needs
   - The operational burden on supply chain participants

TimelineWe're seeking feedback over the *next 2-3 weeks* to finalize the
core entity schemas. This will enable us to move forward with detailed JSON
schema development, validation rules, and pilot implementations.

Questions or Alternative Feedback ChannelsIf you prefer email over GitHub,
you can also send feedback to: *public-boost-01@w3.org
<public-boost-01@w3.org>*

For technical questions about the ERD Navigator or discussion process, feel
free to reach out directly.

------------------------------

Thank you for your continued participation in developing this critical
infrastructure for biomass supply chain transparency. Your diverse
perspectives and real-world experience are essential to creating a standard
that truly serves the biomass community.

Best regards,


-- 

*Peter Tittmann*

Senior Scientist -- Carbon Direct
Chair -- BOOST Working Group <https://www.w3.org/community/boost-01/>
+1 707-849-4135