Supporting Transport for Greater Manchester in Shaping a TfGM Owned Unified Data Model (UDM)

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is seeking to engage with the market to inform the development of a TfGM owned Unified Data Model (UDM) that will provide a robust, reusable data foundation for the Bee Network and wider organisational needs.
TfGM manages a complex, multi modal transport network covering highways, bus, tram, and active travel, supported by a diverse technology estate and multiple third party suppliers. TfGM is increasingly dependent on timely, reliable and coherent data to support operational decision making, performance management, planning, and future digital capabilities.
This engagement seeks to draw on market experience and expertise to help TfGM refine its thinking, validate assumptions, and shape a sustainable approach to developing and governing a UDM that can meet both current and future business objectives.
Strategic Context
TfGM has defined three strategic objectives for the Bee Network and the wider organisation by 2030:
1. Create a single view of the transport network across modes and operational domains
2. Establish a single source of truth for operational, performance and asset information
3. Develop a digital twin capability to support planning, simulation and assurance
TfGM recognises that achieving these objectives requires a strong and coherent data foundation, rather than a dependence on individual systems or suppliers.
A TfGM owned Unified Data Model is being explored as a key enabler that can:
• Provide a canonical representation of the transport network and its components
• Support consistent interpretation of data across systems and functional areas
• Enable reuse of data across operational, analytical and strategic use cases
• Underpin digital twin capabilities over time
Unified Data Model (UDM) - Current Thinking
TfGM is exploring the establishment of a TfGM owned and governed Unified Data Model, defined at a conceptual and logical level, independent of any single vendor or technology.
Key principles being considered...