A Reference Technological Architecture

This chapter presents a possible reference technological architecture for eGovernment projects, based on the service-oriented architecture (SOA) paradigm and related technologies and approaches. Such a reference architecture leverages the Italian experience called SPCoop (in Italian Sistema Pubblico di Cooperazione, possible English translation as “nationwide cooperative system”), which was designed recently and subsequently developed and used in ongoing Italian projects. It is a refinement of the reference architecture introduced in Chap. 9 and introduces technological details and software elements for modern eGovernment infrastructures. In particular, Sect. 10.1 provides some organizational and strategic guidelines that the governments and other political bodies should consider when setting up a reference architecture for eGovernment. Section 10.2 introduces basic concepts and definitions which are useful in the following of the chapter. Section 10.3 provides an overview of the reference architecture, whereas Sects. 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, and 10.7 provide technical insights on the different elements of the reference architecture. Finally Sect. 10.8 compares the presented architecture with similar initiatives currently undertaken in Europe.