What is ArchiMate?
ArchiMate is an open and standardised modelling language for enterprise
architecture.
It is used to map architectures visually, unambiguously and in a structured way, from
strategy through to technology.
ArchiMate makes complex architectures understandable for both executives and designers, using a common language.
🧠 Purpose of ArchiMate
| Purpose | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Visual communication | Helps in drawing architecture models and dependencies |
| Uniformity | Makes models comparable and consistent within and between organisations |
| Showing coherence | Connects strategy, processes, applications, data and infrastructure |
| Support for TOGAF | ArchiMate is officially developed by The Open Group, as is TOGAF |
🏗 Structure of ArchiMate
ArchiMate is organised into layers and domains:
📚 Key layers
| Layer | What does it describe? |
|---|---|
| Strategy | Capabilities, goals, resources and stakeholders |
| Business | Processes, roles, services, products (see business architecture) |
| Application | Software, interfaces, logic (see application architecture) |
| Data | Information models, objects, storage (see information architecture) |
| Technology | Hardware, networks, protocols (see technical architecture) |
| Physical (optional) | Devices, physical objects — relevant to OT |
| Implementation & Migration | Projects, deliverables, implementation timeline |
🔗 Connections between layers
ArchiMate uses relationships such as:
- Composition (parts)
- Realization (implementation)
- Serving (service delivery)
- Triggering (sequence)
- Association (generic link)
This makes it possible to model impact analyses, dependencies and process chains.
🛠 Tools and applications
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Archi (open source) | Popular modelling tool for ArchiMate |
| BiZZdesign | Commercial tool with ArchiMate and TOGAF support |
| Sparx Enterprise Architect | Broad support for ArchiMate, BPMN, UML, etc. |
| OpenText ProVision | Mainly used in government and inter-agency information management |
🏛 ArchiMate in the public sector
| Architecture framework | Use of ArchiMate |
|---|---|
| NORA | Visualising functions, chains and principles |
| GEMMA | Municipalities model processes, applications and information with ArchiMate |
| MARIJ | Central government uses ArchiMate for portfolio management and change architecture |
| WILMA / PETRA | Visualisation of water systems, managed objects and physical interfaces |
ArchiMate makes complex domains such as licensing, supervision, infrastructure and enforcement transparent and traceable.
🏭 ArchiMate and the OT context
Although ArchiMate originated in IT, it can be extended to Operational Technology (OT):
| Use case | Modelling aspect |
|---|---|
| Sensors and field equipment | Physical layer + technical realisation |
| SCADA/HMI | Application layer with links to field systems |
| Networks and segmentation | Modelling network architectures, VLANs and DMZs |
| IT–OT integration | Visualising interfaces, protocols and security zones |
In OT, you can combine ArchiMate with IEC 62443 zones/conduits or the Purdue Model.
📌 In summary
ArchiMate is the visual language for enterprise architecture.
It helps organisations model strategy, processes, systems and infrastructure in a structured way, and makes architecture diagrams understandable for both engineering and management.
See also OTArchitect.nl