What is PETRA?
PETRA stands for Provinciale Enterprise- en ReferentieArchitectuur (Provincial Enterprise and Reference Architecture). It is the reference architecture for Dutch provinces and supports the design of information services in a coherent, reusable and future-proof manner, in line with NORA.
PETRA helps provinces to structure policy goals, data management, digitalisation and collaboration with chain partners.
🧠 The aim of PETRA
| Objective | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Common language | Ensures consistent terminology and models within and between provinces |
| Digital coherence | Connects policy, execution and IT design |
| Alignment with national frameworks | Based on principles from NORA, including security and quality guidelines |
| Support for tasks | Such as the Environment and Planning Act, mobility, energy, nature and data-driven policy |
🧱 The structure of PETRA
PETRA has the same architectural layers as other sector reference architectures:
| Architecture layer | Description |
|---|---|
| Principles | Based on NORA tenets such as transparency, security and reuse |
| Information architecture | Conceptual frameworks and information models (such as IMRO, IMEV, IMBOR, BRO, etc.) |
| Application architecture | Typology of systems and their relationships |
| Technical architecture | Networks, data platforms, integration, security, OT infrastructures |
PETRA also supports the use of open standards and Linked Data in provincial data services.
🏞 PETRA and OT within provinces
Provincial core tasks increasingly come into contact with Operational Technology (OT), for example:
| Domain | OT component |
|---|---|
| Traffic management | Traffic lights, measurement sensors, bridge controls, traffic control centres |
| Environmental monitoring | Measuring stations for air quality, noise measurement, soil sensors |
| Nature management | Automatic gates, camera surveillance, access systems |
| Energy infrastructure | Monitoring of solar parks, charging stations, grid distributors |
PETRA helps integrate these OT systems with back-office IT through standards, segmentation and security principles such as IEC 62443 and Security by Design.
🔗 Relationship to other reference architectures
| Architecture | Relationship to PETRA |
|---|---|
| NORA | PETRA is based on NORA; it is the provincial implementation |
| GEMMA | Municipal architecture – cooperation, e.g. on the Environment and Planning Act |
| WILMA | Water authorities – cooperation in area-based management |
| MARIJ | Central government architecture – alignment with policy goals and central facilities |
PETRA contributes to chain-wide information management between government layers.
🔐 PETRA and information security
PETRA aligns with:
- The BIO (Government Information Security Baseline)
- The provincial information security policy (PIVIO)
- Architectural principles such as Security by Design and Privacy by Design
📌 In summary
PETRA is the provincial counterpart of NORA, and provides structure for digital policy execution and collaboration — including the link with OT in the physical domain.