Interoperable SOA-Based Architecture for E-Government Portal

Khairul Anwar Sedek1,2, Mohd Adib Omar1 School of Computer Sciences1

Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences2 Universiti Teknologi MARA 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

kas10_com002@student.usm.my, adib@cs.usm.my

Shahida Sulaiman Faculty of Computer Science and Information Systems

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM, Skudai

Johor, Malaysia. shahidasulaiman@utm.my

Abstract— An effective e-government platform provides greater access to government services among citizens, businesses, and tourists. However, most e-government portals are not integrated as each government agency has its own portal. This may cause confusion and becomes a cumbersome task among stakeholders. This paper proposes a one-stop e-government architecture that integrates one-stop portal, e-government service application, and e-government service provider. The architecture provides seamless interoperability of e-government services among different government agencies. This work exploits various Web technologies and service oriented architecture approaches such as Web portal, portlet, service component architecture, Web services, and BPEL. Finally, this work presents the proof-of-concept of the proposed architecture and a case study in an e-government service environment.

Keywords- Software Architecture; E-government Portal; Interoperability, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

I. INTRODUCTION E-government has become a necessary technology for

every government to provide effective and efficient service among its various stakeholders. E-government benefits a lot from the Internet and Web technology which allow easy access to information and services from anywhere at any time. Users of e-government mainly consist of citizen, businesses, and other government agencies as well as foreigners including foreign workers, foreign business executives, and tourists. E-government becomes a popular service centre because it allows interaction between government and its clients for smoother, easier, efficient, and faster services. Furthermore, e-government portal provides one-stop centre to access government services. As a real one-stop e-government portal, all the required services will be provided at one place even though the services are provided by different agencies. The agencies collaborated to bring the services in a one-stop centre.

Today, e-government users’ needs and wants become more complex and dynamic. Users need a real one-stop centre of services where they can access and request any government service from a single window [1]. A comprehensive portal

provides both psychological and tangible benefits including the output quality of system attributes and individual attributes [2]. The output quality of system attributes are information quality, the diversity and completeness of e-services, and technical quality. Individual attributes that affect users’ adoption are individual trust in information sufficiency and reliability, security and privacy standard, and perceived usefulness. These factors will affect e-government quality and users’ satisfaction.

Among important requirements to achieve a real one-stop centre are integration and interoperability. It is because the system should be interoperable with other various agencies to provide comprehensive services at one place [3–5]. Designing an interoperable e-government is a very complex and difficult task because it involves heterogeneous system, data, and processes [6]. Moreover, e-government system is less reliable and under developed as compared to e-business and e-commerce.

Current technologies such as Web portal, Web service, service oriented architecture (SOA), e-government service bus, and ontology are believed to improve e-government interoperability. The paper presents an architecture of e-government portal using open system to achieve better integration and interoperability of e-government system. The following section provides an overview of the e-government integration and interoperability.

A. E-government Integration and Interoperability Dias and Rafael [1] define a one-stop e-government as the

use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support the provision of client-centred public services. The integration and interoperability of e-government services are essential in order to build a real one-stop e-government portal [7]. It is because a real one-stop portal needs seamless work collaboration among different government agencies. It is not achievable by linking all e-government applications to one place like what most e-government portals provide currently. Therefore, a one-stop e-government portal should be integrated and interoperable.

An integrated system is the ability of two or more systems to interact to form a whole [8]. Therefore, in an integrated e-government, two or more e-government agencies can be connected and interact to exchange information. Furthermore, it also means a government system can access another system for service request. E-government portal provides services in the form of informational services or process flow services.

In general, interoperability is the ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged [9]. Scholl and Klischewski [10] define interoperation and interoperability and their relationship in e-government as shown in Figure 1. Interoperation is the ability of different and independent components of e-government partners and external partners to work together in a predefined and agreed way. Interoperability is the technical capability for e-government interoperation. There are three layers of interoperability: technical interoperability, syntactic interoperability, and semantic interoperability.

Figure 1. The relationship of e-government interoperation and interoperability

between two nodes [10].

The integration and interoperability of e-government are constrained in constitutional or legal, jurisdiction, collaborative, organizational, informational, managerial, cost, technological, and performance [10]. These nine constraints show the complex environment for e-government integration and interoperation. The e-government design and architecture should refer to these constraints to fulfil the foci and purposes of e-government in order to achieve a successful outcome.

B. Service Oriented Architecture and E-government Service oriented architecture (SOA) is a new application

architectural style and principles which is consists of service consumer, service description, service provider, and service broker [11]. Figure 2 depicts conceptual model of SOA. In a typical SOA scenario, service consumer finds services from service broker. Service broker supplies service description. Web Service Document Language (WSDL) encapsulates service description. WSDL contains information about the services such as service type, message, operation, port type, binding, port and service. Service consumer then requests service-to-service provider in a service message. The message is wrapped in a message envelop called as Simple Object Access Control (SOAP). Service provider returns the message response also in SOAP envelop.

The architectural style of SOA is simple and suitable for e-government integration and interoperability [12]. Loosely couple application and location transparency of SOA allow choreograph services into composite application. SOA uses standard protocols to provide seamless connectivity of application and interoperability. E-government can create services using standard Web service. Web service developers can reuse Web service components to enhance the existing services and applications. SOA allow parallel and independent application development. In layered SOA approach, developers can work parallel in different layer. Various open source tools and framework for SOA-based application development allow e-government project developed in very minimum cost as well as preventing vendor lock-in. This is very suitable for e-government system in developing and underdeveloped countries, which allocate small budget for ICT sector.

Figure 2. SOA conceptual model [11]

Despite potential benefit of SOA-based e-government, there are issues and challenges that need to be addressed in research and development activities. Many e-government efforts are confronted with a lack of interoperability and integration of systems and the need to develop or expand the infrastructure [5]. The integration and collaboration of e-government initiatives have not been sufficiently addressed despite the existence of heterogeneous system among e-government systems [4]. Furthermore, the level of adoption and sophistication of e-government practices vary greatly among governments.

C. Research Questions and Objectives This paper aims to identify an architectural approach to

improve integration and interoperability for e-government systems. In order to achieve this objective, this paper identifies better approach for e-government architecture by answering the following questions.

How can e-government system improve its service provision through improvement of integration and interoperability? To answer this question, this study identifies how to achieve integration of e-government systems where e-government entities can be formed together for interoperability of e-government services. E-government entities consist of a one-stop e-government portal, e-government application providers, and service providers. Section III explains the roles

and integration method of the entities. Then this study looks for interoperability approach of e-government services so that e-government services can interoperate smoothly and effectively. At the architectural level, this study sees how service provider can provide services through the one-stop e-government portal.

This study investigates how to provide an effective and efficient integration and interoperability of e-government systems to achieve a real one-stop e-government portal. The focus is to provide architectural level of e-government system. The proposed architecture is based on open standard of SOA. The architecture describes method of system integration and service interoperability. Therefore, the approach should be easy and effective for developers of e-government systems.

This paper expects to contribute to an architectural framework for e-government that is consists of a one-stop e-government portal, e-government service applications, and e-government service providers. The result should be able to help developers of e-government portals.

D. Theoretical Framework This study considers two dimensions of evaluation for e-

government interoperability architecture that are integration (I) and interoperability (P). Integration ensures different systems connected. Interoperability ensures different services from different service providers work together. Both parameters are essential for one-stop e-government portal. Integration and interoperability involve message transmission during operation of service respond (SRp) and service request (SRq) between service client and service provider. Figure 3 shows the theoretical framework to describe the relationship between service client and service provider, service request and service respond, and integration and interoperability.

Figure 3. Theoretical framework

II. RELATED WORK Citizens or non-citizens as well as businesses or non-

businesses require efficient and effective government services in order to improve their quality of living and develop their business and career. The state-of-the-art of e-government technology provides high-quality services to citizens and contributes significantly to their success [13], [14]. New technology includes e-government technology that should fulfil current and future needs and wants. Researchers of ICT and software engineering have been working on finding ways to improve the delivery of government services through e-government. This paper focuses on how to provide a one-stop interoperable e-government portal using architectural approach.

Malaysia embarks Civil Service Link as a one-stop resource centre in 1994 for private sectors to obtain information on the public sectors [15]. The project is as part of the public service transformation towards paperless administration and improving service delivery and performance. Since 2002, a new ICT initiative has been launched to enhance e-government using Internet technology such as Generic Office Environment, E-Services, E-Syariah, e-Tanah, E-Procurement, JobsMalaysia, eKL, and e-Bario [16]. Most of the projects are standalone web-based applications. A few projects have integration or link with other agencies such as E-services and E-Procurement. However, there is no initiative that integrates everything as a one-stop e-government service. This problem also exists in other countries. European Union (EU) development in e-government has not sufficiently addressed the integration and collaboration of e-government even though this issue is critical towards an effective e-government [4].

Researchers propose effective approach to improve e-government service delivery including citizen-centric [17], [18], one-stop portal [19], social networking [20], and integrated e-government [21]. These approaches improve e-government service by providing effective method of service interface for users to access services. Some researchers also work on architecture framework for e-government system by providing high quality of an e-government system. Layered e-government architecture helps effective separation of e-government components [22]. Layered architecture consists of access layer, e-government layer, e-business layer, and infrastructure. E-government system with social networking integration help to improve service networking between citizens, businesses, and public agencies [17], [18], [20]. The approach utilizes OpenSocial API [23] and API REST interface [24], [25].

E-governments nowadays need collaboration and integration of public services to fulfil complex users’ needs and wants [26–28]. The needs include integration, coordination, and interaction within and between individual systems in public sector organizations [22]. SOA approaches help improving service reusability [21]. Furthermore, the SOA layered model integrates enterprise service bus (ESB) and service component architecture (SCA) that can improve the interoperability in heterogonous environment. ESB provides easy integration of heterogeneous systems. SCA approach provides free language independent for service composition and service transport.

Based on our early study [29] and the related work discussed above, there is still limited work that provides comprehensive architectural framework towards a real one-stop e-government. Hence, we propose a hierarchical e-government domain architecture using an easy and a simple approach to ensure interoperability among government services and private services. The approach also helps to reduce redundancy of services and data provided by many agencies. Inter-department service collaboration can also be improved thus it enhances service delivery through a real one-stop e-government portal.

III. PROPOSED WORK This study proposes a real one-stop

hierarchical e-government domain structure a4. It reflects the structure of federal governmpurpose of this structure is to ensure the higdomain has more authority than its child domprocess and data.

Figure 4. Hierarchical structure of e-governm

For example, Ministry of Education (authority to control the process and data aschool than Department of Education. MaCouncil (MEC), a department under Educaauthority data process regarding examinationto control student and school data anorganization helps to reduce data and promismatch, and privacy and security. Furimprove the interoperability between departm

This study derives hierarchical one-starchitecture. Figure 5 depicts the overall loThe architecture has three layers: one-stop e-(EGP), E-government application provider Government Service Provider (EGSP).

A. One-stop E-Government Portal EGP is a one-stop portal for public servic

e-government services such as submitting and renewal of driving licence. Client invservices through portlet. Portlet is e-goverprovided by EGAP.

EGP uses Liferay Portal, an open sourcopen system technology. It is based on SOwith various enterprise application such asenterprise databases. The user-interface side u168 and JSR-286 Java portlet framework. Tstandard portlet and SOA provide integratservices. The portal can consume external pEGAP.

e-government in as shown in Figure

ment hierarchy. The gher e-government

mains to control the

ment domains

(MOE) has more about student and

alaysian Executive ation Ministry has n but no authority

nd process. This ocess redundancy, rthermore, it can

ments.

top e-government ogical architecture. -government portal

(EGAP), and E-

ce clients to access school application vokes government rnment application

ce portal that uses OA for integration s CRM, ERP, and uses standard JSR-

The combination of tion with external

portlet provided by

Figure 5: Logical architectu

B. E-Government Application EGAP provides services

government service applicationand independent portlet applgovernment services (EGS) cusing SCA Tuscany. EGSA imJava or BPEL. EGSA has interto control message integrity, reliability of services. The inlogger, authentication, data tranand process mediator. ExamApplication System and Busimain role of EGAP is to ensureof e-government services. EGintegration between EGP and E

C. E-government Service ProvEGSP provides e-governm

EGSP cannot perform its serviweb service, which has implemsuch as PHP, Java, or .Net. EGservice granularity to ensure Examples of EGS are Examservice and student profile seservice that is based on SOAP o

D. Methodology Overall research study has

problem identification, hypothdefinition, resolution, validatioresult from analysis and conclureport on the hypothesis creatithe description of the architectuarchitecture is proposes to achone-stop e-government system.

This study identifies the government system based onstudy uses the result as input toThe formulation of the systemFramework [31], [32]. This wtechnologies and service orient

ure of one-stop e-government

Provider s through portlet as an e-n (EGSA). EGSA is a complete lication. EGSA consists of e-components. EGS is composed mplements the business logic in rceptor to enforce service policy

security, interoperability, and nterceptor consists of message nsformation interceptor, and data mples of EGSA are School iness Registration System. The e integration and interoperability GAP is responsible to provide EGSP.

vider ment services (EGS) to EGAP. ices directly to clients. EGS is a mentation logic in any language GS should be fine-grained Web

interoperability among EGSs. mination certificate verification ervice. EGSP should use Web or REST.

six main phases. The phases are hesis creation, working method on and verification of solution, usion [30]. This paper provides ion phase. This phase describes ure of e-government system. The hieve higher interoperability of

characteristics of one-stop e-n literature review study. This o formulate system architecture. m architecture adapts Zachman

work exploits various open Web ted architecture approaches such

as Web portal, portlet, service component architecture, Web services, and BPEL. Open system technology helps to build standard and interoperable system.

This study validates the architecture in a construction of a prototype that creates a simple archetype of the desired application [33]. This prototype provides proof-of-concept and proof-of-technology information. Proof-of-concept is used to validate whether the architecture as design satisfy the requirements. Proof-of-technology is used to validate whether the technology selected to implement the application behaves as expected.

As a result, e-Government system engineering can use it as general architecture to support the development of one-stop e-government that needs seamless interoperability of e-government services.

IV. E-GOVERNMENT PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT Figure 6 describes the details of the hierarchical e-

government domain structures in a component diagram. There are five main components of standard Web browser, national-level one-stop e-government level, ministry/state e-government portal, service registry, and department level’s service provider. Users can use any standard Web browser to access e-government services published in a one-stop e-government portal. The portal provides interface between users and service providers through ministry service portal. The ministry service portal acts as a mediator and collaborator for services provided by more than one department. It uses SCA to ease service composition and collaboration. BPEL engine controls service flow and business rules. The ministry portal packages the service as independent and complete portlet application. The EGAP publishes the portlet application in EGP.

Figure 6. One-stop E-Government Component architecture

V. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK The proposed one-stop e-government architecture provides

an effective e-government service integration and interoperability based on hierarchical structure of government administration structure. It describes the role of an e-government service provider, which provides e-government services. Furthermore, it describes e-government service integration among one-stop e-government portal, e-government service mediator, and e-government service provider as well as service interoperability between service providers. The description of the proposed architecture is available in a proof-of-concept prototype for validation and verification.

Future work includes the implementation of the prototype design and its evaluation. The implementation will provide future researchers with an insight regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed concepts and the chosen design

alternatives. The result will be the input in further enhancement and improvement of e-government design and development.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT This research is partially supported by Research University

Grant, University Sains Malaysia.

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