IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jdataj/v10y2025i7p97-d1685656.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Developing Data Workflows: From Conceptual Blueprints to Physical Implementation

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno Oliveira

    (CIICESI, School of Management and Technology, Porto Polytechnic, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Óscar Oliveira

    (CIICESI, School of Management and Technology, Porto Polytechnic, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Data workflows are an important component of modern analytical systems, enabling structured data extraction, transformation, integration, and delivery across diverse applications. Despite their importance, these workflows are often developed using ad hoc approaches, leading to scalability and maintenance challenges. This paper proposes a structured, three-level methodology—conceptual, logical, and physical—for modeling data workflows using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). A custom BPMN metamodel is introduced, along with a tool built on BPMN.io, that enforces modeling constraints and supports translation from high-level workflow designs to executable implementations. Logical models are further enriched through blueprint definitions, specified in a formal, implementation-agnostic JSON schema. The methodology is validated through a case study, demonstrating its applicability across ETL and machine learning domains, promoting clarity, reuse, and automation in data pipeline development.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Oliveira & Óscar Oliveira, 2025. "Developing Data Workflows: From Conceptual Blueprints to Physical Implementation," Data, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-27, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdataj:v:10:y:2025:i:7:p:97-:d:1685656
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5729/10/7/97/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5729/10/7/97/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jdataj:v:10:y:2025:i:7:p:97-:d:1685656. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.