Abstract
This paper proposes an approach to the development of an ontology for interoperability between lift systems and other systems. It introduces the concept of an ontology and gives examples of the services and roles of service users, in the context of lift operation, which might benefit from interoperability. An analysis methodology is discussed, which elaborates the use case “stories” for the service users, leading to the identification of requirements for information exchanges necessary to achieve interoperability. The collective information requirements may then be formalised into the technical definition of the interoperability ontology, and some specific examples are given.