Overview
ISO 5820:2024 - Microbeam analysis: Hyper-dimensional data file specification (HMSA) defines a platform‑independent file format for exchanging hyper‑dimensional microscopy and microanalysis data between software applications. The standard covers storage of hyper‑spectral and hyper‑image maps (for example EELS, XEDS, CL, EBSD, CBED), 3D/4D datasets (confocal microscopy, FIB serial sectioning, double‑tilt tomography) and time‑resolved microscopy. In addition to multi‑dimensional arrays, HMSA supports conventional spectra, line profiles, images, quantitative analyses, experimental conditions and metadata.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Binary + XML file pair: HMSA uses a binary data component together with an XML descriptor for metadata and dataset indexing (see design overview and XML file specification).
- XML structure and conformance: Detailed rules for the XML declaration, character encoding (Unicode/internationalization), permitted elements/attributes, and validation requirements.
- Dataset descriptors: Elements such as , , and define how hyper‑dimensional arrays are stored and interpreted.
- Dimension mapping and calibration: Explicit guidance on ordering of dimensions, coordinate mapping equations and identity/calibration of axes.
- Conditions and metadata: A structured section (with templates and classes) captures instrument, probe, specimen and environmental metadata (Annex A provides condition templates).
- Minimalism and extensibility: The standard favors a minimal required core while allowing extensible fields to support vendor‑specific or domain‑specific metadata.
- Integrity and auxiliary features: Optional elements such as , timestamping (, , ) and alternative language attributes for internationalization.
Applications
- Exchange of hyper‑spectral and hyper‑image datasets between microscopes, analysis software and archives.
- Long‑term data preservation with rich experimental metadata for reproducible microbeam analysis.
- Enabling multi‑tool workflows: combining EELS/XEDS maps with EBSD or tomography in a consistent file format.
- Facilitating automated processing, visualization and machine‑learning pipelines that consume calibrated, well‑described multi‑dimensional data.
Who should use this standard
- Microscope and detector manufacturers (to export interoperable data).
- Software developers for microscopy data analysis, visualization and data management.
- Materials scientists, electron microscopists and microanalysts aiming for reproducible, shareable datasets.
- Research facilities and data repositories implementing standardized archival formats.
Related standards
Other scientific imaging and data container formats (commonly used in microscopy and spectroscopy workflows) may be encountered in the same ecosystem; implementers should consider interoperability strategies when integrating ISO 5820:2024 (HMSA) into existing data infrastructures.