--- title: "Architecture: Software | Nexus Observatory" description: "Reference architecture of the Software platform: six layers, the protocol functions it relies on and the evidence behind every observation." url: https://observatory.global/software/architecture/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-11-02 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) / **Architecture** # How software is built. One reference architecture under every deployment: the layers of a site, the protocol functions this platform relies on, and the evidence that travels with every observation. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/software/contact/deployment/) [Industries](https://observatory.global/software/industries/) Areas · **6** Technologies · **124** Industries · **3** **01** Reference architecture ## From one instrument to the grid. Every deployment is drawn on the same six layers. A typed contract sits at every boundary, so parts from different makers fit together. 1. **01** **Instrument** The sensor or radio that makes the measurement, with its calibration. 2. **02** **Node** The device that hosts instruments: identity, time, power and storage. 3. **03** **Site** Nodes in one place, on one mast or in one shelter, with their links. 4. **04** **Cell** Sites that share a backhaul, a power plan and an operator. 5. **05** **Cluster** Cells run as one service, with one fleet plan and one evidence trail. 6. **06** **Grid** Clusters that federate across owners through the open protocol. [**01** **Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**02** **Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**03** **Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**04** **Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**05** **Observe** Every value with quality and provenance.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**06** **Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**07** **Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) [**08** **Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan.](https://observatory.global/protocol/functions/) The protocol functions this platform relies on most. **02** Trust and evidence ## Every observation carries its proof. What a buyer, a regulator or a partner grid can check, on every site we build. Evidence ### Identity and attestation Hardware-rooted identity, with a quote checked at every join. Evidence ### Segmentation Least privilege between nodes, tenants and sites. Evidence ### Time integrity Every clock monitored, every holdover logged. Evidence ### Evidence bundles What was done, by whom, with what result. Evidence ### Qualification state Each device and release, with the tests behind it. Evidence ### Signed plans Software and configuration change only by a signed plan. **03** Read further ## The open specification behind it. [Observatory Protocol SpecificationFunctions, state machines, objects and flows.Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) [Observatory Protocol Reference designsNodes and sites drawn to the protocol.Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/reference-designs/) [Observatory Protocol ConformanceRun the suite against an implementation.Read →](https://observatory.global/protocol/conformance/) **04** On this site ## Where to go next. [Software AreasEvery area, with its systems and standards.Open →](https://observatory.global/software/areas/) [Software TechnologiesThe layered map of what we build with.Open →](https://observatory.global/software/technologies/) [Software IndustriesThe industry sites built on this platform.Open →](https://observatory.global/software/industries/) [Software ResourcesExplainer, stories, specification and forms.Open →](https://observatory.global/software/resources/) ## Bring us the site. We bring the survey, the design and the crew. The form names who receives your details. [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/software/contact/deployment/) [Contact](https://observatory.global/software/contact/) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Software** . One runtime. Every node. Every state.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Software - [Overview](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Explainer](https://observatory.global/software/explainer/) - [Areas](https://observatory.global/software/areas/) - [Technologies](https://observatory.global/software/technologies/) - [Architecture](https://observatory.global/software/architecture/) - [Industries](https://observatory.global/software/industries/) - [Resources](https://observatory.global/software/resources/) - [Contact](https://observatory.global/software/contact/) Platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) - [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) - [Space and satellite systems](https://observatory.global/space/) - [Digital twins and simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) - [Data & licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) - [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) - [Frontier labs](https://observatory.global/labs/) Solutions - [Early warning](https://observatory.global/use-cases/street-flood/) - [Wildfire and fire weather](https://observatory.global/use-cases/wildfire-camera/) - [Environmental compliance](https://observatory.global/use-cases/methane-fenceline/) - [Asset monitoring](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/) - [Private networks](https://observatory.global/connectivity/private-5g/) - [Remote power and sites](https://observatory.global/use-cases/remote-microgrid/) - [Climate and resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Site twins](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) - [Data licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/industries/public-safety/) - [Government](https://observatory.global/industries/government/) - [Cities](https://observatory.global/industries/cities/) - [Civil resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/resilience/) - [Communities](https://observatory.global/industries/communities/) - [Humanitarian](https://observatory.global/industries/humanitarian/) - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Water](https://observatory.global/industries/water/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/oceans/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) - [Energy](https://observatory.global/industries/energy/) - [Telecom](https://observatory.global/industries/telecom/) - [Transport](https://observatory.global/industries/transport/) - [Infrastructure](https://observatory.global/industries/infrastructure/) - [Mining](https://observatory.global/industries/mining/) - [Industry](https://observatory.global/industries/industry/) - [Research](https://observatory.global/industries/research/) - [Education](https://observatory.global/industries/education/) - [Health](https://observatory.global/industries/health/) - [Insurance and finance](https://observatory.global/industries/insurance/) - [Events](https://observatory.global/industries/events/) Products - [Field Deployment Studio](https://observatory.global/studio/) - [Station Builder](https://observatory.global/studio/builder/) - [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) - [Data products](https://observatory.global/data-products/) - [APIs and SDKs](https://observatory.global/protocol/developers/) - [Edge runtime and fleet](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware catalogue](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Reference designs](https://observatory.global/protocol/reference-designs/) Resources - [Learn](https://observatory.global/learn/) - [Stories](https://observatory.global/stories/) - 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