A data transport system comprising: at least one node including a first processor coupled to a first memory and configured to communicate with local devices via protocols native to the local devices and to store a protocol agnostic metadata schema -PAMS- that defines a data interface for process variables, wherein the at least one node is identified by an identifier; and at least one computing system including a second processor coupled to a second memory and programmed to, communicate with at least one application and the at least one node using a media independent messaging service -MIMS- that is layered over communication protocols of the local devices and is implemented as a session layer, query the at least one node for the identifier and, responsive to the identifier not matching a stored identifier, request the at least one node to transfer metadata within the PAMS defining the data interface; receive, from the at least one node, the metadata and render from the received metadata a web application programming interface -API- and responsive to requests from the at least one application to access the process variables, transfer the requests to the at least one node (110 A) and transfer responses from the at least one node to the at least one application. at least one node including a first processor coupled to a first memory and configured to communicate with local devices via protocols native to the local devices and to store a protocol agnostic metadata schema -PAMS- that defines a data interface for process variables, wherein the at least one node is identified by an identifier; and at least one computing system including a second processor coupled to a second memory and programmed to, communicate with at least one application and the at least one node using a media independent messaging service -MIMS- that is layered over communication protocols of the local devices and is implemented as a session layer, query the at least one node for the identifier and, responsive to the identifier not matching a stored identifier, request the at least one node to transfer metadata within the PAMS defining the data interface; receive, from the at least one node, the metadata and render from the received metadata a web application programming interface -API- and responsive to requests from the at least one application to access the process variables, transfer the requests to the at least one node (110 A) and transfer responses from the at least one node to the at least one application. communicate with at least one application and the at least one node using a media independent messaging service -MIMS- that is layered over communication protocols of the local devices and is implemented as a session layer, query the at least one node for the identifier and, responsive to the identifier not matching a stored identifier, request the at least one node to transfer metadata within the PAMS defining the data interface; receive, from the at least one node, the metadata and render from the received metadata a web application programming interface -API- and responsive to requests from the at least one application to access the process variables, transfer the requests to the at least one node (110 A) and transfer responses from the at least one node to the at least one application.