A method and apparatus for encoding data from heterogeneous sources and structuring them into a common format using bitmap techniques for integration, storage, access, and performing Boolean operations to derive new meaningful results is provided. A new control layer is added to a linear bitmap to provide data compression and management. Boolean operations are efficiently performed by first at the control bits level and will perform at the data bits only if necessary. The bitmap structures can be created independently on separate computing platforms and are operable interchangeably on different platforms, without the restricted need of using a separate database management system.