IVOA Vocabularies - WD

[Boyd Waters]

On Sep 7, 2007, at 9:47 AM, Norman Gray wrote:

> Doug remarked:
>
>> Since there are multiple such standards,
>
> No, there's only one, RDF, plus a couple of standardised overlays.
>
>> they can be complex,
>
> RDF is about as complex as a brick.
>
>> and they keep evolving
>
> As Brian pointed out, RDF was standardised before XML Schemas  
> (2004, as the second edition of a 1999 W3C Rec), finalising a  
> standard which was effectively complete a decade ago[1]


OK, I'll bite...

RDF makes it possible to manage mappings between different  
vocabularies in a very straightforward way. Things can evolve, or get  
complex, but are still manageable.

RDF *by itself* does not necessarily do any of that. But most people  
who become familiar with knowledge representation by means of RDF  
come to appreciate the standard ways to manage vocabularies.

I have an example that discusses "Ontology Mapping" here -
  http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~bwaters/pub/RDF-one.html#Mapping%20Ontologies

The date on that doc is 2002. Since it has come up again, I'd like  
IVOA to consider how RDF -- and associated techniques -- might apply  
to our problem domain. I think it can help us learn how best to do  
manage the vocabulary(ies).

  - boyd

Boyd Waters
NRAO Socorro