InteroperAble Descriptions of Observable Property Terminologies (I-ADOPT) WG - outputs and recommendations

Abstract

The InteroperAble Description of Observable Property Terminologies Working Group (I-ADOPT WG) was formed in June 2019 under the auspices of the Research Data Alliance’s Vocabulary and Semantic Services Interest Group. Its objective was to develop a framework to harmonise the way observable properties are named and conceptualised, in various communities within and across scientific domains. There was a realisation that the rapid demand for controlled vocabularies specialised in describing observed properties (i.e. measured, simulated, counted quantities, or qualitative observations) was presenting a risk of proliferation of semantic resources that were poorly aligned. This, in turn, was becoming a source of confusion for the end-users and a hindrance to data interoperability. The development of the I-ADOPT Framework proceeded in multiple phases. Following the initial phase dedicated to the collection of user stories, the identification of key requirements, and an in-depth analysis of existing semantic representations of scientific variables and of terminologies in use, the group focused on identifying the essential components of the conceptual framework, reusing as much as possible concepts that were common to existing operational resources. The proposed framework was then tested against a variety of examples to ensure that it could be used as a sound basis for the creation of new variable names as needed. The results were formalised into the I-ADOPT ontology and subsequently extended with usage guidelines to form the I-ADOPT Framework presented in this document. The output can now be used to facilitate interoperability between existing semantic resources and to support the provision of machine-readable variable descriptions whose components are mapped to FAIR vocabulary concepts. The group also issued the following six key recommendations: 1. Data creators, curators or publishers should describe the variable(s) held in datasets in both a human- and a machine-readable format. 2. The variable’s description should enable data reuse with minimum reliance on externally held free-text documentation. 3. The machine-readable description should make use of FAIR terminologies (e.g., controlled vocabularies, ontological relationships) adhering to Linked Data principles. 4. The translation from human readable to machine readable form should follow a decomposition approach that is compatible with the classes and relations defined in the I-ADOPT ontology (https://w3id.org/iadopt/). 5. Users should preferably reuse terminologies that are already aligned with the I-ADOPT Framework by either reusing existing concepts or extending collections, or by creating new concepts based on the I-ADOPT Framework. 6. For variables based on a different schema, a mapping to the I-ADOPT Framework should be provided. The group also set up public repositories to continue open collaboration and give access to resources that will be maintained and/or developed beyond the lifetime of the official RDA working group: 1) a catalogue of terminologies relevant to observable properties, 2) a repository of design patterns; 3) a step-by-step guide for minting new variables, 4) use-case specific guidelines on implementing the framework, 5) a repository of applications, and user implementation stories; 6) additional materials including a list of alignments with other ontological resources.