Vocabularies at the British Oceanographic Data Centre Gwen Moncoiffe BODC
Where to find them? SeaDataNet Maris client – A searchable interface to vocabularies available through BODC webservices http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/welcome.asp A full human-readable list is at: http://vocab.ndg.nerc.ac.uk/client/vocabServer.jsp Contains BODC specific vocabs as well as vocabs published for other projects/groups The XML equivalent is at http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/
Controlled vocabularies Reduce ambiguity inherent in normal human languages where the same concept can be given different names and ensure consistency. Takes the guess work out of searching Familiar concept Interoperability But... Requires consistency of markup Needs predetermined terms and/or standards Already many sources of controlled vocabularies available for marine science.
ICES GF3 SeaDataNet MMI GEMET CSIRO
How? Effort directed to mapping between terms in similar vocabularies. Encourage the use of established vocabularies. Ocean Data Interoperability Programme (ODIP) looking to do this between Australia, EU and USA.
BODC vocabularies examples Pan-european SeaDataNet http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/welcome.asp P01 – BODC Parameter Usage Vocabulary (based on a semantic model supported by controlled vocabularies) L22 – SeaVox Device catalogue Other examples of international collaborations using vocabs served by BODC: BCO-DMO, R2R, ODIP
Semantic model: the biological entity (S25 vocab) Used to mark up source data with BODC parameter codes Combines: Organism’s name plus ITIS TSN and WoRMS AphiaID > external controlled vocabs Life stage > bodc vocab Sex/gender > bodc vocab Sub-component of the organism > bodc vocab Size information > bodc vocab Morphology Acartia clausi (ITIS: 86085: WoRMS 104251) [Stage: C1-3] Limanda limanda (ITIS: 172881: WoRMS 127139) [Sex: female Size: length 200-249mm Subcomponent: liver]
User group specific vocabularies Salinity Nitrate Phosphate Silicate DIC P35 (EMODNET chemistry lot aggregated parameter names)
Content governance very important combined SeaDataNet and MarineXML Vocabulary Content Governance Group (SeaVoX) moderated by BODC, and including experts from SeaDataNet, MMI, MOTIIVE, JCOMMOPS and more international groups. SeaVox discussions are based on an e-mail list server.