1. Vocabularies at the British Oceanographic Data Centre
Gwen Moncoiffe
BODC

2. Where to find them?
SeaDataNet Maris client – A searchable interface to vocabularies available through BODC webservices
A full human-readable list is at:
Contains BODC specific vocabs as well as vocabs published for other projects/groups
The XML equivalent is at

3. 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.

4. ICES
GF3
SeaDataNet
MMI
GEMET
CSIRO

5. 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.

6. BODC vocabularies examples
Pan-european SeaDataNet
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

7. 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 ) [Stage: C1-3]
Limanda limanda (ITIS: : WoRMS ) [Sex: female Size: length mm Subcomponent: liver]

8. User group specific vocabularies
Salinity
Nitrate
Phosphate
Silicate
DIC
P35 (EMODNET chemistry lot aggregated parameter names)

9. 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 list server.