Model with Ontologies and Vocabularies

Last updated on 2026-06-01 | Edit this page

Overview

Questions

  • What steps you need to take to create an RDF data model from tabular data?
  • What is the difference between a resource and a concept?
  • What is RDF Schema used for and what does it include?
  • What are vocabularies and ontologies used for?
  • How to find vocabularies and ontologies?
  • How to apply RDF Schema and vocabularies to create a RDF datamodel?

Objectives

  • Identify entities and relationships in tabular data
  • Distinguish between resources, concepts, and literals
  • Explain the purpose of RDF Schema
  • Apply classes and properties to RDF data
  • Reuse existing vocabularies and ontologies
  • Create a simple RDF data model from tabular data

Planning the Data Model

Before we can create a whole RDF dataset, we need to decide what our data should look like. A flat table is not flat data, it contains information about several different things at once. Each row in our dataset describes not just one object, but also other entities.

Challenge

Create a Mind Map out of the Dataset

Form groups and look at the column headings and pick a row of data in the table. 1. Try to convert the information of one data row into a mind-map (with nodes and connections) using the (Excalidraw)[https://excalidraw.com/] tool. 2. Identify central nodes. 3. How are the nodes interconnected with the table header? 4. Name the relationships between the nodes by assigning labels to them.

TODO: Add image of mindmap

Central nodes are the ones with the objectIDs, artist, department and museum. Modeling decisions are subjective.

Resources and Concepts

Difference between individual things and abstract concepts. (rdf:type)

Challenge

Challenge

RDF Schema

RDF Schema is an extension of the basic RDF vocabulary, you already know from before. It provides a way to describe / define the structure of the RDF data, a vocabulary on data-modelling. You can always go to the published (RDF Schema Vocabulary file)[https://www.w3.org/TR/rdf11-schema/] and look up the the terms, meanings and rules.

  • Classes
    • rdfs:Resource
    • rdfs:Class
    • rdfs:Literal
  • Properties
    • rdfs:domain
    • rdfs:range
    • rdfs:subClassOf
    • rdfs:label
Challenge

Challenge

Vocabularies and Ontologies

Vocabularies provide shared meaning and terms across data models. They promote interoperability.

Frequent vocabularies, where to find them and how to read them.

Challenge

Extend the data model by the use of vacabularies

Key Points
  • keypoint1