Topic Maps @ NZETC

Topic Maps @ NZETC

Conal Tuohy

[email protected]

what is a topic map?

• An ISO standard for subject-based indexing

• Evolved from back-of-the-book indexes

• XML and web-based technology

• Similar to indexes, cross-references, glossaries and thesauri in traditional media

resources

topic map

webpage

audiovideo

databaserecord

Worddoc

XML image

XML

the map is not the territory

• You can map resources which are outside of your control

• You can use a topic map to describe a dispersed set of resources

• There can be any number of different maps which describe the same resources

topic map

predation

associationrole role

predator prey

Cats are furry carnivorous animals…

Cats are furry carnivorous animals…

cats.doc

Birds are feathery animals…

Birds are feathery animals…

birds.doc

occurrence occurrence

birdscats

topic map

multiple viewpoints

Cats are furry carnivorous animals…

Cats are furry carnivorous animals…

cats.html

occurrence

Any animal belonging to the natural family Felidae, and in particular to the various species of the genera Felis, Panthera, and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica…

Any animal belonging to the natural family Felidae, and in particular to the various species of the genera Felis, Panthera, and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica…

felidae.html

Catsscientific

view

kids’view

occurrence

merging

• Topic maps have a powerful ability to intelligently merge with other topic maps.

• A topic map must not contain two topics about the same subject

• When merging topic maps, a topic map engine must merge topics that represent the same subject

topic mapping

• identify the subjects of interest

• identify how they relate to each other

• (optionally) identify different viewpoints

Ontologytopic map

Books

Places

Mentions

Events

Writing

Dates

People

Collections

Pictures

Scholars

General public

PDF

HTML

XML file 2

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

XML file 2

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

Gen. Kippenberger

XML file 2

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

Gen. Kippenberger

XML file 2

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

Gen. Kippenberger

XML file 2

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

Gen. Kippenberger

XML file 2

XML file 1

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Index

Metadata about book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Index

Gen. Kippenberger

“harvesting” topic maps

documenttopic map

harvesting from our texts

topic map

Joe Bloggs

New Zealand

example.xml

association

Mentions

associationassociation

harvesting from our name list

topic map

Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs is a renownedmythological

character

notes

occurrence

topic map engine

overview of architecture

name harvester

text harvester

textstexts

names topic map

names topic map

texts topic maps

texts topic maps

ontology topic map

ontology topic map

complete site map

complete site map

topic map

displaying the map as a website

depicted

association

BesMaor-090.jpg

Textiles, Clothing, and Ornaments The art of weaving. Moon-goddess and her functions. Bark cloth. Maori method of weaving. The whare pora…

Textiles, Clothing, and Ornaments The art of weaving. Moon-goddess and her functions. Bark cloth. Maori method of weaving. The whare pora…

tei-BesMaor-c6-6.xhtml

occurrenceoccurrence

Textiles, Clothing, and

OrnamentsFig. 85

association

mentioned

occurrence

externallink

association

Dictionary ofNZ Biography

http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1T63

http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=1T63

Te Rangihaeata

end

• to request more info, visit: www.xpa.co.nz/topic-maps/

• to join our topic map discussion list, email: [email protected]

• any questions?

CIDOC CRM• The CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) provides definitions

and a formal structure for describing the implicit and explicit concepts and relationships used in cultural heritage documentation.

• The CIDOC CRM is intended to promote a shared understanding of cultural heritage information by providing a common and extensible semantic framework that any cultural heritage information can be mapped to. It is intended to be a common language for domain experts and implementers to formulate requirements for information systems and to serve as a guide for good practice of conceptual modelling. In this way, it can provide the "semantic glue" needed to mediate between different sources of cultural heritage information, such as that published by museums, libraries and archives.

Topic Maps and RDF• Topic Maps and RDF are clearly related• Topic Maps and RDF are quite different• Topic Maps can be based on RDF• Topic Maps are “higher-level” than RDF,

including a few extra features

• www.w3.org/2001/sw/BestPractices/RDFTM/• www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tmrdf.html

GeoNet

• We used GeoNet to help create our list of place-names:

http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/index.html