2. Mapping: what we mean
• Semantic mapping is not crosswalking:
– Crosswalks express one relationship:
‘equivalentTo’
– Maps can express a variety of relationships for
more nuanced results
• Maps are more granular than crosswalks:
– Crosswalks are schema-to-schema
– Maps express relationships between individual
properties or classes, regardless of schema
3. No more ‘perfect’ map
• There is not one ‘standard’ map; each user can
create/maintain his own, or multiples
– Under this model, maps can serve special purposes or
distinct communities, and be shareable with others
• Definitions are critically important—good
mapping connections can even be made on a
‘close enough’ basis, using something like
skos:closeMatch
– In crosswalks, ‘close enough’ is often actually
expressed as ‘equivalent’
8. How Can We Use This?
• Relationships that come with the schema can be
used by anyone:
– Originating institution or individual
• As original, relatively complex data used internally
• As ‘dumbed-down’ version of the richer data
• As defined by AP or local understanding of specific needs
– Receiving institution or individual
• As presented by originating institution
• As ‘smartened-up’ data, defined by AP or understanding of
original data
• As ‘mapped’ data in schema or language more locally useful
9. How Can We Use This?
• Relationships that are external to the schema
(asserted by map attributed to others) can be
used selectively:
– From trusted institution, group or individual
• Based on AP built by known institution or group
• Based on knowledge of the mapmaker
– From unknown institution, group or individual
• Based on evaluation over time of the quality of the map
• Based on understanding that a map from unknown
sources can be used for quantitative purposes