GeoDCAT-AP
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Revise ambiguous `dct:type` mapping on Data Service
Problem statement
In GeoDCAT-AP 2.0.0 dct:type
on Data Service is used in three different contexts.
- service category with "Classification of spatial data services" code list
- service type with "Spatial data service types" code list
- type with "Resource types" code list. (this one also appears in Dataset)
This makes correct assignment of usage notes, labels and the required code lists rather difficult, as well as consequent validation e.g. via SHACL. The current approach is not in line with the profiling guidelines established in the context of the SEMIC Style Guide property reuse guideline Reuse of a property with terminological adaptations and Reuse of a property with semantic adaptations. Also, the approach becomes even more problematic in a cross-profile environment where incompatible requirements can be easily made.
Proposal
Introduce subproperties of dct:type
-
geodcatap:serviceCategory
for "Classification of spatial data services" code list -
geodcatap:serviceType
for "Spatial data service types" code list -
geodcatap:resourceType
for "Resource types" code list with the domain ofdcat:Resource
to accomodate both for Datasets and Data Services
This approach is in line with the profiling guidelines established in the context of the SEMIC Style Guide property reuse guideline Reuse of a property with terminological adaptations and Reuse of a property with semantic adaptations.
If interoperability is a concern, a data publisher can always easily materialize the subPropertyOf inference and replace the subproperties with dct:type
.