CIDOC CRM in Practice
- Experiences, Problems, and Possible Solutions -
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Background
• BRICKS Project (2003 - 2007)
• Goal
• build an infrastructure for integrating contents
and metadata from heterogeneous sources
• build value added services on top
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Background
• Build an application that provides access to
archaeological findings from two distinct
institutions
• Provided advanced search (e.g. faceted search)
• Use the CIDOC-CRM to deal with metadata
heterogeneities
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Background
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

CIDOC CRM Mapping
• Metadata Schemes:
!&,?@; A&589- !"#$%&'&( 7&589-
.!#$%&'()*$+(*,-,*,
!"#$%&'()*$+(*,-,*,
)*+&,-./$& 'B%&1 )*+&,-./$& :#$&121
012"34&1523 ;&<2#5<"-52< 012"34&1523 ;&<2#5<"-52<
415#"1/6"-&15"% 65<- 415#"1/6"-&15"% 65<-
)*=&1>&C3&>,15$-52< '&=&1>&C3&>,15$-52< )*=&1>& '&=&1>&
6&-923)(6"<B(",-B1& DDD ;2<21 ;2<21'&(
!/<-",-5,"%%/E"<3E>&#"<-5,"%%/E&FB5="%&<- !&#"<-5,"%%/E&FB5="%&<-
G2E&FB5="%&<,&>
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

CIDOC CRM Mapping
• Sample Metadata Instance:
!"#$%&'(
!"#$%& !""#$%&'()*+"#,"%
'()"#*+,-" '-./
'()"#*&".#/0-*012 0-12/34-563789
3"045* (:#%34
6/078/,98*"/08: ;-56
9"*51;'<982=<> <=>?@A3->3789
>>> :::
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

CIDOC CRM Mapping
• The CIDOC CRM: !""#&0?)I)<2()0'
!"+#510?K<()0'
EEE
!;#$0'?)()0'#:(2(- !;M#O)6K23#7(-. !;J#7.2B-
!4#D<()P)(* EEE
!+#,-./0123#!'()(* !;"#>0<K.-'( EEE
!=#5-1)0? !8#!P-'( EEE
!4;#7'I01.2()0'#FGH-<( !+C#>-6)B'#01#510<-?K1-
EEE
!8M#N2'BK2B-
!4@#,A)'B !++#&2'9&2?-#FGH-<( !+J#$0'<-/(K23#FGH-<(
!88#,*/- !84#&2(-1)23
!;C#D<(01 EEE EEE
!44#5-16)6(-'(#7(-. EEE !8J#&-26K1-.-'(#L')(
!8"#$0'(2<(#50)'( !=8#D??1-66
!"#$%&#!'()(*
!=+#FGH-<(#7?-'()I)-1
!="#D//-332()0' !=C#,).-#D//-332()0' !8@#>2(-
!8+#,).-9:/2'
!==#532<-#D//-332()0' !=4#:/2()23#$001?)'2(-6
!8;#532<-
EEE EEE
!8=#>).-'6)0'
!M@#QK.G-1
!8C#51).)()P-#O23K- !M"#,).-#51).)()P-
!M+#:(1)'B
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

CIDOC CRM Mapping
• Source Metadata Expressed in CRM:
>MH$/66#,,-2130 >MH$/66#,,-2130
GH$1.$1E#02141#E$78$
51E#02141#.= >LL$!86#
>?H$'3+<A#02
K<L GHH-?.B!+I=AH-JH. !40&
GHJK$1.$+3A63.#E$34$
543:A.$6-:2$34= GIJ$E3+<A#02.$
GH$1.$1E#02141#E$78$
>?H$'3+<A#02 51.$E3+<A#02#E$10= GC$"-.$286#$
51E#02141#.=
51.$286#$34=
>LI$*-2#:1-, >CC$*-0D*-E#$(7F#+2
GHCK$#A6,38#E GHJ@$"-.$6:3E<+#E
M4"6 59-.$#A6,38#E$10= 59-.$6:3E<+#E$78= G?$"-.$032# >KC$Q2:10B
2345#&2*4"62#78)7$2
>HC$G:3E<+2130 GM?$"-.$E1A#0.130 492:)842;<=2>?@ABC,2
51.$E1A#0.130$34= GH?@$:#6:#.#02. DEF)20$$7)62(08(#2<=2
GHK$<.#E$.6#+141+$37F#+2$ 5"-.$:#6:#.#02-2130= A?@A>,
59-.$<.#E$43:=
>LM$'1A#0.130
>CN$'#.1B0$3:$G:3+#E<:#
GH$1.$1E#02141#E$78$ GNH$"-.$<012 GNJ$"-.$;-,<# GC$"-.$286#$ >?@$&A-B#
51.$<012$34= 51.$286#$34=
51E#02141#.=
>MH$/66#,,-2130 >L@$*#-.<:#A#02$O012 >KJ$P<A7#: >LL$!86#
L'87(N24821#55)8)6 * +,-. /)0*1'
!!"#$#%&
!"#$$ !"#$%&'(%$%)*$+,-..
%&$'#&() /0$10.2-0+#$34$2"#$+,-..$563..17,8$912"$+30+:#2#$;-,<#=
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

CIDOC CRM Mapping
• Mappings expressed as mapping chains:
!"#$% 4"0/7%#$%
!$&'()*%+,,-./0123*4,-5,/!6$&'()*% !89:!%!;4
!789&':;<=&% !"#$ !6789&':;<=&% WNNF;<=&
!789&':;<=&1&>:?@A:<%1&>:?@A!6789&':;<=&1&>:?@A:<% .(/0
!789&':*&B'>@=:@CA% "XFU?BF:<=&FM@BF:<=&FCKO
DCE?AFGCHIF?J>&JBFCKFL&>CFM#*FN. 40OFPQQQR
!6789&':*&B'>@=:@CA% WXXFT?A T?I&F789&':
!789&':*?:&-1&>:?@A:<%1&>:?@A!6789&':*?:&-1&>:?@A:<% "-,0FU?BF=>CIJ'&IF
"-4FJB&IFB=&'@K@'FC89&':F M?BF=>CIJ'&IF8<O
!*?:&S>CE%4.!6*?:&S>CE% M?BFJB&IFKC>O
!"&>@CIS>CE%D7T#L!6"&>@CIS>CE% W-XF">CIJ':@CA
WX3F*&B@GAFC>F">C'&IJ>&
!T&:UCI7KT?AJK?':J>&%
%%%%%%%%%%&'()*+%"(%,-../(/0 "-F@BF@I&A:@K@&IF8<F W.-F#==&HH?:@CA
M@I&A:@K@&BO !"#$%&'(#')*++,#,-
!6T&:UCI7KT?AJK?':J>&%
V
!6"#$% 12&%345%&")(*/%6#7/
12&%'"%!89:!%4-<<#$=
F"#$Y789&':;<=& Z%FWXX "X WNN
F"#$YT&:UCI7KT?AJK?':J>& Z%FWXX @A["-,0 "-4 WX3 "- W.-
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Problems encountered
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Problem 1: Lifting and
Normalisation
• How to technically represent metadata in terms
of the CRM?
• RDFS / OWL model exists
• lack essential features (e.g. properties for
literals)
• require application-specific extensions
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Problem 2: Mapping Ambiguity
• Different valid representations for the same
attributes: !;;$I834
0"12
%#$012$+834$
5,2$+834$'<9
!"#$"%"&'(')*&+,
!;= >1+4&,1?
!##$>1-@>1(4$A7B4*+ !"#$ !"#$"%"&'".+/*&/"#'0+
!*#"./*0
%"#G$4H3?'84(
%"./$012$3&'()*4($
5612$4H3?'84($,-9
5612$3&'()*4($789
!"#$%&'()*+,'-
!:"$F334??1+,'- %"G$)24($234*,<,*$'7B4*+$
5612$)24($<'&9 !"#$"%"&'(')*&+-
%&'()*+"'+,-../'/$
%"$,2$,(4-+,<,4($78$ !#C$D42,E-$'&$%&'*4()&4 !;= >1+4&,1?
5,(4-+,<,429 !"#$
%:;$*'-2,2+2$'<$
5,2$,-*'&3'&1+4($,-9
!##$>1-@>1(4$A7B4*+
0"12
%"./$012$3&'()*4($
5612$3&'()*4($789
!"#$"%"&'".+/*&/"#'0+ !;;$I834
!"#$%&'%(')*+,(*-#,." !"#$%&'()*+,'-
%&'()*+"'+,-../'/$ %#$012$+834$
5,2$+834$'<9
++1"2"&.
0#-33 I04$JKDAJ$JL>$*?122
423&-2)/ F-$,-2+1-*4$'<$+04$*?122$53'22,7?8$6,+0$*'-*&4+4$M1?)49
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Problem 3: Processing and
Visualisation
• The human / machine must “remember” the
meaning of mapping chains in order to retrieve
information
• E22-P2-E55 = the object type
• E22-invP108-P16-E29-P1-E41 = manufacture
method
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Possible solutions
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

A Simple Approach to (partially) solve Problem II + III
!"#$%&'( )$'* +",,-.%/!0"-.
3.4#05#0'(&-010('#*6#
70'(&-010(58
!"#$%&'&#( !""#$%& $%'(#)*+(,- !."#)*+(,-#/'(&-010(2
)*+(,-5
3G#>%5#&:-(
)#*+(&,%&-$ !""#$%& $%'(#)*+(,- !A"#E-20&F
!""#$%& $%'(#)*+(,- !9"#32:';,-0:&
39<=#>%5#?2:';,(' 39"A#(B?C:6('#
./%#(&/0 7@%5#(B?C:6('#0&8
7@%5#?2:';,('#*68
!D4#$%-(20%C
E(B%&-0, 3.G#>%5#'0B(&50:&
E-%-(5 705#'0B(&50:&#:18
!""#$%& $%'(#)*+(,- !D.#H0B(&50:&
3L9#>%5#;&0- 3"#>%5#-6?(#
)&1#$*&-$*2
705#;&0-#:18 705#-6?(#:18
3)&/1#%#(425#&67%289 3L<#>%5#M%C;(
!D=#$(%5;2(B(&-#I&0- !A<#J;B*(2 !DD#K6?(
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Generic Approach to solve Problems I+II+III
• Methodology to create consistent mappings to
the CRM
• Step 1: Lifting the data source-specific data
model (e.g., relational model, XML) to the level
of CIDOC CRM
• Step 2: Map the lifted model to the CRM using
specific mapping guidelines (mapping
“algorithm”)
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

(1) Lifting & Normalisation
• Lift a relational model to the CRM via an
intermediate semantic model
"'4C"0"?A
/*$-&/'(")*+, /*$-&/'0*/1 /*$-&/'$*,-&
!LMM0A.% A.()0CDE)2*& !L8M0CDE)2*0'()%*$+$),&
G8;0$/0$()%*$+$)(0
5'&( DN0!$()%*$+$)/& 566789:";<4=67>69
1)B.%*$20A#()@
!"#$%&'(")*+, !"#$%&'0*/1 !"#$%&'$*,-&
!"#$%& !'()%*$+$),&
-./01)23'4
566789:";<4=67>69
0%%+&12%")($3") 0%%+&12%")4$#2")$,)
$,)-+'-"+%/ "(%&%/)&(,%$(*"
!"#$%&'()*'++",-'(.,) !"#$
?)@.*$#%.@0A#()@
%')"(%&%/ 1)23'4 566789:";<4=67>69
CDE)2*4)/2,$F*$#% ?#B.%0I#@(0.J,)J/
G),$#(H,#B ?#B.%
>,#.(G),$#( ?#B.%
... KKK
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

(2) Reducing Mapping Ambiguity
• Mapping Methodology (Principles):
• start from the lifted semantic model
• find most specific CRM entities for source
domain and target range
• determine the shortest possible path between
these entities
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Mapping Start p := next property of P
“Algorithm” E := set of source
domain entities
mapping chain c := ∅
eend =
findTargetRange(p)
all entities of
End yes
E iterated?
add eend to c
no
e := next entity of E
x := eend
estart := findTarget
Domain(e)
no
isA(estart, x)? yes
e := instanceOf(estart) invert c
no
P : = Set of cl = findChainLink
properties p where yes (estart, x) estart := x
getDomain(p) = e
add cl to c
all properties
of P iterated?
x := first element of cl
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Mapping Example
@"8A&B$96:&;$<1)*C1$1D9?
%"
#" EFF$9"G 9":&$CHI&'B E.F$):&GBJKJ&8 $"
=.2$J#$J:&GBJKJ&:$HL$
<J:&GBJKJ&#?
!"#$%&'()*
!"#$ +,,-./0123*4,-5,/
%678'&$96:&;$<=>%? !"
Comments:
ad 1.: define the source path (table as source domain, field name
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009
as relationship, field value as instance)

Limitations
• Problem:
• mapping might fail because there is no
“obvious” entity to map to
• unclear how to close mapping chain
• Solution:
• application context specific functions with
hardwired chains for given entities
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Discussion
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Discussion
• Problem 1:
• could be resolved by providing precise
technical specifications
• Problem 2:
• users will always map differently against a
global ontology; guidelines can only reduce but
not completely resolve ambiguities
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Discussion
• Problem 3:
• “remembering” mapping chains = introducing
an application-specific model
• why not use this model instead of the CRM?
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009

Discussion
• Why not map directly in a P2P manner?
equivalent equivalent
!&,?@; A&589- !"#$%&'&( 7&589-
.!#$%&'()*$+(*,-,*,
!"#$%&'()*$+(*,-,*,
)*+&,-./$& 'B%&1 )*+&,-./$& :#$&121
012"34&1523 ;&<2#5<"-52< 012"34&1523 ;&<2#5<"-52<
415#"1/6"-&15"% 65<- 415#"1/6"-&15"% 65<-
)*=&1>&C3&>,15$-52< '&=&1>&C3&>,15$-52< )*=&1>& '&=&1>&
6&-923)(6"<B(",-B1& DDD ;2<21 ;2<21'&(
!/<-",-5,"%%/E"<3E>&#"<-5,"%%/E&FB5="%&<- !&#"<-5,"%%/E&FB5="%&<-
G2E&FB5="%&<,&>
Bernhard Haslhofer & Philipp Nussbaumer, November 2009