Re: [egov] Representing polyhierarchical taxonomies in XML

[Farrukh Najmi <Farrukh.Najmi@Sun.COM>]

Paul Spencer wrote:

>The UK e-GMS metadata standard is a polyhierarchical taxonomy* in which an
>item in the hierarchy can have more than one parent. What would people
>consider the best way to represent this in XML? One option is DAML+OIL, but
>I am not sure of the status of this and defer to those with greater
>knowledge of representing taxonomies in XML.
>
>My aim is to be able to navigate through the taxonomy, in particular, to
>find the parent(s) of a known taxonomy item. However, I am sure there are
>further applications in the taxonomy reconciliation work.
>
>* see
>http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/documents/Tomatoes%20are%20not%20the%20only%20frui
>t%202002-12-19.doc
>
>Regards
>
>Paul Spencer
>Director
>Boynings Consulting Ltd
>http://www.boynings.co.uk
>
>  
>
In ebXML Registry Semantic Content Management work we are likely to 
support OWL for this purpose.
In current ebXML Registry a ClassificationScheme may have a 
ClassificationNode that can typically have only one parent.
However, by using EquiovalentTo Associations you can have the same 
logical node as multiple equivalent physical nodes under different 
parents this achieving some modicum of a polyhierarchical taxonomy.

-- 
Regards,
Farrukh