[xtm-wg] XTM representation of relations/time

[<guy.a.lukes@frb.gov>]

After lurking for several months on the topic map lists, I have finally
started to try and build some topic maps for myself.   What I've found is
that the structures that I have built, seem to be very different from those
that I see more experienced modelers building.  I have a feeling that some
of this is baggage that I'm carrying from my background with relational and
multi-dimension/data-warehouse databases.

In particular, to me, a multi-column table or multi-dimensional space seems
to imply an association with numerous roles.  On the list, it seems to be
implied that something like the "finite coordinate space" of HyTime is
required to deal with this, but in the meantime it must be hacked with
scope.

Instead of:
<assoc type= president-of scope=1989-1993 >
     <assocrl type=president >george-bush</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=county >usa</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type= president-of scope=1993-2001 >
     <assocrl type=president >bill-clinton</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=county >usa</assocrl>
</assoc>

I would have used something like this:
<assoc type=coordinate scope=president-years >
     <assocrl type=id scope=president >george-bush</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=from >1989</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=to >1993</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=coordinate scope=president-years >
     <assocrl type=id scope=president > bill-clinton </assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=from >1993</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=to >2001</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=property scope=president-country>
     <assocrl type=id scope=president >george-bush</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=county >usa</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=property scope= president-country>
     <assocrl type=id scope=president >bill-clinton</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=county >usa</assocrl>
</assoc>

An even more dramatic example is the difference between this:
<topic id=st-petersburg>
     <topicname scope=before-1914>St. Petersburg</topicname>
     <topicname scope=1914-1924> Petrograd</topicname>
     <topicname scope=1924-1991>Leningrad</topicname>
     <topicname scope=since-1991> St. Petersburg</topicname>
</topic>

And something I would have tried like:
<assoc type=coordinate scope=city-history >
     <assocrl type=name scope=city >St. Petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=city >st-petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=to >1914</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=coordinate scope=city-history >
     <assocrl type=name scope=city >Petrograd</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=city >st-petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=from >1914</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=to >1924</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=coordinate scope=city-history >
     <assocrl type=name scope=city >Leningrad</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=city >st-petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=from >1924</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=to >1991</assocrl>
</assoc>
<assoc type=coordinate scope=city-history >
     <assocrl type=name scope=city >St. Petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=id scope=city >st-petersburg</assocrl>
     <assocrl type=year scope=from >1991</assocrl>
</assoc>

any guidance would be appreciated

Guy



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