Linked Open Data for the Enhancement of Cultural Collections: The mythLOD Dataset

Conceitos essenciais

The core message of this article is to present the workflow adopted for the re-valorization of the digital collection Mythologiae through the use of semantic technologies, with the aim of ensuring the preservation of metadata and formalizing the specific needs of the dataset to enrich its knowledge potential.

Resumo

The article presents the workflow adopted for the re-valorization of the digital collection Mythologiae through the use of semantic technologies. The key highlights and insights are:

1. Analysis of the Mythologiae dataset:

   • Presence of a considerable amount of qualitative data (non-numerical, consisting of character strings)
   • Lack of reference models, both for structure (ontologies) and data (controlled vocabularies)

2. Data management process:

   • Modeling: Formalization of metadata related to museum objects and relationships between museum objects and related literary sources
   • Cleaning and standardization: Disambiguation, normalization, and alignment of data to external sources
   • Reconciliation: Use of OpenRefine and alignment with Wikidata and VIAF
   • Dataset production: Application of the defined formal model and reconciliation

3. Verification and visualization:

   • Definition of competency questions to validate the knowledge base
   • Implementation of two visualizations:
     • Online catalog with faceted search
     • Thematic storytelling section on the Aeneid

The article emphasizes the importance of a well-documented and structured methodology for the management of cultural heritage data, involving both technical and domain experts. The resulting mythLOD platform hosts the entire collection of content and provides access through the online catalog and storytelling sections.

Estatísticas

"Numerous relational databases have been built by cultural institutions that have identified in the semantic web, and in its theoretical, methodological and technical tools, a solution and an opportunity for enhancement, towards a migration from relational data representation models to graph structures, capable of documenting the network of typed relationships."
"The graph is at the basis of the process of translating the conceptual model into an ontology, capable of increasing the expressive power of the collections and therefore of allowing the emergence of new knowledge."
"The final project led to the realization of the mythLOD platform, which hosts the entire series of produced contents."

Citações

"The graph is at the basis of the process of translating the conceptual model into an ontology, capable of increasing the expressive power of the collections and therefore of allowing the emergence of new knowledge."
"The process that oversees this transition of data structures, however, is not neutral and not even painless. A series of actions, now standardized in the reference communities, but still subject to necessary and careful definition, must be carried out along the entire conversion path to ensure the quality and value of the final data produced."

Principais Insights Extraídos De

Linked open data per la valorizzazione di collezioni culturali

by Valentina Pa... às arxiv.org 04-11-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.07006.pdf

Perguntas Mais Profundas

How can the mythLOD workflow be adapted and applied to other cultural heritage collections to enhance their accessibility and discoverability?

The mythLOD workflow can be adapted and applied to other cultural heritage collections by following a similar methodology of data analysis, modeling, data cleaning, authority control, and dataset production. To enhance accessibility and discoverability, other collections can benefit from the use of semantic web technologies like RDF and ontologies to structure their data. By formalizing interpretations, relationships, and metadata, cultural heritage collections can be transformed into linked open data, allowing for richer connections and increased visibility. Additionally, creating user-friendly interfaces like the catalog and storytelling sections in mythLOD can improve the user experience and facilitate exploration of the collection.

What are the potential challenges and limitations in automatically aligning qualitative data from cultural heritage collections to external knowledge bases like Wikidata and VIAF?

One of the challenges in automatically aligning qualitative data from cultural heritage collections to external knowledge bases is the ambiguity and variability of the data. Qualitative data often contain nuances and context-specific information that may not have direct matches in external knowledge bases. This can lead to difficulties in disambiguation and standardization, requiring manual intervention for accurate alignment. Additionally, the lack of standardized formats and vocabularies in cultural heritage collections can pose challenges in automated alignment processes. Ensuring data quality and consistency across different sources is crucial for successful alignment.

How can the insights gained from the analysis of the relationships between museum objects and literary sources in mythLOD be leveraged to inspire new interdisciplinary research questions at the intersection of art, literature, and digital humanities?

The analysis of relationships between museum objects and literary sources in mythLOD can inspire new interdisciplinary research questions by uncovering hidden connections and narratives between art and literature. Researchers can explore how themes, motifs, and narratives are represented across different mediums and time periods, leading to a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and storytelling traditions. By studying the intersections of art, literature, and digital humanities, scholars can investigate how visual and textual representations influence each other, shaping cultural identities and interpretations. This analysis can also open up avenues for collaborative research projects that bridge the gap between traditional disciplines and digital technologies, fostering innovative approaches to cultural heritage studies.