To inform the ontological choices for a  Foundation Data Model

Introduction and Purpose

The Centre for Digital Built Britain has been tasked through the Digital Framework Task Group to develop an Information Management Framework (IMF) to support the development of a National Digital Twin (NDT) as set out in “The Pathway to an Information Management Framework” (Hetherington, 2020). A key component of the IMF is a Foundation Data Model (FDM), built upon a top-level ontology (TLO), as a basis for ensuring consistent data across the NDT.

This document captures the results collected from a broad survey of top-level ontologies, conducted by the IMF technical team. It focuses on the core ontological choices made in their foundations and the pragmatic engineering consequences these have on how the ontologies can be applied and further scaled. This document will provide the basis for discussions on a suitable TLO for the FDM. It is also expected that these top-level ontologies will provide a resource whose components can be harvested and adapted for inclusion in the FDM.Following the publication of this document, the programme will perform a structured assessment of the TLOs identified herein, with a view to selecting one or more TLOs that will form the kernel around which the FDM will evolve. A further report – The FDM TLO Selection Paper – will be issued to describe this process in late 2020.

Contents

Introduction and Purpose

Approach and contents

Assessment Framework - development basis

Ontological Overview

Assessment Framework Results

Summary

Appendix A - Pathway requirements for a Foundation Data Model

Appendix B - ISO IEC 21838-1: 2019 - Documenting Coverage

Appendix C - Coverage Mapping to Assessment Framework

Appendix D - Candidate source top-level ontologies - longlist (database of top-level ontologies)

Appendix E - Summary of Framework Assessment Matrix Results  (database of top-level ontologies)

Appendix F - Selected candidate source top-level ontologies - details  (database of top-level ontologies)

Appendix G - Prior ontological commitment literature

Appendix H - Criteria for a good scientific theory

Appendix I - Detailed notes on 3.2.1 Basis

Appendix J - Ontological Commitment - technical details

Appendix K - Glossary

References

Acknowledgments