Geert Van Grootel The need for structured data euroCRIS seminar september 2006 Brussels

Geert Van Grootel

Data: "Symbols without specific meaning." Data is the most basic elemental level. Information: "Data in context to convey meaning." Information = data context. Databases only store information when relationships are described between fields of a record. Knowledge: "Assimilated information." Knowledge = information assimilation. Knowledge includes experience. Knowledge is a part of an object such as a computer or a person.

Geert Van Grootel Intelligence: "Assessed deductions from combined knowledge." Intelligence = knowledge assessment. Intelligence, with uncertainty, is deduced after several pieces of knowledge are assessed together,. Additional knowledge is added and assessed until the level of uncertainty is acceptable. Wisdom: "Application of intelligence through decisions." Wisdom = intelligence application. Intelligence is of no practical use unless applied by making a decision for action - thus wisdom. Power: "The ability to use wisdom to influence a situation through action." Power = wisdom influence. Wisdom does not lead to power unless it is actioned and influences the situation. Efficiency is key if power is to lead to superiority. Efficiency is gained through ensuring information is accurate, timely and relevant.

Geert Van Grootel Data/Information sources for CRIS’s Researcher –CV system, website, white or yellow pages Project –Funding process –Project management environment –Web pages… Orgunits –Yellow pages –Web pages –Surveys Equipment –Asset management system –Funding agency –Surveys –…

Geert Van Grootel Elements of structured data Object definitions –with appropriate attribute –reflecting the real world within the model space –Functionally independent Accurate Object-Object relations –roles –Time stamping Enumerated lists, dictionaries –Controlling attribute values Classifications supporting the different views on the objects –allowing grouping and ranking by value of attribute

Geert Van Grootel Elements of structured data –Classification schemes and thesauri Higher quality data: data validation More accurate retrieval: query keywords limited and stored words (for any attribute) limited Classification – allowing grouping and ranking by value of

Geert Van Grootel User perspective Data input –At process time or post-process Unified views Input control  data quality Data/Information retrieval –at query time –in process Validation at different levels Analysis/reporting –Quantitative  statistics –Qualitative  network retrieval

Geert Van Grootel System perspective Cross organisational processes and workflows Homogeneous access to distributed environments Harvesting of repositories (OA and others) Machine understandable

Geert Van Grootel OAI CV Universities HEI’s Research Institutes Funding Agencies Classification Thesauri Taxonomies datamarts OAI Datacenters Clearinghouse RMS IWETO Funding opportunities Services

Geert Van Grootel

ROLE START/END Object1 Object2 Role START/END Role START/END Classification