FDO-SEM 

FDO Semantics Group

This group will continue the work started in the realm of GO FAIR and address the semantic model of FDOs as well as the semantic interoperability between data, to help breaking down data silos. Semantic interoperability is especially needed when it comes to linking heterogenous data from different communities in a machine-actionable way, especially in the context of cross-disciplinary research. However, it is still neither clear what the minimum set of attributes making a FDO is nor do we have a model for representing these attributes in a semantically unambiguous and machine-actionable way nor do we have models on how mappings between FDOs from different domains can be  operationalized. Furthermore, there is a lack of models that properly combine insights of the two strands of DO and LD, which are driven by quite different epistemic perspectives. An overarching goal of the group therefore is to bring together these two communities to achieve more convergence of solutions as regards FDOs.

The topics to be addressed will include the following key issues:

• specifying the minimum set of metadata making a FDO, incl. defining a type model as well as metadata on how the 15 FAIR principles are addressed (typically references to FAIR-enabling resources)
• specifying a clear semantic model for FDOs, based on a set of unambiguous semantic predicates (using LD technologies) that make the semantic description of FDOs machine-actionable
• specifying requirements for a generic framework providing semantic mappings between FDOs from different communities, respectively mappings between the semantic artefacts contained in FDOs (themselves FDOs), to advance cross-domain data linking
• collecting real-world use cases and developing reference implementations and show cases based on use cases that demonstrate the added-value of FDOs (especially in the context of cross-domain data linking) 

To discuss and reach out in the RDA and FAIR community FDO-SEM will closely work together with FDO-TSIG and with RDA DFIG as well as relevant initiatives and projects (e.g. FAIRsFAIR). 

The current co-chairs of FDO-SEM are Peter Mutschke and Yann Le Franc. For requests/comments send an email to peter.mutschke@gesis.org.