Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF)

This document gives some background information on the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF), based on existing standards (Schema.org, DCAT, ODRL, DDI-CDI, SKOS/XKOS, SSSOM, etc.) and technology to support interoperability in both human- and machine-actionable fashion.

Its approach is not to create mappings from every existing domain to another, but to create a lingua franca that we can all agree on and communicate with.

Therefore, CDIF is a set of implementation recommendations, based on profiles of common, domain-neutral metadata standards which are aligned to work together to support core functions required by FAIR.

The usage of the standards is e.g.:

  • Understand data structure (DDI-CDI)
  • Understand semantics (SKOS/XKOS, OWL, SSSOM)
  • Determine origination/context (PROV-O, I-ADOPT/O&M)

Source and more Information.

CDIF Profiles

The framework is based on a set of five core profiles that address the most important functions for cross-domain FAIR implementation.

  • Discovery (patterns for metadata content, serialization and publication)
  • Data access (documentation of access conditions and permitted use)
  • Controlled vocabularies (practices for the publication of controlled vocabularies and semantic artifacts)
  • Data integration (documentation of the structural and semantic aspects of data to make it integration-ready)
  • Universals (description of universal elements – time, geography, and units of measurement)

CDIF profiles are intended to be a toolkit for implementation, with the needed functions being addressed in any specific setting according to implementer priorities.

The CDIF Framework is relevant to our working group, especially with regard to practices for publishing controlled vocabularies and semantic artifacts. These a critical component in scenarios involving (but not limited to) data integration and harmonization.

CDIF SKOS profile

CDIF recommends the use of the Simple Knowledge Organisation System (SKOS) for representing concept vocabularies. SKOS is a RDF vocabulary that includes predicates to assign an identifier to a concept, provide a definition, and assign preferred, language-localized labels (strings) for human use to identify the concept. A vocabulary service exposing the SKOS content on the web is necessary to make the identifiers resolvable.

CDIF recommends the guidance in Ten Simple Rules for making a Vocabulary FAIR by Cox et al. (2021). The CDIF recommendation to use SKOS aligns with Rule 6 from Cox et al. (2021) regarding machine-readable formats for CVs.

To the CDIF SKOS profile.

Resources

CDIF in GitHub

Gregory, A. et al. (2024). WorldFAIR (D2.3) Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF) (Report Synthesising Recommendations for Disciplines and Cross-Disciplinary Research Areas) (Version 1). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11236871

Hodson, Simon; Gregory, Arofan: The WorldFAIR project. HMC FAIR Friday, Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5446/66247

Webinar https://codata.org/the-cross-domain-interoperability-framework-cdif-practical-guidelines-for-fair-interoperability-webinar-25-july/ (Recordings)

2024-06-12 CDIF Presentation at the WG meeting (Google Doc) and Recording

CDIF Metadata Crosswalks (Google Doc).