4.4. Data Context Section of the DRM Abstract Model (3X3U)
The Data Context section of the DRM abstract model is shown in figure 4-1. It depicts the concepts that comprise the Data Context standardization area and the relationships between them. Concepts are expressed as boxes, while relationships are expressed as arrows (3X3V)
Figure 4-1 Data Context Section of the DRM Abstract Model (3YPW)
The following are definitions for each of the concepts and relationships within the figure shown above. Conventions used are: (3X3W)
- Only “outbound” relationships are listed (i.e. those that originate from the concept); (3X3X)
- The concepts are presented in an order that will ensure the best possible understanding, and specific examples are provided where appropriate; (3X3Y)
- Though cardinality is not expressed in the figure, the descriptions below may include cardinality (e.g. “one or more”) for purposes of clarity; (3X3Z)
- Concept names will be capitalized as in the figure itself (e.g. “Data Asset”), while relationship names will be expressed in italics, and without any hyphens that may appear in the relationship name in the figure (e.g. “provides management context for”). This is done so that the definitions below can take on as narrative a tone as possible. The reader should therefore be able to easily visually navigate through the figure as they read the definitions below. (3X40)
- Each concept will be referred to in a quantity of one (e.g. “A Topic categorizes a Data Asset”) for purposes of simplicity as the figure does not depict cardinality. However, implementations based on the DRM will introduce cardinality as needed according to their requirements. (3X41)
- In some cases, concepts that are part of another standardization area are included in definitions and examples below. These concepts will not be described further in this chapter; the reader should reference the pertinent chapter for definitions and examples for those concepts. (3YPT)
Taxonomy: A collection of controlled vocabulary terms organized into a hierarchical structure. Taxonomies provide a means for categorizing or classifying information within a reasonably well-defined associative structure, in which each term in a Taxonomy is in one or more parent/child (broader/narrower) relationships to other terms in the Taxonomy. A common example of a Taxonomy is the hierarchical structure used to classify living things within the biological sciences from Carols Linnaeus, as shown in Figure 4 2: (3X42)
Figure 4-2 Carols Linnaeus Taxonomy (3YPX)
- Relationships: (3X43)
Structured Data Resource: See the Data Description chapter. (3X46)
Topic: A category within a Taxonomy. A Topic is the central concept for applying context to data. For example, an agency may have a Taxonomy that represents their organizational structure. In such a Taxonomy, each role in the organizational structure (e.g. CIO) represents a Topic. Topic is often synonymous with “node”. (3X47)
- Relationships: (3X48)
Digital Data Resource: See the Data Description chapter. (3X4E)
Query Point: See the Data Sharing chapter. (3X4F)
Exchange Package: See the Data Sharing chapter. (3X4G)
Relationship: Describes the relationship between two Topics. (3X4H)
- Relationships: (3X4I)
- A Relationship relates a Topic (3X4J)
- Example: A “Person” Entity may be represented in one Data Asset in a “Customer” context because it is part of a CUSTOMER_INFO table. However, the same Entity may be represented in a “Suspect” context on law enforcement Web site. The metadata that is associated with the “Person” Entity would be different in each context – for example, the “Suspect” context would likely include physical characteristic metadata (height, hair color, etc.), while the “Customer” context would not. (3X4K)
- A Relationship relates a Topic (3X4J)
Data Asset: A managed container for data. In many cases, this will be a relational database; however, a Data Asset may also be a Web site, a document repository, directory or data service. (3X4L)
- Relationships: (3X4M)
- A Data Asset provides management context for a Digital Data Resource (3X4N)
- Example: A document that is stored and managed within a data asset (such as a document repository) has management context provided for it through the metadata that is associated with that document within the document repository. Such metadata may include the Dublin Core attributes that are described in the Data Description chapter. (3X4O)
- A Data Asset provides management context for a Digital Data Resource (3X4N)
Data Steward: A person responsible for managing a Data Asset. (3X4P)
Other FEA Reference Model: This concept represents the four other FEA reference models – the Business Reference Model (BRM), the Service Component Reference Model (SRM), the Technical Reference Model (TRM), and the Performance Reference Model (PRM). Its purpose is to provide a linkage to these other reference models, which are themselves Taxonomies. These are depicted as a special kind of Taxonomy due to their importance in overall classification of information. (3X4S)