At the technical level, data integration requires adherence to certain XML based formats and protocols. However, consistent retrieval of data deriving from different sources also requires compatibility at the content level.
For each data type supported by the ETHICSWEB portal, there is an application profile (AP) that defines what the data should look like at the content level. The AP declares the metadata elements that can be used to describe the properties of an object. For a DLIO (document-like information object), the metadata elements defined by the AP include bibliographic information such as title and publisher. In addition to listing the metadata elements, the AP provides guidelines for how data should be entered into the elements. The AP also specifies the cardinality (how many times an element can appear in a record).
The elements of the ETHICSWEB APs have been picked from existing namespaces (such as Dublin Core) whenever possible.
Some elements are mandatory. This means that that these elements must be included in a data set to be integrated with ETHICSWEB. Most elements defined by the ETHICSWEB APs are optional, however.
As a preparation for ETHICSWEB integration, data fields of the database(s) produced by the EDC must be mapped to the metadata elements defined by the corresponding AP(s). Only data records that contain all the mandatory elements should be exported.
When setting up a new database, it should preferably be designed with the ETHICSWEB APs in mind. In particular, the database must support any mandatory fields.
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Document-Like Information Objects (ETHICSWEB AP for DLIO) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of Document-Like Information Objects (DLIOs) in the field of ethics and science. It is a metadata schema with elements from Dublin Core (DC and DCTERMS), the Agricultural Metadata Element Set (AgMES) and the ETHICSWEB (ETS) namespace. The ETHICSWEB AP for DLIO is an extension of the AGRIS Application Profile produced by FAO.
Document-Like Information Objects (DLIOs) include e.g. texts (articles, books, reports, Web pages etc.), images as well as video and audio content. DLIOs are characterized by being fixed (e.g., having identical content for each user) and may be physical or electronic documents.
The corresponding XML schema for DLIOs is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_DLIO_version_2_6.pdf | 760.65 KB |
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Experts (ETHICSWEB AP for Experts) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of experts in the field of ethics and science.
An expert is a person with special knowledge or ability. Experts in this context are individuals who have a prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in a particular field.
The document proposes the use of metadata elements taken primarily from the Europass vocabulary but few types are also taken from the UNESCO GEObs database vocabulary: these elements complement the Europass vocabulary by providing information for using controlled vocabulary for describing the field of expertise.
Considering the final purpose of sharing information about experts, special importance is given to the identification of their field of expertise, their belonging organizations and their contact information. This is why different options are offered for providing this information.
The corresponding XML schema for experts is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_Experts_version_2_1.pdf | 397.79 KB |
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Learing Resources (ETHICSWEB AP for Learning Resources) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of learning resources in the field of ethics and science.
The corresponding XML schema for learning resources is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_Learing_Resources_version_2_0.pdf | 353.06 KB |
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Projects (ETHICSWEB AP for Projects) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of projects in the field of ethics and science.
A project in business and science is a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
The document proposes the use of metadata elements taken primarily from the Europass vocabulary. A few elements are also taken from the Dublin Core (DC) vocabulary to complement the Europass vocabulary by providing information on projects.
The corresponding XML schema for projects is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_Projects_version_2_0.pdf | 481.6 KB |
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Training Programmes (ETHICSWEB AP for Training Programmes) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of training programmes in the field of ethics and science.
Training programme information can be described in this context as set of data containing information on a specific workshop, lecture, seminar, conference, both in academic, practice or education field. It also refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies.
Therefore, a training programme can be considered from an ontological point of view as a sub-class of events, e.g. a conference, an educational course, etc.
The source of information on a training programme can be a document containing the programme of an event such as a conference or a workshop.
The document proposes the use of metadata elements taken and re-used primarily from the ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Events (taken in turn from the Dublin Core, AgMES and ETHICSWEB namespaces), enriched with metadata from the ETHICSWEB Application Profile on Learning Resources (taken in turn from the Dublin Core and LOM namespaces).
The corresponding XML schema for training programmes is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_Training_Programmes_version_2_0.pdf | 561.68 KB |
The ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Knowledge Organization Systems (ETHICSWEB AP for KOS) is a set of metadata elements, policies, and guidelines defined to enhance the description, exchange and retrieval of knowledge organization systems (KOS) in the field of ethics and science.
The ETHICSWEB metadata schema describes the various properties of KOS which are relevant for ethics and science. Used as a common exchange format, the metadata schema is for example the structural basis of the XML schema and the KOS registry to collect and provide metadata of heterogeneous KOS under one virtual roof.
The ETHICSWEB metadata elements for KOS derive from resources such as the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI), the Agricultural Information Management Standards (FAO), the AGRIS Application Profile (FAO), the ETHICSWEB Application Profile for Sharing Information on Document-Like Information Objects and the compilation of several KOS metadata schemas by Golub and Tudhope. The namespace ETSKOS provides elements or sub-elements required for KOS that cannot be taken and reused from current namespaces.
The corresponding XML schema for KOS is available here.
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| ETHICSWEB_AP_for_KOS_version_2.pdf | 799.34 KB |