Project Context / Objective:
The Swiss Art Research Infrastructure (SARI) at the University of Zurich sought to modernize and extend its Semantic Reference Data Models (SRDMs) to ensure alignment with the latest CIDOC CRM standard (v7.1.2) and broader community best practices, including Linked.Art. The ORDEA project aimed to create a harmonized and enriched SRDM framework to support complex analyses in art and architectural history, including creative processes, argumentation, and event workflows. The existing models—covering Persons, Artworks, Events, Places, Digital Objects, and more—required both reanalysis and extension to fully exploit CIDOC CRM, AAAo, and CPRo capabilities.
Takin.Solutions’ Role / Contributions:
Takin.Solutions partnered with SARI to redevelop and extend the SRDMs, providing comprehensive semantic modeling services that strengthened alignment with international standards and improved usability for researchers. The work was carried out in two phases, ensuring both the modernization of existing models and the addition of new models to cover previously unmapped semantic spaces.
Key Activities:
Phase 1: SRDM Remodeling
- Analyzed existing SRDMs and modeling patterns.
- Updated all models to align with CIDOC CRM v7.1.2 and, where appropriate, Linked.Art standards.
- Enriched documentation with metadata, examples, and version change notes to support users of the original SRDMs.
- Delivered remodeled models in the Zellij semantic pattern database as SRDM version 2.0.
Phase 2: SRDM Extension
- Developed new models and modeling patterns to cover additional semantic spaces
- Provided alternate deployment patterns leveraging CRMaaa to enrich social and historical data.
- Documented all new models and patterns in Zellij for integration into the SARI system.
Deliverables / Outputs:
- Complete SRDM v2.0 for all existing models, fully documented in Zellij.
- Extended SRDMs with new models and patterns, including enriched historical and creative process representations.
- Version change notes highlighting differences between SRDM v1 and v2.
- Comprehensive documentation for researchers to apply and interpret models consistently.
Outcome / Impact:
Takin.Solutions’ work provided SARI with a harmonized, fully modernized SRDM framework that supports sophisticated analyses of art and architectural history. The upgraded SRDMs allow researchers to capture and represent creative processes, institutional facts, and historical argumentation with precision and semantic consistency. The project established a robust foundation for future modeling and interoperability, enabling SARI to maintain alignment with CIDOC CRM, Linked.Art, and related best practices.