Dear all,
In recent history, we have added P189 approximates for the practically
ubiquitous scenario where we have recorded the approximate “declarative” place
of an event, but not the exact “phenomenal” place. P189 allows us to say that
the event took place at the phenomenal place, which is then approximated by the
declarative place.
Thus:
Birth_of_Rob a E67_Birth ;
p7_took_place_at [
a E53_Place ;
rdfs:label “The exact place Rob was born” ;
p189i_approximated_by [
a E53_Place ;
rdfs:label “New Zealand” ;
// …
]
]
This gives us two significant advantages:
1. We can have multiple declarative places associated with the single
phenomenal place. This allows us to be clear that the event took place in one
location, but we have multiple ways to describe that location in our
information system.
2. If we can be precise (enough) about the phenomenal place (e.g. we have
the GPS coordinates from the digital camera that took the photograph), then we
do not have a different model … we can simply ascribe those coordinate values
to the phenomenal place.
While the E53 Place scope notes do not talk about approximation, there is
another class that does … the very next one, E54 Dimension.
An instance of E54 Dimension represents the true quantity, independent from its
numerical
approximation, e.g. in inches or in cm.
However, there isn’t a property that allows us to use this same approximation
pattern for Dimensions.
The same advantages would apply:
1. We can have multiple declarative dimensions (10 inches, 25 centimeters)
that approximate the true dimension, rather than implying there are two
different dimensions.
2. If we do not have this case, because the dimension is measured very
accurately and has only a single numerical representation, then we can simply
use a single Dimension.
This is also useful for conservation when the same dimension is measured to
different degrees of accuracy with different instruments or techniques … there
is only a single height (for example) but it is measured with a laser, or by
estimation.
Thus I would like to propose the addition of a new property,
Pxxx_approximates_dimension, that mirrors P189_approximates, that would be used
to associate true dimensions with their approximations.
It would be used in exactly the same way as P189:
painting a Human-Made_Object ;
has_dimension [
a Dimension ;
p2_has_type <aat:height> ;
pxxxi_dimension_approximated_by [
a Dimension ;
p90_has_value 10 ;
p91_has_unit <aat:inches>
]
]
Thank you for your consideration of this issue! I’m happy to write up a draft
scope note for discussion if the general issue is considered to be worthy of
inclusion.
Rob
