Featured Data Integration Tool: Karma
Karma is an open source integration tool that enables users to quickly and easily integrate data from a variety of data sources including databases, spreadsheets, delimited text files, XML, JSON, KML and Web APIs. Users integrate information by modeling it according to an ontology of their choice using a graphical user interface that automates much of the process. Karma learns to recognize the mapping of data to ontology classes and then uses the ontology to propose a model that ties together these classes. Users then interact with the system to adjust the automatically generated model. During this process, users can transform the data as needed to normalize data expressed in different formats and to restructure it. Once the model is complete, users can published the integrated data as RDF or store it in a database.
Visit the Karma page on ISI’s website for more information
Mapping to the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) using Karma
One of the key decisions the AAC made during the Mellon planning grant was agreeing to the use of the CIDOC CRM as the primary ontology. An ontology is a formal naming and definition of types and properties that expresses the relationship about things. The choice of an ontology plays a pivotal role with LOD in achieving precision when searching for information.
The CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model was developed by the Documentation Committee of the International Council of Museums (CIDOC) as a standard for the exchange of information between cultural heritage organizations: museums, libraries, and archives. The CIDOC CRM is comprehensive, containing 82 classes and 263 properties, including classes to represent a wide variety of events, concepts, and physical properties. Furthermore, in includes many properties to represent relationships among entities. It is an ISO standard, ISO 21127:2014.
Video Overview
The following video illustrates mapping AAC data to the CIDOC CRM using the KARMA data integration tool.