An ontology for anthropogenic impact accounting
Overview
This ontology is a tool for aggregating and consolidating impact accounting data across different standards and vocabularies. The ontology is intended to be generic enough to be used for anthropogenic impact accounting in almost any discipline and context, including climate action impact accounting.
Structure
The ontology currently comprises 54 classes and 12 primary axioms.
Premise
An agent engages in an activity that impacts a thing.
Classes
thing
agent
attribute
claim
identity claim
impact claim
state claim
report
attestation
control
classification system
calculation formula
identification system
indicator
location (spatial or temporal)
position (spatial)
measurement system
spatial measurement system
temporal measurement system
objective
parameter
extent (spatial or temporal)
scope
capacity
role
calibrator
claimant
operator
owner
verifier
auditor
spatial reference system
temporal reference system
environment
event
activity
calculating
claiming
reporting
measuring
monitoring
representing
validating
verifying
auditing
state difference
instrument
process
project
state
substantiation
Axioms
Primary
An agent engages in an activity.
An activity impacts an environment.
An environment is defined by (interrelated) parameters.
A state is the value of a parameter P at time position t.
An activity is performed with an instrument.
An activity has at least one thing as input.
An activity has at least one thing as output.
A claim is a statement about a (some specific) thing.
An agent enacts a role.
An event impacts a state.
A control limits or directs a thing.
A claim can be substantiated by another thing.
Secondary
(Listed in OWL file.)
Tertiary
(Listed in OWL file.)
Definitions
Class | Definition | Synonyms | Notes | Last edited on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
thing | "Anything perceivable or conceivable." ("object" - ISO 9000:2015(E)) "An entity is a physical, digital, conceptual, or other kind of thing with some fixed aspects; entities may be real or imaginary." (https://www.w3.org/ns/prov#Entity) | object, entity, item | "Every individual in the OWL world is a member of the class owl:Thing. Thus each user-defined class is implicitly a subclass of owl:Thing."[1] |
|
thing:agent | A thing that bears some form of accountability for the occurrence of another thing. A thing that bears some form of responsibility for an activity or for the existence of another thing, and which can be held accountable for it. "An agent is something that bears some form of responsibility for an activity taking place, for the existence of an entity, or for another agent's activity." (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#Agent) "[A] person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect." (OED, Google) "[The] doer of an action, typically expressed as the subject of an active verb or in a by phrase with a passive verb." (OED, Google) |
| "occurrence" = happening or existing. 'organization' as defined in ISO's Annex SL Appendix 2 is treated in this ontology as an agent consisting of multiple other agents. Think further about delegation. foaf has: The foaf:Agent class is the class of agents; things that do stuff. A well known sub-class is foaf:Person, representing people. Other kinds of agents include foaf:Organization and foaf:Group.
| 2024/10/16 |
thing:attribute(n) | A quality or feature of a thing that can be used, whether independently or in conjunction with other attributes, to identify it. "[A] quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something." (OED, Google) |
| An attribute is something that is expected to remain constant for the duration of the impact accounting exercise. It is typically not related to scope or extent. "[A] distinctive attribute or aspect of something." ("feature" ~ OED, Google) "[A] feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify them." ("characteristic" ~ OED, Google) "[A] distinctive attribute or characteristic possessed by someone or something." ("quality" ~ OED, Google) "[A] particular part or feature of something." ("aspect" ~ OED, Google) "[A]n attribute, quality, or characteristic of something." ("property" ~ OED, Google) |
|
thing:attribute:class | The ... of a thing according to some classification system. |
| #AH: Not necessary for first version of AIAO. 'class' is an individual of class 'attribute', not a subclass thereof. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:claim(n) | A statement made by an agent about a thing. "[A]n assertion that something is true." (OED, Google) |
| 2024/10/15 | |
thing:evidence/substantiation:claim:attestation | A formal statement made by an agent in which they claim to have witnessed or been presented with sufficient evidence to consider a specific claim made by another agent as truthful or accurate. "[A] declaration that something exists or is the case." (OED, Google) attest(v): "[P]rovide or serve as clear evidence of." (OED, Google) attest(v): "[D]eclare that something exists or is the case." (OED, Google) attest(v): "[W]itness or certify formally." (OED, Google) "A claim that is validated by formal statement of authority " "The act of witnessing " ... "subscribing as a witness" Attestation, evidence or proof of something. the action of being a witness to or formally certifying something. Cambridge: a formal statement that you make and officially say is true |
| It is a statement about a statement; a claim about a claim. Example: A Carbon Credits Issuance Certificate produced by Cercarbono. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:claim:audit(n) | The result of an auditing process. |
| #AH: An audit, as a noun, is rather a specific procedure. An audit produces a report. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:claim:identity_claim | A statement made by an agent about their identity, with reference to some identification system. |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:claim:impact_claim | A statement about the causal relation between an event and a state difference. A statement about the relation between an activity and a state difference, typically following an impact accounting methodology (thing:control). |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:claim:measurementstate_claim | A statement about a state.
|
| Can be based on measurement or calculation. | 2024/11/17 |
thing:claim:report(n) | A statement, made according to some specification, about a thing. |
| A specification for a report is a thing:control | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control(n) | A thing that limits or directs another thing. A means of limiting or directing a thing. "[A] means of limiting or regulating something." (OED, Google) "[T]he restriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon." (OED, Google)
| limit, regulation, constraint, guide(n), directive, specification, requirement, constraint | An impact accounting standard is a control that comprises both procedures and object specifications. "standard": {
} requirement: {
} constraint: {
} A procedure guides an activity. procedure: {
} "methodology": {
} Methodology vs. procedure: {
} An object specification is a control. "[D]ocument stating requirements." ("specification", ISO 9000:2015(E)) "A plan is an entity that represents a set of actions or steps intended by one or more agents to achieve some goals." (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#Plan) A condition limits an activity with reference to a state. "Condition" in the sense of "if x then..." are expressed by using thing:state inside thing:control. Definitions for "condition": {
} | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:classification_system | A system for organising things into groups according to their attributes. |
| The attributes that things have in common with each other. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:calculation_formula | A control that guides a mathematical calculation. "[A] method or procedure for achieving something." (OED, Google) "[A] mathematical relationship or rule expressed in symbols." (OED, Google) |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:identification_system | A system for distinguishing individual things from one another. |
| The attributes that distinguish things from each other. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:indicator | A control for indicating the state or level of a thing. (Cf. thing:control:parameter.) A convention for expressing the state of a thing. A thing in terms of which the state of a (another) thing can be measured. A concept that allows (guides/limits) the expression of a state of a thing. A calculated interpretation of measured parameters that indicates the state or level of an OWL::thing. "[A] thing that indicates the state or level of something." (OED, Google) "Something that shows what a situation is like" (Cambridge Dictionary) |
| Indicator: A proxy for the state of a property that is difficult to or cannot be measured directly.
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:measurement_system | A system for expressing and comparing quantities. A system for expressing states related to quantity, scale or rank. A measurement system allows the expression of the state of a parameter.
| datum system of measurement | I.e., a system for answering the question of "How much?" A measurement system standardises units for measuring and comparing quantities. A spatial reference system sets standards for determining and comparing locations. A spatial reference system defines points of reference and standardises methods for describing the location of things relative to those points of reference. Example 1: What Three Words is a spatial reference system, not a measurement system. Example 2: The statements "300 miles south of the equator" and "482 kilometers south of the equator" make use of the same spatial reference system, but different measurement systems. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:measurement_system:spatial_measurement_system | A system for expressing and comparing spatial quantities. |
| E.g., "meter" or "yard". |
|
thing:control:measurement_system:temporal_measurement_system | A system for expressing and comparing temporal quantities. |
| E.g., "solar day" or "moon day" |
|
thing:control:objective | A desired state to be effected by an activity. "[R]esult to be achieved." (ISO Annex SL Appendix 2) | goal | Is an attribute of thing:event:activity and thing:process:project? | 2024/10/16 |
thing:control:parameter | A control for expressing the scope, extent or capacity of a thing. (Cf. thing:control:indicator.) A limit or boundary wich defines the scope or extent of an environment, event, or process. A quality or feature forming one of a set that defines a thing or sets the conditions of its existence or operation. "[A] limit or boundary which defines the scope of a particular process or activity." (OED, Google) "[A] numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation." (OED, Google) "[A] numerical characteristic of a population, as distinct from a statistic of a sample." (OED, Google) "[A] standard unit used to express the size, amount, or degree of something." ("measure" ~ OED, Google) |
| A specification for answering the question of “How much?” Whether a thing is an attribute, an indicator or a parameter depends on its purpose during the impact accounting exercise and whether its value will remain constant or not during the impact accounting exercise. If the value of an indicator or a parameter will remain fixed during impact accounting exercise and can consequently be used to distinguish the bearer thereof from other individuals with different values for that indicator or parameter, the indicator or parameter acts as an attribute and should be treated as such. If the value of a parameter can vary during the impact accounting exercise, but its variability is neither caused by the activity under study, nor affects the impact of the activity under study, then the parameter should not even be taken into consideration. If the value of a parameter can vary during the impact accounting exercise, and its variability is caused by the activity, then the parameter should rather be considered an indicator.
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:parameter:spatial_parameter | A control for expressing the spatial scope or spatial extent of a thing. A parameter wich defines the spatial scope or spatial extent of an environment, an event, or a process. |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:parameter:extent | The amount of space that a thing occupies. "[T]he size or scale of something." (OED, Google) "[T]he degree or limit of something; how great or severe something is." (Cambridge Dictionary) "[T]he amount of space or surface that something occupies or the distance over which it extends." (Merriam-Webster) "[T]he range over which something extends." (Merriam-Webster) "[T]he space, amount, or degree to which a thing extends; size; length; breadth." (Collins) |
| Multiple sets of coordinates. Expressed as a line (i.e., a one dimensional extent, e.g., length, width or height), an area (a two dimensional extent) or a volume (a three dimensional extent). "extent" is embedded in the very definition of "parameter". | 2024/11/14 |
thing:control:parameter:spatial_parameter:location | The point in space at which a thing occurs, expressed according to a spatial reference system. |
| Location, or space, can - like time and periods - be either definite or fuzzy. This is an individual of the class 'spatial parameter', not a subclass of class 'spatial parameter'. Is this not rather an attribute or an indicator? |
|
thing:control:parameter:spatial_parameter:position | The relation between the spatial locations of different parts of a thing. The locations of the parts of a thing relative to each other. The arrangement of a thing in space. "[A] particular way in which someone or something is placed or arranged." (OED, Google) "[A] certain arrangement of bodily parts." (Merriam-Webster) "[T]he way in which something is arranged." (Cambridge Dictionary) "[T]he way in which someone is lying, sitting, or standing." (Cambridge Dictionary) |
| Is this not rather an attribute or an indicator? |
|
thing:control:parameter:temporal_parameter | A control for expressing the temporal scope or temporal extent of a thing. |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:parameter:temporal_parameter:duration | The amount of time that a thing occupies, expressed according to a temporal measurement system. "[T]he time during which something continues." (OED, Google) "Duration of a temporal extent expressed as a decimal number scaled by a temporal unit." (owl-time) |
| This is an individual of the class 'spatial parameter', not a subclass of class 'spatial parameter'. |
|
thing:control:parameter:temporal_parameter:instant | The point in time at which a thing occurs, expressed according to a temporal reference system. "[A] precise moment of time." ("instant" - OED, Google) "[A]n exact point in time." ("moment" - OED, Google) "A temporal entity with zero extent or duration." (owl-time) It could have location, though, because "...properties ...provide alternative ways to describe the temporal position of an :Instant." (owl-time) | moment |
| 2024/10/16 |
thing:control:parameter:temporal_parameter:period | A non-zero extent of time defined by two known instants. An extent of time of which the start and end is each marked by a specific (thing:parameter:temporal_parameter:)instance An extent of time defined by a specific starting instant and a specific ending instant. "A temporal entity with non-zero extent or duration, i.e. for which the value of the beginning and end are different." ("proper interval", owl-time) a length or portion of time A portion of time defined by a specific starting point in time and a specific ending point in time.
| interval stretch term span phase session bout run | Some periods in time may be "fuzzy" - exact y:m:d h:m:s may be unknown, but we can attribute a starting or ending point with a certain level of confidence. I.e., they can be definite or fuzzy. This is an individual of the class 'spatial parameter', not a subclass of class 'spatial parameter'. |
|
thing:control:parameter:temporal_parameter:time_position | "A temporal position described using either a (nominal) value from an ordinal reference system, or a (numeric) value in a temporal coordinate system." ("time position", owl-time) "A position on a time-line" ("temporal position", owl-time) |
| E.g., "travel through space and time" #AH: We distinguish between 'position' and 'location' when we talk about space, so we should probably not conflate the two terms when we talk about time. The Time Ontology's definitions of "time position" and "temporal position" each conflates "position" and "location", in my opinion. | 2024/10/16 |
thing:control:parameter:role | A control that specifies the scope of and/or requirements for an agent's relation to an activity. A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent with regard to a specific activity. The function assumed or part enacted by an agent in a particular situation, and which might be subjected to a thing:control. "[T]he function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation." (OED, Google) "[A] role is particular behaviour which a material entity may exhibit." "A role is the function of an entity or agent with respect to an activity, in the context of a usage, generation, invalidation, association, start, and end." (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#Role) |
| A specification for answering the question of “How much by whom?” Roles are context-specific.
Define 'responsibility'? Add 'requirement' to the definition? Define 'requirement'? Is this not an individual of class 'control' rather than a subclass thereof? | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:calibrator | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who calibrates an instrument. |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:claimant | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who makes a claim. "[A] person making a claim, especially in a lawsuit or for a state benefit." (OED, Google) |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:operator | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who operates a specific thing (e.g., an instrument). "[A] person who operates equipment or a machine." (OED, Google) "[A] person or company that runs a business." (OED, Google) |
| A project operator is an agent who operates a project, with the project considered to be an instrument. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:owner | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who owns a specific thing. "[A] person who owns something." (OED, Google) |
| A project owner is an agent who owns a project, with the project considered to be an instrument. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:project_developer | A predefined set of responsibilities and actions for an agent who defines and prepares the conditions for an activity or a set of activities.
|
| #AH: Do we need this? In an impact accounting scenario the project developer is really just a service provider to the owner of the project in question. It is ultimately the owner of the project who will be held accountable for the impact of the project, not the project developer, so do we really need to single the role of "project developer" out? | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:verifier | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who verifies a claim. "[S]omeone who vouches for another or for the correctness of a statement." ("verifier") |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:role:verifier:auditor | A predefined set of requirements, responsibilities and/or actions for an agent who conducts an audit. "[A] person who conducts an audit." (OED, Google) "[P]erson who conducts an audit." (ISO 9000:2015(E)) |
|
| 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:spatial_reference_system | A system for expressing and comparing spatial locations. A system for expressing states related to spatial location. |
| I.e., a system for answering the question of "Where?" A measurement system standardises units for measuring and comparing quantities. A spatial reference system sets standards for determining and comparing locations. A spatial reference system defines points of reference and standardises methods for describing the location of things relative to those points of reference. Example 1: What Three Words is a spatial reference system, not a measurement system. Example 2: The statements "300 miles south of the equator" and "482 kilometers south of the equator" make use of the same spatial reference system, but different measurement systems. Location can be either an attribute or a state, depending on the context. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:spatial_reference_system:geocentric_datum | TODO. |
| #AH: I don't think we need to go this deep in version 1 of AIAO. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:spatial_reference_system:geodetic_datum | TODO. |
| #AH: I don't think we need to go this deep in version 1 of AIAO. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:control:temporal_reference_system | A system for expressing and comparing temporal locations. A system for expressing states related to temporal location. |
| I.e., a system for answering the question of "When?" E.g., the Gregorian Calendar or Greenwich Time. | 2024/10/16 |
thing:environment | The surroundings and conditions in which a thing occurs. "[T]he surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates." (OED, Google) "[T]he setting or conditions in which a particular activity is carried on. (OED, Google) "[A] specified sphere of activity or knowledge." ("domain" - OED, Google) | domain (?) | (A x-scape is a coded aggregate interpretation of an environment.) | 2024/10/15 |
thing:event | A thing that occurs over a period of time. A thing that happens or takes place and which impacts an environment. An event is differentiated from an activity by the absence of explicit human intention. "Nature has events, humans act" "[A] thing that happens or takes place,..." (OED, Google) "[A] single occurrence of a process, e.g. the ionization of one atom." (OED, Google) "A transition in the world" (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#InstantaneousEvent). |
| Occurs over a period of time and has a duration. Has a spatial dimension. "Events include generation, usage, or invalidation of entities, as well as starting or ending of activities... An... event... happens in the world and marks a change in the world, in its activities and in its entities. The term 'event' is commonly used in process algebra with a similar meaning. Events represent communications or interactions; they are assumed to be atomic and instantaneous." (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#InstantaneousEvent) |
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thing:event:activity | An event that is orchestrated by an agent. A thing that an agent does and which impacts an environment. "[A] thing that a person or group does or has done." (OED, Google) "Smallest identified object of work in a project." (ISO 9000:2015(E)) "An activity is something that occurs over a period of time and acts upon or with entities; it may include consuming, processing, transforming, modifying, relocating, using, or generating entities." (http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#Activity) | action, act | "orchestrate": "[P]lan or coordinate the elements of (a situation) to produce a desired effect..." (OED, Google)
The only activities we are concerned with defining are the ones in which humans are in some accountable way involved in the execution thereof. If the activity cannot be used in the sentence "An agent engages in (a/an) <the activity>", then we are not concerned with defining it. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:event:activity:calculating | The activity of deriving the value of a parameter or indicator from one or more other values, according to some mathematical calculation formula. (Cf. thing:event:activity:measuring.) |
| The activity of deriving the value of a parameter from other parameters' values by combining them according to some mathematical thing:control:formula. E.g., Sarah performed a calculation to determine the amount of water she needed. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:event:activity:evidence | The act/ivity of being or presenting evidence in support of a claim. "[B]e or show evidence of." (OED, Google) |
| #AH: The only activities we are concerned with defining are the ones in which humans are in some accountable way involved in the execution thereof. If the activity cannot be used in the sentence, "An agent does/performs a/an <the activity>", then we are not concerned with defining it. | 2024/10/14 |
thing:event:activity:claiming | The activity of making a statement about a thing. "[S]tate or assert that something is the case..." (OED, Google) "[A]ssert that one has gained or achieved (something)." (OED, Google) | assert
| W3C Glossary: (n.) Assertion (i) Any expression which is claimed to be true. (ii) The act of claiming something to be true. https://www.w3.org/TR/vc-data-model/#claims is practically identical: "A claim is a statement about a subject. A subject is a thing about which claims can be made."
| 2024/10/16 |
thing:event:activity:claiming:reporting | The activity of making a statement about a thing according to a specification. |
|
| 2024/10/14 |
thing:event:activity:measuring | The activity of determining the value of a parameter or indicator through observation (as opposed to calculation). (Cf. thing:event:activity:calculating.) The activity of determining a state through direct observation (as opposed to calculation), typically by using a calibrated measurement instrument. "[A]scertain the size, amount, or degree of (something) by using an instrument or device marked in standard units." (OED, Google) "[A]ssess the importance, effect, or value of (something)." (OED, Google) |
| "[D]etermining the status of a system, a process, a product, a service, or an activity." ("monitoring" - ISO 9000:2015(E)) "...by using an instrument or device marked in standard units." - the involvement of standardised units of measure is captured in the definition of state. | 2024/10/14 |
thing:event:activity:monitoring | The activity of repeatedly observing a state over a period of time. "[O]bserve and check the progress or quality of (something) over a period of time; keep under systematic review." (OED, Google) "[M]aintain regular surveillance over." (OED, Google) |
| It is a series of measurements. | 2024/10/14 |
thing:event:activity:representing | The activity of acting on behalf of another thing, usually - but not necessarily - in a different medium and/or different environment (or context) than that in which the represented thing occurs. The act of registering a claim unto a claim_medium by means of an instrument. #AH: This is rather the definition of making a representation of something. |
| TODO: Define representation, as in a non-living thing (such as a photograph) that "represents" (passively) another thing. | 2024/10/15 |
thing:event:activity:validating | The activity of ascertaining that the form, structure or type of some thing satisfies a specification. |
| Where 'specification' = a thing:control. |