FAIR² Ontology
Overview
The FAIR² Ontology defines the core semantic entities and relations used across FAIR² metadata and datasets. It provides a structured, machine-readable vocabulary that ensures interoperability between data, methods, and publications within the FAIR² ecosystem. The ontology reuses existing standards from Schema.org, PROV-O, and the Contributor Role Ontology (CRO), while extending them with specific terms for AI-ready data curation and Responsible AI alignment.
The ontology is expressed in both JSON-LD and Turtle formats and is compatible with SHACL validation shapes defined under the fair2s: namespace.
Namespaces
| Prefix | Namespace URI |
|---|---|
schema: |
https://schema.org/ |
prov: |
http://www.w3.org/ns/prov# |
cr: |
https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles/ |
fair2: |
https://fair2.ai/ns/ |
fair2s: |
https://fair2.ai/shapes/ |
rdfs: |
http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# |
rdf: |
http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns# |
xsd: |
http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# |
Classes
The following classes define the core conceptual entities in FAIR². Each class extends a compatible Schema.org or PROV-O superclass to ensure semantic interoperability.
@id |
rdfs:label |
rdfs:comment |
rdfs:subClassOf |
|---|---|---|---|
fair2:OpenDataArticle |
OpenDataArticle | Scholarly work describing and linking an open dataset with methods and reuse guidance. | schema:ScholarlyArticle |
fair2:MethodSection |
MethodSection | Structured section grouping procedural steps for a method. | schema:HowToSection |
fair2:Step |
Step | Atomic procedural instruction within a method. | schema:HowToStep |
fair2:Substep |
Substep | Subordinate procedural instruction nested under a Step. | schema:HowToStep |
fair2:RecordSet |
RecordSet | A coherent subset of a dataset used for analysis or curation. | schema:Dataset |
fair2:Visualization |
Visualization | A visual artifact (plot, figure, dashboard) derived from the dataset. | schema:CreativeWork |
fair2:DescriptiveStatistics |
DescriptiveStatistics | Summary statistics computed over a RecordSet or Dataset. | schema:Dataset |
fair2:Submission |
Submission | Submission package that groups dataset, article, and supporting materials for review. | schema:CreativeWork |
Properties
The FAIR² properties define relationships between datasets, methods, contributors, and derived artifacts. They support semantic traceability and alignment with FAIR data and Responsible AI requirements.
@id |
rdfs:label |
rdfs:comment |
|---|---|---|
fair2:activities |
activities | Groups workflow or provenance activities related to an entity. |
fair2:attachment |
attachment | Points to a supporting file or supplemental material. |
fair2:builds |
builds | Indicates that one artifact is built from or extends another artifact. |
fair2:contributorRole |
contributorRole | Links a contribution to a contributor role term. |
fair2:dataArticle |
dataArticle | Links a dataset or submission to its associated scholarly data article. |
fair2:dataset |
dataset | References the dataset resource associated with the entity. |
fair2:digest |
digest | Provides a short textual or hash-based digest for quick identification. |
fair2:manuscript |
manuscript | References a manuscript file associated with the submission. |
fair2:roleName |
roleName | Human-readable label for a contributor role. |
fair2:statistics |
statistics | Links to computed descriptive statistics. |
fair2:step |
step | Connects a MethodSection with its constituent Step items. |
fair2:store |
store | Indicates the storage location or repository endpoint for an asset. |
fair2:variables |
variables | Lists variable or feature definitions referenced by an analysis or record set. |
fair2:visualization |
visualization | Links to a visualization derived from the dataset or record set. |
Notes
- Each property and class is compatible with JSON-LD serialization and SHACL validation.
- The
fair2s:namespace hosts corresponding SHACL shape definitions for data validation. - The ontology is designed for seamless integration with ML Schema, Croissant, and PROV-O provenance structures.