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Linked Conservation Data

Linked Conservation Data is a Network of partners working on improving access to conservation documentation records. The aim of the Network is to discuss and report on ways that conservation documentation can be disseminated and re-used more effectively through Linked Data.

Project objectives

We have identified three areas of development for the network’s attention: Terminology, Modelling, and Dissemination.

Terminology: In the Semantic Web, communicating by using a variety of terminology traditions is important for disambiguation. The Network will assess the suitability of existing vocabularies in conservation and identify the amount of work needed both in terms of coverage and in terms of formatting to improve them for use in Linked Data applications. The relevant Linked Data standard for vocabularies is SKOS.
Modelling: In the Semantic Web, the type of each published record needs to be explicitly declared. For example, machines need to be able to handle records of type condition assessment and records of type treatment proposal differently. A standard which provides different types of records (classes) is the CIDOC-CRM. The Network will assess the suitability of the CRM and its extensions for conservation.
Dissemination: The Network will share best practices for producing Linked Data from conservation documentation and report on the readiness and capacity of existing software to host and share Linked Data.

Terminology guidelines

See the terminology guidelines on GitHub.

Following a review of terminology in conservation, the Linked Conservation Data project has established a GitHub repository to share encoded versions of vocabularies used by conservators. This repository will function as the basis of a terminology portal for conservation. A list of some of these vocabularies can be found on the controlled vocabularies page.

Conservation data policy template and primer

Overview of current conservation and restoration models

This report is a review of published work describing models for conservation data based on the CIDOC-CRM and its extensions. The report is an analysis of the new classes and properties recommended, as well as the mapping decisions adopted for the published models. The report identifies common practices and recommends ways of harmonising the different models. It proposes areas where further modelling work is needed and attempts to organise this work in conceptually coherent groups from a conservation perspective.

Overview of current conservation and restoration models (PDF, 11.8MB)11.79 MB

Linked Data Pilot

Visit the LCD Linked Data Pilot

Read the LCD Linked Data Pilot summary

The LCD pilot working group including the Bodleian Library, Oxford; the Library of Congress; the National Archives (UK); and Stanford Libraries undertook a Linked Data pilot to explore a book conservation case study: reattaching detached boards.