Coordinator: Chrysoula Bekiari

The development of thematic documentation systems as a research tool within ISL's activities presupposes the creation of general models of cultural data. The latter have to be suitable for the unlimited number of specialist uses that might arise, so as to offer the flexibility and completeness required by in-depth thematic documentation. In this line of activity, the Centre actively supports the standardization of the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model as ISO 21127 by ISO/TC46/SC4.

The CIDOC CRM is a core ontology which is intended to promote a shared understanding of cultural heritage information by providing a common and extensible semantic framework that any cultural heritage information can be mapped to. It is intended to be a common language for domain experts and implementers to formulate requirements for information systems and to serve as a guide for good practice of conceptual modelling. ISL had the initiative and continues a leading role in its development, supporting the CIDOC CRM Special Interest Group, a working group of the Documentation Committee (CIDOC) of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

As a natural follow-on to the creation of the general thematic documentation model, the Centre systematically pursues the development of specialised thematic models for the needs of projects and organisations with which it co-operates.

Detailed information and releases of the individual models are available at the Compatible models & collaborations section in the CIDOC CRM site.