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Use of a Foundational Ontology#

Summary#

We require either the use of BFO as a foundational ontology or a mapping to BFO's main structure.

Purpose#

Use of a foundational ontology provides the basis for ontological consistency and facilitates semantic interoperability. BFO is the preferred foundational ontology in the OEO Foundry, since it is already widely used in OBO and IOF.

Implementation#

  • OEO Foundry ontologies MUST
    • EITHER use BFO as foundational ontology
    • OR provide a mapping to BFOs main structure
  • Version BFO 2020 (ISO/IEC 21838-2:202) SHOULD be used. However, if ontologies have chosen to use BFO 2.0 it is also compliant to this principle.
  • OEO Foundry ontologies SHOULD make use of existing mid-level / core ontologies like CCO or IAO
    • BFO 2020: https://standards.iso.org/iso-iec/21838/-2/ed-1/en/
    • BFO 2.0: https://ncorwiki.buffalo.edu/index.php/Basic_Formal_Ontology_2.0
    • CCO: https://www.ontologyrepository.com/
    • IAO: https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO
    • MENO: https://github.com/stap-m/midlevel-energy-ontology
    • SKOS: https://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/

Examples#