Agent-role distributor in Distribution context

[joachimnielandt]

In https://semiceu.github.io/GeoDCAT-AP/releases/#agent-roles a number of agent roles are presented. A question arises when considering that there could be a more strict definition or expectation of a role within a specific context.

For instance, a distributor is a role about distributing a resource. That is clear for a Distribution as this is a precise specific instance of a Dataset. For a Dataset the semantics become a bit more fuzzy: is the distributor agent responsible for the distribution of all Distributions associated with a dataset?

Assessing the impact of the agent-roles and associating them with a preferred DCAT class could be discussed.

[jakubklimek]

@joachimnielandt just to clarify, do you suggest that GeoDCAT-AP would provide further guidance on which of these roles based on the INSPIRE responsible party role code list are suitable for which of the DCAT classes - Dataset, Distribution, Data Service, Catalog instead of the current generic approach?

Do you have any specific suggestions?

[joachimnielandt]

Indeed, having some guideline on which role is applicable could be helpful. Where this information should be supplied, I don't know. For GeoDCAT-AP Vlaanderen (Flemish), the following was defined as the mapping, for example:

ISO ScopeCode	ISO(en)	ISO(nl)	Metadata DCAT	GeoDCAT-AP	URI (class)	card.
service	Custodian	Beheerder	Uitgever	Publisher	dct:publisher (dataservice)	1..1
service	PointOfContact	Contactpunt	Contactinformatie	ContactPoint	dcat:contactPoint (dataservice)	1..1
dataset	Owner	Eigenaar		Owner	dct:rightsHolder (dataset)	0..1
dataset	Owner	Eigenaar		Publisher (1)	dct:publisher (dataset)	1..1
dataset	Distributor	Verdeler		Distributor	geodcat:distributor (distribution)	0..1
dataset	PointOfContact	Contactpunt	Contactinformatie	ContactPoint	dcat:contactPoint (dataset)	1..1
dataset	Publisher	Beheerder	Uitgever	Publisher	dct:publisher (dataset)	1..1

(1) if gmd:publisher is missing we map the gmd:owner to dct:publisher, as this is semantically closest

[jakubklimek]

@joachimnielandt Your mapping basically corresponds to the mapping specified in GeoDCAT-AP B.6.16 Responsible party and metadata point of contact - Dataset responsible party and Metadata point of contact with the exception for Custodian, which GeoDCAT-AP maps to geodcat:custodian and you map it, for a service, to dct:publisher.

However, it is still a bit unclear to me, what exactly is your proposed improvement, as you mentioned that you would suggest Distributor to be used with Distributions, however, even in your mapping, it is used with a Dataset.

Could it maybe be boiled down to your original question

Is distributor agent (specified on dataset) responsible for the distribution of all Distributions associated with a dataset?

?

Are there any rules like these in the INSPIRE guidelines?

[joachimnielandt]

@jakubklimek the table above might not have been clear enough - we have modified the header so that the first column indicates the ISO scopecode and the URI column contains the target dcat class.

The main takeaway would be the following line:

ISO ScopeCode	ISO(en)	ISO(nl)	Metadata DCAT	GeoDCAT-AP	URI (class)	card.
dataset	Distributor	Verdeler		Distributor	geodcat:distributor (distribution)	0..1

[jakubklimek]

@joachimnielandt OK, so if I understand this correctly, you are saying that in your mapping rules, you have a mapping saying that a Distributor of a dataset in the ISO metadata is mapped to geodcat:distributor property on a dcat:Distribution, not a dcat:Dataset, whereas in GeoDCAT-AP 2.0.0 this is mapped to geodcat:distributor property on a dcat:Dataset.

And you propose to discuss, whether the geodcat:distributor should be moved from dcat:Dataset to dcat:Distribution and the mapping adjusted?

[joachimnielandt]

Indeed, discussing moving the attribute from dcat:Dataset to dcat:Distribution would be the proposal. Or at least a clarification of what if means to have a distributor on a Dataset level.

[jakubklimek]

Proposition was rejected during the webinar.