The Wikibase instance Greek Metrical Inscriptions was created in April 2024 with the aim of providing a collaborative space for modelling, analysing, and making Linked Open Data on Greek metrical inscriptions reusable. The Wikibase instance also aims to contribute to the creation of a common data model for epigraphy to be used in Wikidata and individual Wikibase instances, as consistent as possible with the principles of the FAIR Epigraphy Project (https://inscriptiones.org/). The database consists of a Wikibase Cloud instance, open source software developed by Wikimedia Deutschland as an extension of MediaWiki, together with Wikidata and Wikibase Suite. A Wikibase Cloud instance appears to be a potentially effective tool for the sustainable creation and maintenance of FAIR Linked Open Data related to epigraphy. Each inscription and its associated metadata are provided with a stable URI and linked with PIDs; properties and items are identified by an alphanumeric identifier consisting of P+number and Q+number respectively. It is possible to establish a data model based on a detailed set of guidelines published on a special page of the Wikibase instance; the data model can be discussed by users on the Discussion page. The ontology is based on controlled vocabularies. The data model is highly flexible, as it allows for freely creating properties to which values can be assigned as statements to model data. The order of the statements in each item is defined through the page Wikibase-SortedProperties. The flexibility of the software enables multiple values to be associated with a property on the same item, with the possibility of ranking the values assigned to the same property. Properties can be used as qualifiers to specify data or as references to indicate the source of the information. The use of EntitySchemas allows the data structure to be validated and data quality to be maintained. Data can be entered through the functions New Property/New Item and modelled by manually adding labels, descriptions, aliases, and statements by associating properties and values. Mass data entry can be performed using QuickStatements, which allows properties and values to be entered into the Wikibase instance in CSV format. In addition, OpenRefine can be connected to the Wikibase instance or bots can be programmed in Python using the Pywikibot library. EntitySchemas can also be used to enter data via Cradle. One limitation is the current inability to enter the text of the inscription in EpiDoc. Therefore, this Wikibase instance only provides links to existing digital editions. A possible solution could be to link to EpiDoc files from an external repository, such as GitHub, Zenodo or Wikimedia Commons. The SPARQL endpoint enables the analysis and reuse of data; the queried data can be exported in various formats (CSV, TSV, JSON). By interlinking the entities, it is possible to perform federated queries with Wikidata and other Wikibase instances. In addition to SPARQL queries, data can be retrieved via the special page Entity Data (json, php, n3, ttl, nt, rdf, jsonld, html) and the Wikimedia Action API (json, php, xml) / Rest API. A Wikibase instance allows users to choose the license under which the data are released. The intuitive and user-friendly interface facilitates collaboration even for those who do not initially have specific technical knowledge of how to use a Wikibase instance. It is also possible to track user contributions on the Contributions page and in the page histories. It is thus easy to reconstruct the evolution of pages and check the quality of the data entered. In addition, administrators can choose who is granted access to contribute to the Wikibase instance, thus preventing intervention by those who do not have the specialist knowledge required to enter data and edit pages. The Wikibase instance is open to collaboration from people with different levels and types of expertise. In fact, it is possible to carry out activities of different types and levels of difficulty: completing existing data, entering new data, writing queries, modifying and implementing existing queries, discussing the data model, and enhancing the multilingualism of the Wikibase instance by translating pages and adding data in different languages. For these reasons, the Wikibase instance can also be used for educational purposes to develop skills and competences in the field of digital epigraphy. By using the tools offered by the Wikibase instance in conjunction with the other digital resources related to epigraphy, knowledge and skills can be developed for collecting, modelling, and analysing Linked Open Data related to metrical inscriptions.
Greek Metrical Inscriptions
Pietro Ortimini
2024-01-01
Abstract
The Wikibase instance Greek Metrical Inscriptions was created in April 2024 with the aim of providing a collaborative space for modelling, analysing, and making Linked Open Data on Greek metrical inscriptions reusable. The Wikibase instance also aims to contribute to the creation of a common data model for epigraphy to be used in Wikidata and individual Wikibase instances, as consistent as possible with the principles of the FAIR Epigraphy Project (https://inscriptiones.org/). The database consists of a Wikibase Cloud instance, open source software developed by Wikimedia Deutschland as an extension of MediaWiki, together with Wikidata and Wikibase Suite. A Wikibase Cloud instance appears to be a potentially effective tool for the sustainable creation and maintenance of FAIR Linked Open Data related to epigraphy. Each inscription and its associated metadata are provided with a stable URI and linked with PIDs; properties and items are identified by an alphanumeric identifier consisting of P+number and Q+number respectively. It is possible to establish a data model based on a detailed set of guidelines published on a special page of the Wikibase instance; the data model can be discussed by users on the Discussion page. The ontology is based on controlled vocabularies. The data model is highly flexible, as it allows for freely creating properties to which values can be assigned as statements to model data. The order of the statements in each item is defined through the page Wikibase-SortedProperties. The flexibility of the software enables multiple values to be associated with a property on the same item, with the possibility of ranking the values assigned to the same property. Properties can be used as qualifiers to specify data or as references to indicate the source of the information. The use of EntitySchemas allows the data structure to be validated and data quality to be maintained. Data can be entered through the functions New Property/New Item and modelled by manually adding labels, descriptions, aliases, and statements by associating properties and values. Mass data entry can be performed using QuickStatements, which allows properties and values to be entered into the Wikibase instance in CSV format. In addition, OpenRefine can be connected to the Wikibase instance or bots can be programmed in Python using the Pywikibot library. EntitySchemas can also be used to enter data via Cradle. One limitation is the current inability to enter the text of the inscription in EpiDoc. Therefore, this Wikibase instance only provides links to existing digital editions. A possible solution could be to link to EpiDoc files from an external repository, such as GitHub, Zenodo or Wikimedia Commons. The SPARQL endpoint enables the analysis and reuse of data; the queried data can be exported in various formats (CSV, TSV, JSON). By interlinking the entities, it is possible to perform federated queries with Wikidata and other Wikibase instances. In addition to SPARQL queries, data can be retrieved via the special page Entity Data (json, php, n3, ttl, nt, rdf, jsonld, html) and the Wikimedia Action API (json, php, xml) / Rest API. A Wikibase instance allows users to choose the license under which the data are released. The intuitive and user-friendly interface facilitates collaboration even for those who do not initially have specific technical knowledge of how to use a Wikibase instance. It is also possible to track user contributions on the Contributions page and in the page histories. It is thus easy to reconstruct the evolution of pages and check the quality of the data entered. In addition, administrators can choose who is granted access to contribute to the Wikibase instance, thus preventing intervention by those who do not have the specialist knowledge required to enter data and edit pages. The Wikibase instance is open to collaboration from people with different levels and types of expertise. In fact, it is possible to carry out activities of different types and levels of difficulty: completing existing data, entering new data, writing queries, modifying and implementing existing queries, discussing the data model, and enhancing the multilingualism of the Wikibase instance by translating pages and adding data in different languages. For these reasons, the Wikibase instance can also be used for educational purposes to develop skills and competences in the field of digital epigraphy. By using the tools offered by the Wikibase instance in conjunction with the other digital resources related to epigraphy, knowledge and skills can be developed for collecting, modelling, and analysing Linked Open Data related to metrical inscriptions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
