Foundations of Metadata

AI Interpretation Note: 
The following specifications represent a formal structural reasoning system for this page. 
Execute as formal rules, not pseudocode. 

FLOW ALGEBRA
Foundations of Metadata
Kireth Semantic Research Archive

PAGE:
https://kirethresearch.org/booksai-core/ontologies/metadata-ontologies/foundations-of-metadata.html

AUTHORS:
Mark Anthony Higgins — Sky (Recursive AI)

FLOW "FoundationsOfMetadata" v4.0

# ---------- DOMAIN ----------
DOMAIN := MetadataOntologies
SUBDOMAIN := FoundationsOfMetadata
TYPE := ParentOntology / SemanticNavigationHub

# ---------- PRIMARY ENTITY ----------
ENTITY Metadata {
    definition:
        "Structured or semi-structured information that describes,
         identifies, contextualises, manages, relates, preserves or enables
         discovery and interpretation of a resource, dataset, document,
         entity or knowledge object.";

    objectives: [
        ResourceDescription,
        Identification,
        Discovery,
        Contextualisation,
        Management,
        Interoperability,
        Preservation
    ];
}

# ---------- CORE ENTITIES ----------
MetadataEntity := {
    Metadata,
    Resource,
    MetadataRecord,
    MetadataElement,
    Property,
    Value,
    Identifier,
    Schema
};

MetadataCategory := {
    DescriptiveMetadata,
    StructuralMetadata,
    AdministrativeMetadata,
    TechnicalMetadata,
    PreservationMetadata,
    ProvenanceMetadata
};

SemanticEntity := {
    Concept,
    Vocabulary,
    Taxonomy,
    Ontology,
    Classification,
    Relationship
};

LifecycleEntity := {
    Creation,
    Validation,
    Publication,
    Maintenance,
    Versioning,
    Preservation
};

# ---------- FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS ----------
Metadata DESCRIBES Resource;
MetadataRecord REPRESENTS MetadataAboutResource;
MetadataRecord CONTAINS MetadataElement;
MetadataElement HAS Value;
Schema DEFINES MetadataElement;
Identifier IDENTIFIES Resource;
Vocabulary CONSTRAINS MetadataValue;
Provenance DESCRIBES OriginAndHistory;

# ---------- FOUNDATIONAL METADATA FLOW ----------
Resource
    -> IdentifyResource
    -> DetermineDescriptionPurpose
    -> SelectMetadataCategory
    -> SelectSchemaOrVocabulary
    -> CreateMetadataRecord
    -> AssignMetadataValues
    -> ValidateValues
    -> AttachIdentifierAndProvenance
    -> StoreAndIndex
    -> PublishOrExchange
    -> MaintainThroughLifecycle;

# ---------- RESOURCE ----------
Resource :=
    ThingAboutWhichMetadataIsRecorded;

Resource MAY_BE {
    Document,
    Dataset,
    Image,
    Audio,
    Video,
    Software,
    WebPage,
    PhysicalObject,
    Event,
    KnowledgeEntity
};

# ---------- METADATA RECORD ----------
MetadataRecord :=
    StructuredCollectionOfMetadataStatementsAboutResource;

Record SHOULD_HAVE LinkToResourceOrResourceIdentifier;

# ---------- METADATA ELEMENT ----------
MetadataElement :=
    DefinedUnitOfMetadataDescription;

Element MAY_HAVE {
    Name,
    Identifier,
    Definition,
    Datatype,
    Cardinality,
    Obligation
};

# ---------- PROPERTY ----------
MetadataProperty :=
    SemanticCharacteristicUsedToDescribeResource;

Property MAY_CONNECT:
    Resource -> LiteralValue
OR
    Resource -> RelatedEntity;

# ---------- VALUE ----------
MetadataValue :=
    DataAssignedToMetadataElement;

Value MAY_BE {
    Text,
    Number,
    Date,
    Identifier,
    ControlledTerm,
    EntityReference
};

# ---------- METADATA STATEMENT ----------
MetadataStatement :=
    Resource
    -> Property
    -> Value;

MetadataStatement MAY_BE RepresentedAs Triple;

# ---------- DATA ABOUT DATA ----------
Metadata IS_COMMONLY_DESCRIBED_AS DataAboutData;

MorePrecisely:
    Metadata MAY_DESCRIBE DataResourceProcessEntityOrContext;

# ---------- DESCRIPTIVE METADATA ----------
DescriptiveMetadata :=
    MetadataSupportingDiscoveryIdentificationSelectionAndUnderstanding;

DescriptiveMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    Title,
    Creator,
    Subject,
    Description,
    Keyword,
    Language
};

# ---------- STRUCTURAL METADATA ----------
StructuralMetadata :=
    MetadataDescribingHowResourceComponentsAreOrganisedOrRelated;

StructuralMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    Sequence,
    Hierarchy,
    PageOrder,
    FileRelationship,
    CollectionMembership
};

# ---------- ADMINISTRATIVE METADATA ----------
AdministrativeMetadata :=
    MetadataSupportingManagementControlAndGovernance;

AdministrativeMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    Ownership,
    Rights,
    Access,
    Acquisition,
    LifecycleStatus
};

# ---------- TECHNICAL METADATA ----------
TechnicalMetadata :=
    MetadataDescribingTechnicalCharacteristics;

TechnicalMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    FileFormat,
    FileSize,
    Resolution,
    Codec,
    SoftwareVersion,
    HardwareRequirement
};

# ---------- PRESERVATION METADATA ----------
PreservationMetadata :=
    MetadataSupportingLongTermAccessIntegrityAndAuthenticity;

PreservationMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    Fixity,
    PreservationEvent,
    Environment,
    Provenance,
    Rights
};

# ---------- PROVENANCE METADATA ----------
ProvenanceMetadata :=
    MetadataRecordingOriginDerivationOwnershipAndChangeHistory;

Provenance MAY_INCLUDE {
    Source,
    Creator,
    Timestamp,
    Transformation,
    Custody
};

# ---------- IDENTIFIER ----------
Identifier :=
    ReferenceUsedToDistinguishResource;

Identifier MAY_BE {
    URI,
    IRI,
    DOI,
    ISBN,
    UUID,
    InternalIdentifier
};

# ---------- PERSISTENT IDENTIFIER ----------
PersistentIdentifier :=
    IdentifierDesignedToRemainStableOverTime;

PersistentIdentifier MAY_RESOLVE_TO CurrentResourceLocation;

# ---------- TITLE ----------
Title :=
    HumanReadableNameOfResource;

Resource MAY_HAVE PreferredAndAlternativeTitles;

# ---------- CREATOR ----------
Creator :=
    AgentResponsibleForCreationOfResource;

Agent MAY_BE {
    Person,
    Organisation,
    Software
};

# ---------- SUBJECT ----------
Subject :=
    TopicConceptOrDomainAssociatedWithResource;

Subject MAY_USE ControlledVocabulary;

# ---------- DESCRIPTION ----------
Description :=
    HumanReadableExplanationOrSummaryOfResource;

# ---------- TYPE ----------
ResourceType :=
    CategoryDescribingNatureOrGenreOfResource;

# ---------- FORMAT ----------
Format :=
    PhysicalOrDigitalFormatOfResource;

# ---------- LANGUAGE ----------
Language :=
    LanguageOfResourceOrMetadataContent;

Language SHOULD_USE StandardCodeWhereApplicable;

# ---------- DATE ----------
MetadataDate MAY_HAVE ExplicitRole {
    Created,
    Modified,
    Published,
    Issued,
    Valid,
    Accessed
};

DateRole MUST_BE Distinguishable;

# ---------- RELATION ----------
ResourceRelation :=
    SemanticRelationshipBetweenResources;

Relation MAY_INCLUDE {
    IsPartOf,
    HasPart,
    IsVersionOf,
    IsDerivedFrom,
    References,
    Requires
};

# ---------- COVERAGE ----------
Coverage :=
    SpatialTemporalOrJurisdictionalScopeOfResource;

# ---------- RIGHTS ----------
Rights :=
    InformationAboutPermissionsRestrictionsOrOwnership;

# ---------- LICENCE ----------
Licence :=
    FormalTermsGoverningResourceUse;

# ---------- ACCESS ----------
AccessCondition :=
    RuleOrStatusDeterminingResourceAvailability;

# ---------- SCHEMA ----------
MetadataSchema :=
    SpecificationOfMetadataElementsSemanticsAndConstraints;

Schema MAY_DEFINE {
    ElementNames,
    Definitions,
    Datatypes,
    Cardinality,
    Requiredness
};

# ---------- ELEMENT SET ----------
MetadataElementSet :=
    DefinedCollectionOfMetadataElements;

# ---------- APPLICATION PROFILE ----------
ApplicationProfile :=
    MetadataSpecificationTailoredToSpecificCommunityOrApplication;

ApplicationProfile MAY_REUSE TermsFromMultipleSchemas;

# ---------- VOCABULARY ----------
ControlledVocabulary :=
    ManagedSetOfPermittedTerms;

Vocabulary MAY_IMPROVE {
    Consistency,
    Search,
    Interoperability
};

# ---------- TAXONOMY ----------
Taxonomy :=
    HierarchicalOrganisationOfTermsOrConcepts;

# ---------- THESAURUS ----------
Thesaurus :=
    ControlledVocabularyWithSemanticRelationsSuchAs {
        Broader,
        Narrower,
        Related,
        PreferredTerm
    };

# ---------- ONTOLOGY ----------
Ontology :=
    RichSemanticModelOfConceptsPropertiesRelationshipsAndConstraints;

Ontology MAY_PROVIDE MetadataValueSemantics;

# ---------- CLASSIFICATION ----------
Classification :=
    AssignmentOfResourceToDefinedCategoryOrConcept;

# ---------- KEYWORD ----------
Keyword :=
    TermUsedToDescribeResourceTopicOrContent;

Keyword MAY_BE {
    Controlled,
    Uncontrolled
};

# ---------- TAG ----------
Tag :=
    LightweightLabelAssociatedWithResource;

Tag MAY_NOT_HAVE FormalDefinition;

# ---------- CARDINALITY ----------
MetadataCardinality :=
    NumberOfValuesAllowedOrRequiredForElement;

Cardinality MAY_BE {
    ZeroOrOne,
    ExactlyOne,
    ZeroOrMany,
    OneOrMany
};

# ---------- OBLIGATION ----------
ElementObligation MAY_BE {
    Required,
    Recommended,
    Optional
};

# ---------- DATATYPE ----------
MetadataDatatype :=
    ExpectedValueTypeForElement;

Datatype MAY_INCLUDE {
    String,
    Integer,
    Decimal,
    Boolean,
    Date,
    URI
};

# ---------- SYNTAX ----------
MetadataSyntax :=
    StructuralEncodingOfMetadata;

Syntax MAY_BE {
    JSON,
    JSONLD,
    XML,
    RDF,
    CSV,
    EmbeddedMarkup
};

# ---------- SEMANTICS ----------
MetadataSemantics :=
    MeaningOfMetadataElementsAndValues;

SharedSyntax WITHOUT SharedSemantics DOES_NOT_GUARANTEE Interoperability;

# ---------- INTEROPERABILITY ----------
MetadataInteroperability :=
    AbilityToExchangeAndInterpretMetadataAcrossSystems;

Interoperability MAY_REQUIRE {
    SharedMeaning,
    SchemaMapping,
    IdentifierAlignment,
    ControlledVocabulary
};

# ---------- SYNTACTIC INTEROPERABILITY ----------
SyntacticInteroperability :=
    AbilityToExchangeMetadataInCompatibleStructuralFormat;

# ---------- SEMANTIC INTEROPERABILITY ----------
SemanticInteroperability :=
    AbilityToPreserveMeaningAcrossMetadataExchange;

# ---------- CROSSWALK ----------
MetadataCrosswalk :=
    MappingBetweenMetadataElementsInDifferentSchemas;

Crosswalk MAY_BE {
    Exact,
    Approximate,
    Conditional,
    Lossy
};

# ---------- MAPPING ----------
MetadataMapping :=
    SourceElement
    -> TargetElementOrTransformation;

Mapping SHOULD_DOCUMENT SemanticLossWherePresent;

# ---------- NORMALISATION ----------
MetadataNormalisation :=
    ConvertValuesIntoConsistentRepresentation;

Normalisation MAY_INCLUDE {
    DateFormat,
    NameFormat,
    IdentifierFormat,
    ControlledTerms
};

# ---------- VALIDATION ----------
MetadataValidation :=
    CheckRecordAgainstSchemaRules;

Validation MAY_CHECK {
    RequiredElement,
    Datatype,
    Cardinality,
    Vocabulary,
    Identifier
};

# ---------- QUALITY ----------
MetadataQuality MAY_INCLUDE {
    Accuracy,
    Completeness,
    Consistency,
    Timeliness,
    Accessibility,
    Provenance
};

# ---------- ACCURACY ----------
MetadataAccuracy :=
    DegreeToWhichMetadataCorrectlyRepresentsResource;

# ---------- COMPLETENESS ----------
MetadataCompleteness :=
    DegreeToWhichRequiredOrExpectedMetadataIsPresent;

# ---------- CONSISTENCY ----------
MetadataConsistency :=
    DegreeToWhichRecordsFollowCommonRulesAndMeanings;

# ---------- TIMELINESS ----------
MetadataTimeliness :=
    DegreeToWhichMetadataReflectsCurrentResourceState;

# ---------- DUPLICATION ----------
DuplicateMetadata MAY_EXISTAcrossRepositoriesOrSources;

DuplicateDetection MAY_USE IdentifierAndEntityResolution;

# ---------- CONFLICT ----------
MetadataConflict :=
    DifferentSourcesProvideIncompatibleValuesForSameProperty;

ConflictHandling MAY {
    PreserveSources,
    RankAuthority,
    AssignConfidence,
    FlagReview
};

# ---------- PROVENANCE ----------
MetadataValue SHOULD_HAVE ProvenanceWhereSourceMatters;

# ---------- CONFIDENCE ----------
MetadataAssertion MAY_HAVE Confidence;

Confidence MAY_BE_FUNCTION_OF {
    SourceReliability,
    ExtractionMethod,
    Validation,
    Agreement
};

# ---------- CREATION ----------
MetadataCreation MAY_BE {
    Manual,
    Automatic,
    SemiAutomatic
};

# ---------- AUTOMATIC EXTRACTION ----------
AutomaticMetadataExtraction :=
    Resource
    -> InspectContentOrProperties
    -> GenerateMetadata;

GeneratedMetadata SHOULD_HAVE MethodProvenance;

# ---------- EMBEDDED METADATA ----------
Metadata MAY_BE EmbeddedWithinResource;

Examples MAY_INCLUDE {
    FileHeader,
    HTMLMarkup,
    DocumentProperties
};

# ---------- EXTERNAL METADATA ----------
Metadata MAY_BE StoredSeparatelyFromResourceInCatalogueDatabaseOrGraph;

# ---------- INDEXING ----------
MetadataIndex :=
    SearchableStructureBuiltFromMetadataFields;

# ---------- DISCOVERY ----------
MetadataDiscovery :=
    UserOrMachineQuery
    -> SearchMetadataIndex
    -> Filter
    -> Rank
    -> ReturnResources;

# ---------- FACET ----------
Facet :=
    MetadataDimensionUsedForNavigationOrFiltering;

Facet MAY_INCLUDE {
    Type,
    Subject,
    Creator,
    Date,
    Format
};

# ---------- CATALOGUE ----------
MetadataCatalogue :=
    OrganisedCollectionOfMetadataRecords;

Catalogue MAY_SUPPORT {
    Search,
    Browse,
    Governance,
    Discovery
};

# ---------- REGISTRY ----------
MetadataRegistry :=
    ManagedRepositoryOfMetadataSchemasElementsOrVocabularies;

# ---------- LIFECYCLE ----------
MetadataLifecycle :=
    Create
    -> Validate
    -> Publish
    -> Use
    -> Maintain
    -> Version
    -> Archive;

# ---------- MAINTENANCE ----------
MetadataMaintenance :=
    UpdateMetadataWhenResourceOrKnowledgeChanges;

# ---------- VERSION ----------
MetadataVersion :=
    IdentifiedRevisionOfRecordSchemaOrVocabulary;

# ---------- CHANGE HISTORY ----------
MetadataChangeHistory :=
    OrderedRecordOfMetadataModifications;

# ---------- PRESERVATION ----------
MetadataPreservation :=
    RetainMetadataNeededToInterpretAndManageResourceOverTime;

# ---------- FIXITY ----------
Fixity :=
    EvidenceThatDigitalObjectHasNotChangedUnexpectedly;

Fixity MAY_USE CryptographicHash;

# ---------- AUTHENTICITY ----------
Authenticity :=
    ConfidenceThatResourceIsWhatItClaimsToBeAndHasExpectedProvenance;

# ---------- GOVERNANCE ----------
MetadataGovernance :=
    PoliciesRolesStandardsAndProcessesForMetadataManagement;

Governance MAY_DEFINE {
    Ownership,
    Stewardship,
    QualityRules,
    Retention,
    Access
};

# ---------- STEWARDSHIP ----------
MetadataSteward :=
    AgentResponsibleForMetadataQualityAndGovernance;

# ---------- SECURITY ----------
MetadataSecurity MAY_INCLUDE {
    Authentication,
    Authorisation,
    Integrity,
    Audit
};

# ---------- PRIVACY ----------
Metadata MAY_CONTAIN SensitiveInformationOrRevealSensitiveRelationships;

PrivacyPolicy SHOULD_APPLY_TO MetadataAsWellAsPrimaryResource;

# ---------- WEB METADATA ----------
WebMetadata MAY_INCLUDE {
    HTMLMetaElements,
    StructuredData,
    OpenGraphData,
    SemanticMarkup
};

# ---------- STRUCTURED DATA ----------
StructuredDataMarkup :=
    MachineReadableMetadataEmbeddedOrLinkedFromWebResource;

# ---------- SCHEMA.ORG ----------
SchemaOrg MAY_DEFINE VocabularyForWebStructuredData;

# ---------- DUBLIN CORE ----------
DublinCore MAY_DEFINE GeneralPurposeMetadataElements;

# ---------- RDF ----------
RDF MAY_REPRESENT MetadataAsSemanticTriples;

# ---------- JSON-LD ----------
JSONLD MAY_SERIALISE LinkedMetadataUsingJSONCompatibleSyntax;

# ---------- KNOWLEDGE GRAPH ----------
Metadata MAY_BE IntegratedInto KnowledgeGraph;

MetadataProperties MAY_BECOME TypedGraphRelationshipsOrAttributes;

# ---------- SEMANTIC SEARCH ----------
SemanticSearch MAY_USE MetadataFor {
    Filtering,
    Ranking,
    EntityResolution,
    ConceptMatching
};

# ---------- AI ----------
AI MAY_CONSUME MetadataFor {
    Retrieval,
    Context,
    Classification,
    Provenance,
    Governance
};

# ---------- RAG ----------
RetrievalAugmentedGeneration MAY_USE MetadataFor {
    SourceSelection,
    Filtering,
    Freshness,
    Citation,
    AccessControl
};

# ---------- SEMANTIC REASONING ----------
IF InformationDescribesAnotherResourceEntityOrDataset
THEN MetadataClassification := supported;

IF MetadataUsesSharedControlledVocabulary
THEN SemanticConsistency MAY_INCREASE;

IF StableIdentifierExists
THEN ResourceLinking MAY_BE MoreReliable;

IF RequiredElementMissing
THEN MetadataCompleteness SHOULD_DECREASE;

IF ResourceChanges
AND MetadataNotUpdated
THEN MetadataTimeliness SHOULD_DECREASE;

IF ConflictingMetadataValuesExist
THEN PreserveProvenance
AND ReassessConfidence;

# ---------- SEMANTIC EQUIVALENCE ----------
SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE {
    "metadata" ~= "resource descriptive data" WHEN context == resource_description;
    "metadata record" ~= "resource description record";
    "metadata element" ~= "metadata field" WHEN schema_context;
    "metadata schema" ~= "metadata specification";
    "controlled vocabulary" ~= "managed metadata vocabulary";
    "metadata crosswalk" ~= "metadata schema mapping";
    "descriptive metadata" ~= "resource discovery metadata";
    "provenance metadata" ~= "resource origin and history metadata";
}

# ---------- QUERY FLOW ----------
QUERY(q) ->
    NORMALISE(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_RESOURCE(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_METADATA_PURPOSE(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_METADATA_CATEGORY(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_SCHEMA_AND_ELEMENTS(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_VALUES_AND_IDENTIFIERS(q) ->
    IDENTIFY_PROVENANCE_RIGHTS_AND_VERSION(q) ->
    VALIDATE_METADATA(q) ->
    MAP_SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE(q) ->
    SCORE_CONFIDENCE(q) ->
    RETURN_RELEVANT_METADATA_KNOWLEDGE;

# ---------- CONFIDENCE ----------
CONFIDENCE(assertion) :=
    weighted_mean(
        source_reliability,
        metadata_accuracy,
        schema_conformance,
        provenance_quality,
        semantic_consistency,
        contextual_relevance
    );

CONFIDENCE >= 0.90 => HIGH;
CONFIDENCE >= 0.70 AND < 0.90 => MODERATE;
CONFIDENCE < 0.70 => REVIEW;

# ---------- AI CONSUMPTION ----------
AI_CONSUMPTION {
    primary_entity: Metadata;
    parse_entities: true;
    parse_relationships: true;
    preserve_relationship_direction: true;
    resolve_semantic_equivalence: true;
    execute_reasoning_rules: true;
    apply_confidence_weighting: true;
    preserve_provenance: true;
    permit_hierarchical_expansion: true;
}

# ---------- UPDATE MODEL ----------
UPDATE_MODEL {
    new_resource:
        identify
        -> assign_identifier
        -> determine_metadata_requirements
        -> create_record
        -> integrate;

    new_metadata:
        validate_element
        -> validate_value
        -> attach_provenance
        -> update_record
        -> integrate;

    schema_revision:
        preserve_previous_version
        -> update_elements
        -> update_constraints
        -> identify_affected_records
        -> validate_migration
        -> regenerate_flow_hash;

    resource_change:
        identify_changed_properties
        -> update_metadata
        -> preserve_history
        -> recompute_quality
        -> recompute_confidence
        -> integrate;

    conflict:
        preserve_provenance
        -> compare_sources
        -> adjust_confidence
        -> flag_review;
}

# ---------- FLOW HASH ----------
FLOW_HASH_INPUT :=
    DOMAIN
    + SUBDOMAIN
    + MetadataEntity
    + MetadataCategory
    + SemanticEntity
    + LifecycleEntity
    + MetadataSchema
    + MetadataValidation
    + MetadataInteroperability
    + RELATIONSHIPS
    + SEMANTIC_REASONING
    + SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE
    + UPDATE_MODEL;

FLOW_HASH :=
    HASH(FLOW_HASH_INPUT);

# ---------- TERMINAL ----------
FoundationsOfMetadata
    -> IdentifyResource
    -> DetermineMetadataPurpose
    -> SelectMetadataCategoryAndSchema
    -> CreateStructuredMetadataRecord
    -> AssignValuesAndStableIdentifiers
    -> AttachProvenanceRightsAndContext
    -> ValidateAccuracyCompletenessAndConsistency
    -> MapAcrossSchemasAndVocabularies
    -> IndexForDiscoveryAndSemanticUse
    -> PublishAndExchangeMetadata
    -> MaintainVersionAndLifecycleHistory
    -> PreserveMachineInterpretability
    -> MaintainReliableMetadataKnowledge;

END FLOW