IVOA Recommendation: Vocabularies in the Virtual Observatory Version 1.19

TL;DR

This paper defines a standard RDF/SKOS-based format for astronomical vocabularies, enabling interoperability and integration of diverse vocabularies within the Virtual Observatory using semantic web standards.

Contribution

It introduces a standardized format for vocabularies in astronomy, facilitating creation, sharing, and reuse of vocabularies across the community with open web standards.

Findings

Standard format adopted for astronomical vocabularies

Enables interoperability and integration of vocabularies

Provides examples of useful astronomical vocabularies

Abstract

This document specifies a standard format for vocabularies based on the W3C's Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS). By adopting a standard and simple format, the IVOA will permit different groups to create and maintain their own specialised vocabularies while letting the rest of the astronomical community access, use, and combine them. The use of current, open standards ensures that VO applications will be able to tap into resources of the growing semantic web. The document provides several examples of useful astronomical vocabularies.