Linked Data

The term “Linked Data” refers to a set of best practices for publishing, interlinking and managing structured data on the Web. Semantic Web is an extension of the World Wide Web through recommendations set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Linked Data practices are implemented with Semantic Web technologies through which computers can query data and enable humans and machines to work in cooperation through a formalised shared meaning. Using knowledge representation formats (such as RDF, RDFS and OWL), ontologies and vocabularies to link data together, inferences can be drawn that show missing links within a given dataset and across datasets. Furthermore, used with Linked Data, SPARQL allows us to query the available information globally. Linked Data technologies enable researchers and industry to share data in ways that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). As the Web evolves from a web of documents to a Web of Data, Linked Data technologies, such as knowledge graphs, are already broadly in use in industry and research. The first part of the course introduces you to the knowledge, theory, and skills needed to work with Linked Data. We will then focus on research and industrial data applications and needs that are increasingly in demand.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Explain the data life-cycle
• Explain Linked Data technologies (Internet, Semantic Web, ontologies, graph databases), standards and recommendations (as URI, XML, RDF, OWL, SPARQL), and their use in forming a Web of Data
• Use Linked Data technologies for retrieving information in the Semantic Web (i.e. use of SPARQL)
• Use of existing vocabularies for annotating data and endpoints for finding data for a particular domain
• Develop ontologies to represent data for a particular domain
• Use reasoners for inferring new factual data from a knowledge base
• Discuss the importance of Linked Data and its contemporary views on FAIR data stewardship
• Design a Linked Data solution for a case study in a domain
• Have an overview of ongoing state-of-the-art research and research challenges in the Linked Data field

Assumed Knowledge:
Elementary computer skills.