Inês Koch

Abstract
Various sectors within the heritage domain have developed linked data models to describe their cultural artefacts comprehensively. Within the archival domain, ArchOnto, a data model rooted in CIDOC CRM, uses linked data to open archival information to new uses through the prism of linked data. This paper seeks to investigate the potential to use information in archival records in a larger context. It aims to leverage classes and properties sourced from repositories deemed informal due to their crowd-sourcing nature and the possibility of inconsistencies or lack of precision in the data but rich in content, such as the cases of Wikidata and DBpedia. The anticipated outcome is attaining a more comprehensive and expressive archival description, fostering enhanced understanding and assimilation of archival information among domain specialists and lay users. To achieve this, we first analyse existing archive records currently described under the ISAD(G) standard to discern the typologies of entities involved. Subsequently, we map these entities within the ArchOnto ontology and establish correspondences with alternative models. We observed that entities associated with people, places, and events benefited the most from integrating properties sourced from Wikidata and DBpedia. This integration enhanced their comprehensibility and enriched them at a semantic level. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

Abstract
Archives preserve materials that allow us to understand and interpret the past and think about the future. With the evolution of the information society, archives must take advantage of technological innovations and adapt to changes in the kind and volume of the information created. Semantic Web representations are appropriate for structuring archival data and linking them to external sources, allowing versatile access by multiple applications. ArchOnto is a new Linked Data Model based on CIDOC CRM to describe archival objects. ArchOnto combines specific aspects of archiving with the CIDOC CRM standard. In this work, we analyze the ArchOnto representation of a set of archival records from the Portuguese National Archives and compare it to their CIDOC CRM representation. As a result of ArchOnto's representation, we observe an increase in the number of classes used, from 20 in CIDOC CRM to 28 in ArchOnto, and in the number of properties, from 25 in CIDOC CRM to 28 in ArchOnto. This growth stems from the refinement of object types and their relationships, favouring the use of controlled vocabularies. ArchOnto provides higher readability for the information in archival records, keeping it in line with current standards.

Abstract
Archives are facing numerous challenges. On the one hand, archival assets are evolving to encompass digitized documents and increasing quantities of born-digital information in diverse formats. On the other hand, the audience is changing along with how it wishes to access archival material. Moreover, the interoperability requirements of cultural heritage repositories are growing. In this context, the Portuguese Archives started an ambitious program aiming to evolve its data model, migrate existing records, and build a new archival management system appropriate to both archival tasks and public access. The overall goal is to have a fine-grained and flexible description, more machine-actionable than the current one. This work describes ArchOnto, a linked open data model for archives, and rules for its automatic population from existing records. ArchOnto adopts a semantic web approach and encompasses the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model and additional ontologies, envisioning interoperability with datasets curated by multiple communities of practice. Existing ISAD(G)-conforming descriptions are being migrated to the new model using the direct mappings provided here. We used a sample of 25 records associated with different description levels to validate the completeness and conformity of ArchOnto to existing data. This work is in progress and is original in several respects: (1) it is one of the first approaches to use CIDOC CRM in the context of archives, identifying problems and questions that emerged during the process and pinpointing possible solutions; (2) it addresses the balance in the model between the migration of existing records and the construction of new ones by archive professionals; and (3) it adopts an open world view on linking archival data to global information sources.

Abstract
An institution must understand its users to provide quality services, and archives are no exception. Over the years, archives have adapted to the technological world, and their users have also changed. To understand archive users' characteristics and motivations, we conducted a study in the context of the Portuguese Archives. For this purpose, we analysed a survey and complemented this analysis with information gathered in interviews with archivists. Based on the most frequent reasons for visiting the archives, we defined six main archival profiles (genealogical research, historical research, legal purposes, academic work, institutional purposes and publication purposes), later characterised using the results of the previous analysis. For each profile, we created a persona for a more visual and realistic representation of users.

Abstract
Incorporating linked data-based models into the process of describing cultural objects is increasingly important for cultural heritage. Communities such as libraries, archives, and museums have developed and adopted models specific to their contexts. Without a trivial solution, choosing models to support more general applications is challenging. This Ph.D. aims to analyze existing solutions and practices in these domains and propose validated solutions for the discovery, access, interoperability, and reuse of cultural objects, following the FAIR principles. Transversal to the base models used, this research intends to adopt solutions that balance the simplicity of the models with the satisfaction of the requirements.