[Data-modeling] Processes

[Iain Sproat]

States would be given in the input property and output property of the
Process type.  These properties only expect a type of
Topic<http://www.freebase.com/view/common/topic>,
which doesn't explicitly declare the inputs and outputs as being a state,
but is inferred.  If a process has internal states, these can be modelled by
using the process/component_stages property.

To select a process, or sequence of processes, based on required input and
output states (say getting from Nitrogen to Nitrites in the Nitrogen
cycle) we can use a similar path-finding query as is used in
http://kevinbacon.freebaseapps.com/ where input/output replace film actors,
and process replaces films.  (Nitrogen -> Nitrogen Fixation -> Ammonium ->
Nitrification -> Nitrites).

Conditions (of both the input and environment) are a bit harder.  I have
left them out as I'm unsure how to go about modeling "If a property of the
input is greater than 100 do X, else do Y"?  Or that "the process only works
at an air humidity of 35%"?  Any suggestions would be helpful.

Also, could anyone who is familiar with biochemistry determine if the
Process model is suitable for Metabolic
pathways<http://metacyc.org/META/new-image?object=GLYCOLYSIS>?
- there is a ton of data <http://metacyc.org/download.shtml> out there. [?]

Iain

On Tue, May 12, 2009 at 10:10 AM, Jack Park <jackpark at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm trying to understand what's going on in a process. Full
> disclosure: I come from a background of applying qualitative process
> theory (Ken Forbus) to modeling processes. In the theatrical metaphor,
> qpt models actors (you have those), relations and states (I don't see
> them here), and process rules. In case based reasoning, one wants
> sufficient identifying properties so as to select the proper case
> (process); knowing, essentially, the preconditions for the process to
> occur helps; those preconditions entail relationships among the actors
> and their present states. Does it make sense to extend
> process.freebase.com in that direction (in the case it's not already
> there or I missed something)?
>
> Jack
>
> On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM, Iain Sproat <iainsproat at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > I've drafted up a (fairly abstract and ambitious) schema for modelling
> > Processes at http://process.freebase.com/ and I'd like some comments on
> it.
> >  Narphorium has something similar in his project management base.
> > I was initially trying to scheme up industrial and manufacturing
> processes
> > and came up with a basic scheme for that, but I have made some
> alterations
> > to broaden the scope and it might now also be suitable for other
> processes -
> > I've added the nitrogen cycle topic and also Software waterfall
> Model topic
> > as examples.
> > As a description of what is going on in the schema:
> > Firstly, there is a Process type, e.g. Nitrogen fixation , which has some
> > Input and Output properties (these would be typically expect a type of
> > material, but to allow for flexibility I'm only going to expect a type of
> > Topic)
> > A process can be composed of other component processes (for the Nitrogen
> > Cycle these would be Nitrogen fixation , decomposition , Nitrification
> > etc.).  Parent and component processes are linked with a Process stage
> CVT .
> > I was trying to model the order in which stages of a process occur (e.g.
> > decomposition, followed by Nitrification, followed by assimilation) by
> using
> > "previous stage" and "subsequent stage" properties - but that led to a
> CVT
> > within a CVT which the client doesn't agree with.  I've worked around
> this
> > to make Process stage have an Input and Output property, but this means
> that
> > input and outputs both need to be entered twice - once into the Process
> > topic and another time into the Process stage CVT - not ideal but it
> works.
> >
> > In the Process type there is an "Tool" property which allows for tools,
> > machinery, catalysts etc. and the entity which carries out the process to
> be
> > noted.  e.g. Nitrifying bacteria carry out Nitrification, or that Factory
> Y
> > used Tool Z to carry out Process X.
> > Finally, there is a parent-child relationship in Process which allows
> > general and specific types of processes to be linked.  e.g. The Haber
> > Process and Biological Nitrogen Fixation are both more specific processes
> of
> > the general Nitrogen Fixation process.
> > I'd welcome constructive feedback that anyone has on this.
> > Iain
> > _______________________________________________
> > Data-modeling mailing list
> > Data-modeling at freebase.com
> > http://lists.freebase.com/mailman/listinfo/data-modeling
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Data-modeling mailing list
> Data-modeling at freebase.com
> http://lists.freebase.com/mailman/listinfo/data-modeling
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.freebase.com/pipermail/data-modeling/attachments/20090512/c53ba876/attachment-0001.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 96 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.freebase.com/pipermail/data-modeling/attachments/20090512/c53ba876/attachment-0001.gif