[x3d-public] URL resolution problem on web3d.org - for X3D Ontology Assets

[Don Brutzman]

X3D Semantic Web Working Group:

One long-running difficulty in use of our ontology is that the URI identifier does not also map to a URL location, making it more difficult for others to inspect our ontology.  Having an actual document at the web address matching a URI encourages adoption, aids troubleshooting and is a common best practice.

Specific example are current URIs for X3D XML Schema and X3D Ontology, we are using:

PREFIX x3d:  <http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-4.0.xsd#>
PREFIX x3do: <http://www.web3d.org/semantics/ontologies/X3dOntology4.0#>

The first resolves to an actual website address but the second does not.

The request to modify web3D.org is feasible but for various reasons has been met with reluctance.

Meanwhile twp similar solutions that do not require modifying website configuration have become evident. We can align ontology address to match the stable XML schema address, namely:

PREFIX x3d:  <http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-4.0.xsd#>
PREFIX x3do: <http://www.web3d.org/specifications/ontologies/X3dOntology4.0#>

or even the simpler self-evident URL/URI pattern:

PREFIX x3d:  <http://www.web3d.org/specifications/x3d-4.0.xsd#>
PREFIX x3do: <http://www.web3d.org/specifications/X3dOntology4.0#>

This last pair seems most memorable and consistent.  Ease of maintenance and operation also helps reliability, avoiding potential failure modes.  Implementation is straightforward.

The majority of our X3D Semantic Web content is auto-generated so now is the time to resolve this naming issue before propagation takes off.  Hopefully we can place a redirect or warning at the prior website URL for anyone trying to use that.

As ever, good motivation:

* "The answer to your question is the response to the query." Jim Hendler and Dean Allemang

Request feedback so that we can discuss and reach consensus promptly, hopefully during weekly teleconference tomorrow Monday 3 FEB.

all the best, Don
-- 
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       brutzman at nps.edu
Watkins 270,  MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA   +1.831.656.2149
X3D graphics, virtual worlds, navy robotics http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman