Using Ontology Design Patterns to Define SHACL Shapes

Abstract

SHACL shapes used for validation are not related to the axioms used in ontologies used to define the instances. One of the issues with using such axioms is their dependence on concepts which may not be used within the data graph, as well as the presence of other concepts and relationships which the axioms do not cover. By contrast, an Ontology Design Pattern (ODP) contains axioms that are closer to how its instances are defined. In this position paper, we discuss the reuse of ODP axioms from modelling contexts to defining SHACL shapes, using the use-case of MicroblogEntry ODP. The aim of this approach is to foster automated generation of SHACL shapes based on contexts, represented by an ODP, defined within data graphs.