HERITRACE in action: the ParaText project as a case study for semantic data management in Classical Philology

2025-08-21

AI Summary

Non-technical domain experts in cultural heritage face significant barriers in adopting complex semantic web technologies. Method: This study introduces HERITRACE, a semantic data editor that integrates SHACL-driven dynamic form generation and real-time validation with an enhanced OpenCitations data model. It supports fine-grained provenance tracking, change management, and semantic consistency enforcement by unifying RDF modeling, formal SHACL constraints, and low-code interactive design. Contribution/Results: HERITRACE substantially lowers the barrier to semantic data creation and maintenance. Deployed in classical philology as the ParaText bibliographic database, it enables domain scholars—without programming expertise—to independently author, curate, and collaboratively manage high-quality semantic data. Empirical evaluation demonstrates substantial improvements in data consistency, traceability, and team collaboration efficiency.

Technology Category

• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Semantic Web
• Application Domains: Humanities & Computational Social Science
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Ontologies

Application Category

• Semantics and Knowledge: Provenance, trust, security and privacy, and ethical issues in managing semantic data
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data provenance, reliability, and authenticity
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance

Abstract

HERITRACE is a semantic data editor designed for cultural heritage institutions, addressing the gap between complex Semantic Web technologies and domain expert needs. ParaText Bibliographical Database, a specialized bibliographical database for ancient Greek exegesis, demonstrates HERITRACE's capabilities in Classical Philology. This paper examines how HERITRACE enables non-technical scholars to manage complex semantic data through SHACL-based form generation and validation, while ensuring comprehensive provenance tracking and change management via an OpenCitations Data Model adaptation.

Problem

• Bridging Semantic Web technologies with domain expert needs
• Enabling non-technical scholars to manage complex semantic data
• Ensuring provenance tracking and change management in philology

Innovation

• SHACL-based form generation and validation
• Adapted OpenCitations Data Model tracking
• Semantic editor bridging technology-expert gap