suggested revision to distribution concept, section 5

As a way to address the issues around what is a distribution, modify the
concept to mean it is an option for accessing a resource in one or more
representations.   This dodges the question of what the relationships are
between the representations and the abstract dataset concept. The conformsTo
property on the distribution could be used to point to a spec that documents
the details of the derivation of the representation.

 

Changes to Section 5 following this logic:
 
<https://rawgit.com/w3c/dxwg/dcat-issue431/dcat/index.html#Class:Distributio
n> dcat:Distribution represents an affordance for accessing one or more
representations of a dataset, for example a link to a downloadable file. 

 

A dataset is a conceptual entity, which can be accessed in one or more
representations. A distribution describes an option for accessing one or
more representations of the dataset for transfer. Access can be provided via
data distribution services. Detailed properties for a data distribution
service API are out of the scope of this version of DCAT.

 

Stephen M. Richard

US Geoscience Information Network (USGIN)

Steve.richard@usgin.org <mailto:Steve.richard@usgin.org> 

520-869-8545