Abstract
As ontologies grow in complexity and breadth, domain experts often struggle to understand their intricacies without the assistance of semantic experts. As a result, the ontologies themselves can become significant obstacles in constructing reusable and consistent knowledge graphs of their data following these standards. To address these challenges, this contribution presents the Semantic Reference Data Model (SRDM) modelling method, a protocol that offers a practical approach to (i) simplifying ontological complexity, (ii) standardising semantic patterns and (iii) facilitating the creation of new knowledge graphs. SRDM provides a solution for overcoming conceptual challenges by offering a catalogue of entity-based templates, whereby recognisable entities within a domain are documented in single templates composed of ready-made and distinct ontological patterns covering the entity’s most documented attributes. The limited number of elements available, the use of domain-specific language, and the correspondence between documented objects and real-world items make the SRDMs particularly easy to grasp, helping bridge the gap between semantic and domain experts. A case study is used to illustrate the framework’s application in the cultural sector, specifically highlighting the advantages obtained in documentation, data consistency, and external data ingestion. The case study demonstrates how SRDMs can vastly simplify the creation and management of knowledge graphs, helping Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage communities easily share essential and useful datasets.