FactGrid:Data modeling

The Problem of on-and off existence

Goths's Lodge Item:Q10575 is a typical example: it has a starting point Property:P49 but actually several new starts and more than one end Property:P50. People found a lodge, the lodge is closed (in the events of the French Revolution), it re-opens in the national wave of the Napoleonic wars, it is closed again in 1935 and re-eopened in 1949 or later or never.

Is it always the same lodge? What do we do with changing names? The German National Library creates loads of items under ever new names - and you have to make sure to get the respective successions. The alternative: If those involved wanted to state that they actually are the same people (even if that is only a fiction of continuity) let them:

The present solution: We have started to use Property:P137 "History" and Item:Q94446 "active phase":

See Item:Q10575 Lodge "Ernst zum Compaß", Gotha

We can now use qualifiers on each active phase in order to state a respective beginning and a respective end. Is this a good option? How does it work in SPARQL searches if you want to give a time line? How does the option agree with the general P49/P50 use on items?

Changing names

An organisation can run through dozens of name changes over the years - e.g. an Early Modern Publishing house with name changes whenever a father hands down the business to son, wife, son in law etc.

We are presently using Property:P57 for a history of naming but that is not ideal since usual searches will not get to the the right names at the right moment.