The AnIML Ontology: Enabling Semantic Interoperability for Large-Scale Experimental Data in Interconnected Scientific Labs

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Morlidge, Wilf, Watkiss-Leek, Elliott, Hannah, George, Rostron, Harry, Ng, Andrew, Johnson, Ewan, Mitchell, Andrew, Payne, Terry R., Tamma, Valentina, de Berardinis, Jacopo
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Morlidge, Wilf
Watkiss-Leek, Elliott
Hannah, George
Rostron, Harry
Ng, Andrew
Johnson, Ewan
Mitchell, Andrew
Payne, Terry R.
Tamma, Valentina
de Berardinis, Jacopo
author_facet Morlidge, Wilf
Watkiss-Leek, Elliott
Hannah, George
Rostron, Harry
Ng, Andrew
Johnson, Ewan
Mitchell, Andrew
Payne, Terry R.
Tamma, Valentina
de Berardinis, Jacopo
contents Achieving semantic interoperability across heterogeneous experimental data systems remains a major barrier to data-driven scientific discovery. The Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML), a flexible XML-based standard for analytical chemistry and biology, is increasingly used in industrial R&D labs for managing and exchanging experimental data. However, the expressivity of the XML schema permits divergent interpretations across stakeholders, introducing inconsistencies that undermine the interoperability the AnIML schema was designed to support. In this paper, we present the AnIML Ontology, an OWL 2 ontology that formalises the semantics of AnIML and aligns it with the Allotrope Data Format to support future cross-system and cross-lab interoperability. The ontology was developed using an expert-in-the-loop approach combining LLM-assisted requirement elicitation with collaborative ontology engineering. We validate the ontology through a multi-layered approach: data-driven transformation of real-world AnIML files into knowledge graphs, competency question verification via SPARQL, and a novel validation protocol based on adversarial negative competency questions mapped to established ontological anti-patterns and enforced via SHACL constraints.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_01728
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The AnIML Ontology: Enabling Semantic Interoperability for Large-Scale Experimental Data in Interconnected Scientific Labs
Morlidge, Wilf
Watkiss-Leek, Elliott
Hannah, George
Rostron, Harry
Ng, Andrew
Johnson, Ewan
Mitchell, Andrew
Payne, Terry R.
Tamma, Valentina
de Berardinis, Jacopo
Artificial Intelligence
Achieving semantic interoperability across heterogeneous experimental data systems remains a major barrier to data-driven scientific discovery. The Analytical Information Markup Language (AnIML), a flexible XML-based standard for analytical chemistry and biology, is increasingly used in industrial R&D labs for managing and exchanging experimental data. However, the expressivity of the XML schema permits divergent interpretations across stakeholders, introducing inconsistencies that undermine the interoperability the AnIML schema was designed to support. In this paper, we present the AnIML Ontology, an OWL 2 ontology that formalises the semantics of AnIML and aligns it with the Allotrope Data Format to support future cross-system and cross-lab interoperability. The ontology was developed using an expert-in-the-loop approach combining LLM-assisted requirement elicitation with collaborative ontology engineering. We validate the ontology through a multi-layered approach: data-driven transformation of real-world AnIML files into knowledge graphs, competency question verification via SPARQL, and a novel validation protocol based on adversarial negative competency questions mapped to established ontological anti-patterns and enforced via SHACL constraints.
title The AnIML Ontology: Enabling Semantic Interoperability for Large-Scale Experimental Data in Interconnected Scientific Labs
topic Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.01728