Skip to Content

Wiki source code of 9 Concept Roles

Last modified by Artur on 2025/09/10 11:19
Show last authors
1 {{box title="**Contents**"}}
2 {{toc/}}
3 {{/box}}
4
5 == 9.1 Overview ==
6
7 The [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] [[Components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] of [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] and [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] can play a specific role in the [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] and it is important to some applications that this role is specified. For instance, the following roles are some examples:
8
9 * **Frequency **– in a [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] the content of this [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] contains information on the frequency of the observation values.
10 * **Geography** – in a [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] the content of this [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] contains information on the geographic location of the observation values.
11
12 == 9.2 Information Model ==
13
14 The Information Model for this is shown below:
15
16 [[image:1750064300151-855.png]]
17
18 **Figure 19: Information Model Extract for Concept Role**
19
20 It is possible to specify zero or more (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles for a [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]] and Data [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]]. The Time [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] has explicitly defined roles and cannot be further specified with additional (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles.
21
22 == 9.3 Technical Mechanism ==
23
24 The mechanism for maintain and using (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles is as follows:
25
26 1. A standard [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] maintained in the [[Global Registry>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Global registry.WebHome]], with the following identification: [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]]:CONCEPT_ROLES(1.0.0), shall include the default roles, specified by the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] SWG (as detailed in 9.5).
27 1. Any recognized Agency can have a [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] that contains (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) that identify (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles. Indeed, from a technical perspective any agency can have more than one of these schemes, though this is not recommended.
28 1. The [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] that contains the "role" (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) can contain (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) that do not play a role.
29 1. There is no explicit indication on the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) whether it is a 'role' (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%).
30 1. Therefore, any (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) in any [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] is capable of being a 'role' (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%).
31 1. It is the responsibility of Agencies to ensure their community knows which (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) in which [[concept schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] play a 'role' and the significance and interpretation of this role. In other words, such (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) must be known by applications, there is no technical mechanism that can inform an application on how to process such a 'role'.
32 1. If the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) referenced in the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) Identity in a [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] ([[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]] [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]]) is contained in the [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] containing (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles then the [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] could play the role implied by the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%), if this is understood by the processing application.
33 1. If the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) referenced in the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) Identity in a [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] ([[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]] [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]]) is not contained in the [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] containing (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) roles, and the [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] is playing a role, then the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) role is identified by the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) Role in the schema.
34
35 == 9.4 SDMX-ML Examples in a DSD ==
36
37 The standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]], is still a normal [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]], thus it may be used also for the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) identity of a [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]], e.g., the 'FREQ':
38
39 [[image:1750064402123-572.png]]
40
41 Given this is the standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]], any application should interpret the above [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] to have the role of Frequency.
42
43 Using a [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] that is not the standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] where it is required to assign a role using the standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. Again, FREQ is chosen as the example.
44
45 [[image:1750064426747-767.png]]
46
47 This explicitly states that this [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] is playing a role identified by the FREQ (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) in the standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. Again, the application must interpret this as a Frequency role.
48
49 In other cases where a role from a non-standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] is used, then the application has to know how to interpret the provided roles, e.g., like in the case below:
50
51 [[image:1750064451737-832.png]]
52
53 This is all that is required for interoperability within a community. Having a standard roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]], maintained by the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] SWG, allows the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] community to have a common understanding of the roles, while also being able to extend the roles in bilateral (or multilateral) agreements, by maintaining their own roles [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. This will then ensure there is interoperability between systems that understand the use of these (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%).
54
55 Note that each of the [[Components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] (Data [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]], [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]], [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]], Time [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]]) has a mandatory identity association ((% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) Identity) and if this (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) also identifies the role then it must be interpreted accordingly.
56
57 In order for these roles to be extensible and also to enable user communities to maintain community-specific roles, the roles are maintained in a controlled vocabulary which is implemented in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] as (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) in a [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. The [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] optionally references this (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) if it is required to declare the role explicitly. Note that a [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] can play more than one role and therefore multiple "role" (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) can be referenced.
58
59 == 9.5 SDMX standard roles Concept Scheme ==
60
61 As of [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0, there is a predefined [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]], with a set of (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) that are considered the standard roles for [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]]. Beyond that, a user is free to add other roles, using custom [[Concept Schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. This predefined [[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept scheme.WebHome]] is the result of the SWG guidelines for (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) Roles, plus that for [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]], and includes the following (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%):
62
63 (% style="width:1179.29px" %)
64 |(% style="width:220px" %)[[COMMENT>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Comment.WebHome]]|(% style="width:267px" %)[[Comment>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Comment.WebHome]]|(% style="width:689px" %)Descriptive text which can be attached to data or metadata.
65 |(% style="width:220px" %)ENTITY|(% style="width:267px" %)Entity|(% style="width:689px" %)Describes the subject of the [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] (e.g., a country).
66 |(% style="width:220px" %)FLAG|(% style="width:267px" %)Flag|(% style="width:689px" %)Coded [[attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] in a [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] that represents qualitative information for the cell or partial key (e.g. series) value.
67 |(% style="width:220px" %)FREQ|(% style="width:267px" %)Frequency|(% style="width:689px" %)Time interval at which the source data are collected.
68 |(% style="width:220px" %)GEO|(% style="width:267px" %)Geographical|(% style="width:689px" %)Geographic area to which the measured statistical phenomenon relates.
69 |(% style="width:220px" %)OPERATION|(% style="width:267px" %)Statistical operation|(% style="width:689px" %)Signifies statistical operations have been done on the observations.
70 |(% style="width:220px" %)VARIABLE|(% style="width:267px" %)Variable|(% style="width:689px" %)Characteristic of a unit being observed that may assume more than one of a set of values to which a numerical [[measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]] or a [[category>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Category.WebHome]] from a classification can be assigned.
71 |(% style="width:220px" %)[[MEASURE>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]]|(% style="width:267px" %)[[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]]|(% style="width:689px" %)Used for emulating the functionality of the deprecated MeasureDimension.
72 |(% style="width:220px" %)GEO_FEATU RE_SET|(% style="width:267px" %)Geographical Feature Set|(% style="width:689px" %)Georeferencing information to describe the location or the shape of a [[statistical unit>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical unit.WebHome]], recognizable object or geographical area.
73 |(% style="width:220px" %)PRIMARY|(% style="width:267px" %)Primary [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]]|(% style="width:689px" %)Used for backwards compatibility with [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 2.1 and back, or when the “Primary [[Measure>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Measure.WebHome]]” (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) is needed.