Core Ontology of Petroleum Installations (COPI)
type: Ontology
version IRI: copi.owl
contributor: Cauã Antunes
contributor: Haroldo Rojas
contributor: Mara Abel
contributor: Rafael Petry
contributor: Régis Romeu
description: BFO/IOF-Core conformant ontology of equipment classes for petroleum production plants.
license: mit
title: Ontologia Central de Plantas de Produção de Petróleo (COPI) @pt
version info: 2026-04-27
scope note: Artefatos materiais (bfo:material_entity) que (i) fazem parte de uma planta de produção de petróleo, e (ii) possuem ao menos uma função cuja realização envolve o transporte (p. ex. produção e injeção), processamento (separação e outros processos), controle, monitoramento, medição, contenção ou escoamento de material ou energia. @pt-br
scope note: COPI fornece categorias de alto nível de equipamentos definidas por função para demonstrar o mecanismo de classe definida. Os subtipos de equipamentos são anotados com referências aos termos do CFIHOS e do PCA RDL. COPI não é uma biblioteca de dados de referência; organizações devem utilizar o CFIHOS, o PCA RDL ou a ISO 14224 para classificação abrangente de equipamentos. @pt-br
scope note: COPI provides high-level equipment categories defined by function to demonstrate the defined-class mechanism. Equipment subtypes are annotated with references to CFIHOS and PCA RDL terms. COPI is not a reference data library; organizations should use CFIHOS, PCA RDL, or ISO 14224 for comprehensive equipment classification.
scope note: Material artifacts (bfo:material_entity) that (i) are part of a petroleum production plant, and (ii) bear at least one function whose realization involves the transport (e.g. production and injection), processing (separation and other processes), control, monitoring, measurement, containment or offloading of material or energy.

abstract
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: summary of the resource
usage note: This annotation is used to describe an artifact such as a vocabulary, ontology, or ontology module.
sub property of: description

contributor
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: entity responsible for making contributions to the resource

creator
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: entity responsible for making the resource
sub property of: contributor

description
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: account of the resource
usage note: This annotation is used to describe an artifact such as a vocabulary, ontology, or ontology module.
sub property of: note

issued
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: date of formal issuance of the resource
usage note: This annotation is used to describe an artifact such as a vocabulary, ontology, or ontology module.

license
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource

modified
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: date on which the resource was changed

publisher
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: entity responsible for making the resource available
usage note: Used to document the primary agent (organization or person) responsible for the resource. This will be "Industrial Ontology Foundry" for IOF artifacts.

references
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource

rights
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: information about rights held in and over the resource

source
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: related resource from which the described resource is derived
explanatory note: The intent is to provide a user with a reference as to how the thing being annotated was derived or arrived at. - The source can be a URL to a standard, common dictionary (e.g. Oxford), or similar reference. Or it can be a short description of where the entity being annotated was derived from. - The 'Source' annotation would most likely be used as an annotation on an annotation. For instance annotating a Natural Language definition annotation.

title
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: name given to the resource
usage note: Used for formal title of an artifact (but not individual elements such as classes or properties).

is defined by
definition: instance of rdf:Property that is used to indicate a resource defining the subject resource
usage note: This annotation is used to identify the machine readable resource that formally defines the subject resource. The object of an rdfs:isDefinedBy annotation must be a URL.

label
definition: instance of rdf:Property that may be used to provide a human-readable version of a resource's name
example: Example: If the IRI of a class was https://www.industrialontologies.org/ontology/core/Core/ManufacturedProduct, the rdfs:label might be 'manufactured product'
usage note: The de facto use of rdfs:label is to exactly reflect (but not necessarily be exactly the same as) the local name of an element in an ontology (i.e., in OWL the 'local name' is the final segment of the IRI after the /).

see also
definition: instance of rdf:Property that is used to indicate a resource that might provide additional information about the subject resource
usage note: The information provided via annotations in an ontology should be concise and to the point. - Additional or extended explanations, history, decisions, rationale, etc. can be placed in an ontology's External Documentation. - The External Documentation need not be elaborate. If using Github to publish an ontology is could be part of the Read.Me element. Or it could be a single document. - The object of an rdfs:seeAlso annotation must be a URL (e.g. the reference document or GitHub site of the ontology).

alternative label
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: alternative lexical label for a resource
sub property of: label

change note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: note about a modification to a concept
sub property of: note

definition
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: statement or formal explanation of the meaning of a concept
sub property of: note

editorial note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: note for an editor, translator, or maintainer of the vocabulary
sub property of: note

example
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: example of the use of a concept
usage note: Use of this annotation is optional, but recommended if it will help a user understand the intended interpretation(s). - This annotation should use at most twice with/on a notion. - Additional examples or more elaborate examples should be placed in the External Documentation (using rdfs:seeAlso).
sub property of: note

note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: general note, for any purpose

scope note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: note that helps to clarify the meaning and/or the use of a concept
usage note: Use of this annotation is optional, but recommended if it will help a user understand the scope and/or context for usage of the concept.

abbreviation
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: synonym that is an alternate short label for the resource
sub property of: alternative label

acronym
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: an abbreviation usually formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase
usage note: Use this annotation when there is a commonly accepted acronym. HOWEVER: While acronyms and other abbreviations may be provided as annotations to elements in an IOF ontology, they must NOT BE USED as part of identifiers or labels, except where they have become the primary designator for a notion where the full 'name' is no longer commonly known or recognized. (e.g. LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation; RADAR: RAdio Detection And Ranging; MODEM: Modulator-DEModulator; SCUBA: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus; etc),
sub property of: abbreviation

Axiom
annotated source: acronym
annotated property: definition
annotated target: an abbreviation usually formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym

adapted from
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: source for the resource that was modified to create the subject resource
sub property of: source

copyright
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same
usage note: This annotation is to be used for an entire ontology and not individual elements.
sub property of: rights

counter example
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: example that refutes or disproves a concept in some scenario and is intended to demonstrate how the concept might be misused
usage note: Use of this annotation is optional, but recommended if it will help a user understand the intended interpretation(s). - This annotation should use at most twice with/on a notion. - Additional examples or more elaborate examples should be placed in the External Documentation (using rdfs:seeAlso).
sub property of: note

direct source
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: definitive source of the subject resource
sub property of: source

elucidation
type: AnnotationProperty
deprecated: true
example: 'Agent' is a subclass of the BFO class 'material entity', which in turn is a subclass of the BFO class 'independent continuant', which in turn is a subclass of the BFO class 'continuant'. So the position of 'Agent' is 'material entity ← independent continuant ← continuant'.
usage note: This annotation is no longer used. The isPrimitive annotation is now set to true to indicate a primitive class when necessary and sufficient conditions can not be provided.
sub property of: definition

excerpted from
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: source of a resource that was imported unmodified from an external ontology
usage note: This annotation is to be used when an element from a non-IOF ontology is used in an IOF ontology (and the source ontology is not imported in its entirety).
sub property of: source

explanatory note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: note that provides additional explanatory information about a given notion or resource
sub property of: note

first-order logic axiom
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: logic axiom annotation written in first order logic
usage note: First-order logic axioms MAY be provided if the term is primitive ('is primitive' is true ) or non-primitive. A construct MAY include more than one first-order logic axiom annotation.
sub property of: logic axiom

first order logic definition
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: logic definition that expresses the axioms of a class or an object property in first order logic
example: An example of a First Order Logic definition for 'Product' might be (again bearing in mind the natural language terms appearing should be regarded as symbols in the IOF signature): - Continuant(x) ∧ ¬(SpecificallyDependentContinuant(x) ∨ Person(x) ∨ Organization(x)) ∧ ∃r (ProductRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x, r))
usage note: The First Order Logic Definition annotation is comprised of the (complete) necessary and sufficient conditions. - This annotation is Required for each non-primitive (aka non-axiomatic) class (i.e. unary relation) of a published IOF OWL ontology. This is the most authoritative and comprehensive definition of an IOF element. - IOF Common Logic ontologies do not require this annotation, but if included it must be logically equivalent to the Common Logic definition. - A primitive (aka axiomatic) term will not have a First Order Logic definition in either an OWL or Common Logic IOF ontology. - There should be at most one First Order Logic definition. - The specific symbols to be used for existential and universal quantification along with those for conjunction, disjunction, negation, conditional (i.e. if-then), and equivalence will be those commonly used in the mathematical formulas and statement. - Conjunction - ∧; Disjunction - ∨; Negation - ¬; Existential Quantification - ∃; Universal Quantification - ∀; Conditional - →; Equivalence - ↔; Left/Right Parentheses - (,); Left/Right Brackets - {,}.
sub property of: logic definition

is primitive
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: boolean flag indicating that necessary and sufficient conditions are not provided
usage note: 'is primitive' must be present if the term does not have necessary and sufficient conditions and the value of the annotation must be set to true. When 'is primitive' is set to true, a value for a 'primitive rationale' annotation must also be provided.

logic axiom
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: logical statements constraining the interpretation of the notion represented by the construct that do not provide necessary and sufficient conditions
explanatory note: This annotation property is an abstraction of the more specialized logic axiom annotations used in IOF. However, this annotation property can also be used to group together the logic axiom annotation values of different forms (such as FOL and natural language) that express the same meaning for a particular construct.
usage note: A first order logic axiom expression and a semi-formal natural language axiom expression should be added as Property values for each logic axiom annotation using 1 of each of the corresponding logic axiom annotation subproperties.
sub property of: note

logic definition
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: definition in the form of a logical expression
sub property of: definition

maintainer
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: entity responsible for maintaining the resource
usage note: This annotation applies to an entire IOF ontology (i.e. the file) and not to individual elements.
sub property of: contributor

maturity
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: annotation property used to indicate the development status of a resource
usage note: Any value for maturity MUST be an instance of MaturityLevel. All IOF ontologies MUST include exactly one maturity annotation. IOF constructs may include a maturity annotation.

natural language definition
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: definition written in plain text for human understanding
usage note: This annotation is Required for each non-primitive or non-axiomatic class of an IOF (OWL or Common Logic) ontology. - It is optional for primitive (aka axiomatic) classes since such the Elucidation annotation is required and will satisfy the role of a natural language definition. - It is optional, but recommended, for relations when the intent of a relation may be misunderstood. - There should be at most one. - This natural language definition should be subject matter expert friendly and consistent with any formal definition or elucidation. - Natural language definitions should use class and relation names with following caveats: a) Relations – For those relations whose label (i.e. local identifier) consist of multiple terms hyphenate the terms of the label: e.g. 'hasPlan' would be written as 'has-plan' b) Classes – For classes whose label has multiple distinct terms, e.g, ManufacturingOperationSpecification, separate the terms but bound them with apostrophe marks: 'Manufacturing Operation Specification'.
sub property of: definition

primitive rationale
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: reason why necessary and sufficient conditions could not be provided
usage note: When 'is primitive' is set to true, a value for 'primitive rationale' must be provided. The rationale should indicate what is missing if additional work is required to define necessary and sufficient conditions.
sub property of: note

replaced by
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: reference to the IRI of the target of a deprecated construct
usage note: The value of an iof-av:replacedBy annotation must be the IRI which replaces the target construct.
sub property of: see also

semi-formal natural language axiom
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: logic axiom expressed in natural language
usage note: Semi-formal natural language axioms MAY be provided if the term is primitive (is primitive is true). A construct MAY include more than one semi-formal natural language axiom annotation.
sub property of: logic axiom

semi-formal natural language definition
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: logic definition that expresses a first order logic definition or common logic definition in natural language
usage note: This annotation is required if an element in an IOF OWL ontology has a First Order Logic definition or in a IOF Common Logic (where the element is defined using Common Logic). - The intent of this annotation to provide a transition or bridge from the First Order Logic definition of a notion to the natural language definition. This definition is intended to help a user understand the intended interpretation of the notion. - As example using the First Order Logic definition of 'Product' above, a semi-formal translation of that might be: - Product =def. Continuant that is not a Person and not an Organization and not a Specifically Dependent Continuant and there is a Product Role that the thing has or bears.
sub property of: logic definition

subject matter expert explanation
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: definition of the term expressed in natural language that has the minimal usage of ontological terms and is intended to be a self-standing explanation
usage note: Usage of this annotation is optional but is recommended in cases where: - the natural language definition or elucidation rely heavily on the terms defined in the ontology - there exists an explanation of the term that is more familiar to SMEs that does not coincide with the definition present in the ontology
sub property of: definition

symbol
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: abbreviation that is a design, mark, or charaters(s) used conventionally to represent something, such as currency, quantity, or variable in an expression
example: Chemical Symbols: H, O, Mg Units of Measure: Km, Kg, G
adapted from: https://spec.edmcouncil.org/fibo/ontology/FND/Utilities/AnnotationVocabulary/
sub property of: abbreviation

synonym
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: alternative label (designation) used for the resource in some community
sub property of: alternative label

usage note
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: note that provides information about how a given notion or resource is used in the ontology's context
sub property of: note

iso15926Reference
type: AnnotationProperty

iso14224Reference
type: AnnotationProperty

cfihosReference
type: AnnotationProperty

dexpiReference
type: AnnotationProperty

poscCaesarReference
type: AnnotationProperty

has realization
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: realizes
domain: realizable entity
range: process
alternative label: realized in
definition: b has realization c =Def c realizes b
example: As for realizes
synonym: realized in

realizes
type: ObjectProperty
domain: process
range: realizable entity
definition: (Elucidation) realizes is a relation between a process b and realizable entity c such that c inheres in some d & for all t, if b has participant d then c exists & the type instantiated by b is correlated with the type instantiated by c
example: A balding process realizes a disposition to go bald; a studying process realizes a student role; a process of pumping blood realizes the pumping function of a heart
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

participates in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has participant
domain: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: generically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
range: process
definition: (Elucidation) participates in holds between some b that is either a specifically dependent continuant or generically dependent continuant or independent continuant that is not a spatial region & some process p such that b participates in p some way
preferred label: participates in at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

has participant
type: ObjectProperty
domain: process
range: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: generically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
property chain axiom: has occurrent part
definition: p has participant c =Def c participates in p
preferred label: has participant at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>
explanatory note: the IOF has decided to include transitive participation as an additional axiom of 'has participant at some time' which is reflected in the property chain associated with this property. That is, if A has an 'occurent part' B which 'has participant at some time' C then A 'has participant at some time' C.

is concretized by
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: concretizes
domain: generically dependent continuant
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
definition: c is concretized by b =Def b concretizes c
preferred label: is concretized by at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

concretizes
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
range: generically dependent continuant
definition: b concretizes c =Def b is a process or a specifically dependent continuant & c is a generically dependent continuant & there is some time t such that c is the pattern or content which b shares at t with actual or potential copies
preferred label: concretizes at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

preceded by
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: precedes
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b preceded by c =Def b precedes c
example: The temporal region occupied by the second half of the match is preceded by the temporal region occupied by the first half of the match

precedes
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: (Elucidation) precedes is a relation between occurrents o, o' such that if t is the temporal extent of o & t' is the temporal extent of o' then either the last instant of o is before the first instant of o' or the last instant of o is the first instant of o' & neither o nor o' are temporal instants
example: The temporal region occupied by Mary's birth precedes the temporal region occupied by Mary's death.
scope note: Each temporal region is its own temporal extent. The temporal extent of a spatiotemporal region is the temporal region it temporally projects onto. The temporal extent of a process or process boundary that occupies temporal region t is t.
scope note: Precedes defines a strict partial order on occurrents.
explanatory note: while the scope of BFO: precedes is occurrent, for the purposes of formalization of Allen interval algebra we have added the FOL elaborations for 'time instant' 'time interval', 'process boundary' and 'process'. For the case of other occurrents the formalization already provided by BFO (https://github.com/BFO-ontology/BFO-2020/tree/master/21838-2/pdf) should be followed.
first-order logic axiom: LA1: precedes(i,j) ∧ process(i) ∧ process(j) → ∃i1∃j1 (TemporalInterval(i1)∧TemporalInterval(j1)∧occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1)∧occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ precedes(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: precedes(i,j) ∧ ProcessBoundary(i) ∧ ProcessBoundary(j) → ∃i1∃j1 (TemporalInstant(i1)∧TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ precedes(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: precedes(i,j) ∧TemporalInstant(i) ∧TemporalInterval(j) → ∃j1(hasFirstInstant(j,j1)∧ precedes(i,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: precedes(i,j) ∧ TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInstant(j) → ∃i1(hasLastInstant(i,i1) ∧ precedes(i1,j))
first-order logic axiom: LA5: precedes (i,j) ∧TemporalInstant (i) ∧ TemporalInstant(j) → ∃k∃l(hasValueExpressionAtAllTimes(i,k) ∧ hasValueExpressionAtAllTimes(j,l) ∧ ∃v1∃v2(hasDateTimeInstantValue(k,v1) ∧ hasDateTimeInstantValue(l,v2) ∧ (v1 < v2)))
first-order logic axiom: LA6: precedes(i,j) ∧ TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ (precedes(i1,j1) ∨ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1)))
natural language definition: comes before (something) in time
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i and j are both ‘process’ and i 'precedes' j then the ‘temporal instant’ that i occupies 'precedes' ‘temporal instant’ that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If i and j are both ‘process boundary’ and i 'precedes' j then the ‘temporal instant’ that i occupies 'precedes' ‘temporal instant’ that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: if i is ‘temporal instant’ and j is ‘temporal interval’ and i 'precedes' j then i 'precedes' the 'first instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: if i is ‘temporal interval’ and j is ‘temporal instant’ and i 'precedes' j then the 'last instant of' i 'precedes' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA5: If i and j are both ‘temporal instant’ and i 'precedes' j then the 'temporal instant value expression' of i is less than the 'temporal instant value expression' of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA6: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i is 'precedes' j then the 'last instant of' i 'precedes' the 'first instant of' j or the 'last instant of' i 'occurs simultaneously with' the 'first instant of' j

occurs in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: environs
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
range: Class
  union of: site
  union of: material entity
definition: b occurs in c =Def b is a process or a process boundary & c is a material entity or site & there exists a spatiotemporal region r & b occupies spatiotemporal region r & for all time t, if b exists at t then c exists at t & there exist spatial regions s and s' where b spatially projects onto s at t & c occupies spatial region s' at t & s is a continuant part of s' at t
example: A process of digestion occurs in the interior of an organism; a process of loading artillery rounds into a tank cannon occurs in the interior of the tank

located in at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: located in
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
definition: b located in c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b and c are independent continuants and not spatial regions, and the spatial region which b occupies at t is a (proper or improper) continuant part of the spatial region which c occupies at t)

generically depends on
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: is carrier of
domain: generically dependent continuant
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
alternative label: g-depends on
definition: b generically depends on c =Def b is a generically dependent continuant & c is an independent continuant that is not a spatial region & at some time t there inheres in c a specifically dependent continuant which concretizes b at t
preferred label: generically depends on at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

is carrier of
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: generically dependent continuant
definition: b is carrier of c =Def there is some time t such that c generically depends on b at t
preferred label: is carrier of at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

exists at
type: ObjectProperty
domain: entity
range: temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) exists at is a relation between a particular and some temporal region at which the particular exists
example: First World War exists at 1914-1916; Mexico exists at January 1, 2000

has continuant part at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has continuant part
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b has continuant part c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b and c are continuants & b is a part of c at t)

has proper continuant part at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has continuant part at all times
sub property of: has proper continuant part at some time
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b has proper continuant part c at all times =Def c proper continuant part of b at all times

has material basis at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has material basis
domain: disposition
range: material entity
definition: b has material basis c at all times =Def For all times t, b exists at t implies (b is a disposition & c is a material entity & there is some d bearer of b & c continuant part of d at t & d has disposition b because c continuant part of d at t)

has member part
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has continuant part
inverse of: member part of
domain: material entity
range: material entity
definition: b has member part c =Def c member part of b
preferred label: has member part at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

has occurrent part
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: occurrent part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b has occurrent part c =Def c occurrent part of b
example: Mary's life has occurrent part Mary's 5th birthday

has proper occurrent part
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has occurrent part
inverse of: proper occurrent part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b has proper occurrent part c =Def b has occurrent part c & b and c are not identical
example: As for has occurrent part.

has temporal part
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has occurrent part
inverse of: temporal part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b has temporal part c =Def c temporal part of b
example: Your life has temporal part the first year of your life
example: Your life has temporal part the first year of your life.

location of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: located in
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
definition: b location of c =Def c located in b
preferred label: location of at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

material basis of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has material basis
domain: material entity
range: disposition
definition: b material basis of c =Def c has material basis b
preferred label: material basis of at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

member part of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: continuant part of
domain: material entity
range: material entity
definition: b member part of c =Def b is an object & c is a material entity & there is some time t such that b continuant part of c at t & there is a mutually exhaustive and pairwise disjoint partition of c into objects x1, ..., xn (for some n ≠ 1) with b = xi (for some 1 <= i <= n)
preferred label: member part of at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

occurrent part of
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: (Elucidation) occurrent part of is a relation between occurrents b and c when b is part of c
example: Mary's 5th birthday is an occurrent part of Mary's life; the first set of the tennis match is an occurrent part of the tennis match

proper temporal part of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: temporal part of
inverse of: has proper temporal part
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b proper temporal part of c =Def b temporal part of c & not (b = c)
example: As for temporal part of.

proper continuant part of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: proper continuant part of at some time
sub property of: continuant part of at all times
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b proper continuant part of c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b continuant part of c at t & not (c proper continuant part of b at t))

proper occurrent part of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: occurrent part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b proper occurrent part of c =Def b occurrent part of c & b and c are not identical
example: As for occurrent part of.

temporal part of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: occurrent part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b temporal part of c =Def b occurrent part of c & (b and c are temporal regions) or (b and c are spatiotemporal regions & b temporally projects onto an occurrent part of the temporal region that c temporally projects onto) or (b and c are processes or process boundaries & b occupies a temporal region that is an occurrent part of the temporal region that c occupies)
example: Your heart beating from 4pm to 5pm today is a temporal part of the process of your heart beating; the 4th year of your life is a temporal part of your life, as is the process boundary which separates the 3rd and 4th years of your life; the first quarter of a game of football is a temporal part of the whole game

temporally projects onto
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: spatiotemporal region
range: temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) temporally projects onto is a relation between a spatiotemporal region s and some temporal region which is the temporal extent of s
example: The world line of a particle temporally projects onto the temporal region extending from the beginning to the end of the existence of the particle

material basis of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: material basis of
domain: material entity
range: disposition
definition: b material basis of c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (c has material basis b at t)

concretizes at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: concretizes
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
range: generically dependent continuant
definition: an s-dependent continuant b concretizes a g-dependent continuant c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (c is the pattern or content which b shares at t with actual or potential copies)

is concretized by at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is concretized by
domain: generically dependent continuant
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
definition: a g-dependent continuant c is concretized by an s-dependent continuant or process b at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b concretizes c at t)

participates in at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: participates in
domain: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: generically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
range: process
definition: b participates in p at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (p has participant b at t)

has participant at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has participant
domain: process
range: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: generically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
definition: p has participant c at all times =Def for all times t, p exists at t implies (p is a process, c is a continuant, and c participates in p some way at t)

location of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: location of
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
definition: b location of c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (c located in b at t)

located in
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
definition: b located in c =Def b is an independent continuant & c is an independent & neither is a spatial region & there is some time t such that the spatial region which b occupies at t is continuant part of the spatial region which c occupies at t
preferred label: located in at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

has member part at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has continuant part at all times
sub property of: has member part
domain: material entity
range: material entity
definition: b has member part c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (c member part b at t)

member part of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: member part of
sub property of: continuant part of at all times
domain: material entity
range: material entity
definition: b member part of c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b is an object & c is an object aggregate & there is at t a mutually exhaustive and pairwise disjoint partition of c into objects x1,..., xn (for some n ≠ 1) with b = xi (for some 1 <= i <= n))

has proper continuant part at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has continuant part
inverse of: proper continuant part of at some time
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b has proper continuant part c at some time =Def c proper continuant part of b at some time

proper continuant part of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: continuant part of
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b proper continuant part of c at some time =Def for some time t (b continuant part of c at t & not (c continuant part of b at t)

continuant part of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has continuant part
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b continuant part of c =Def b and c are continuants & there is some time t such that b and c exist at t & b continuant part of c at t
example: Milk teeth continuant part of human; surgically removed tumour continuant part of organism
preferred label: continuant part of at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

continuant part of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: continuant part of
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b continuant part of c at all times =Def for all times t, (b exists at t, implies b continuant part of c at t & t is a temporal region & b and c are continuants)
example: Centre of mass of a material entity continuant part of material entity at all times; continuant fiat external boundary of an object continuant part of object at all times.

has continuant part
type: ObjectProperty
domain: continuant
range: continuant
definition: b has continuant part c =Def c continuant part of b
preferred label: has continuant part at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

has proper temporal part
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has temporal part
domain: occurrent
range: occurrent
definition: b has proper temporal part c =Def c proper temporal part of b
example: As for has temporal part.

environs
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: site
  union of: material entity
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
alternative label: contains process
definition: b environs c =Def c occurs in b
example: Mouth environs process of mastication; city environs traffic

history of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has history
type: FunctionalProperty
type: InverseFunctionalProperty
domain: history
range: material entity
definition: (Elucidation) history of is a relation between history b and material entity c such that b is the unique history of c
example: This life is the history of this organism
example: This life is the history of this organism.

has history
type: ObjectProperty
domain: material entity
range: history
definition: b has history c =Def c history of b
example: This organism has history this life

specifically depended on by
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: specifically depends on
domain: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
range: specifically dependent continuant
alternative label: s-depended on by
definition: b specifically depended on by c =Def c specifically depends on b
example: Coloured object specifically depended on by colour

specifically depends on
type: ObjectProperty
domain: specifically dependent continuant
range: Class
  union of: specifically dependent continuant
  union of: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
alternative label: s-depends on
definition: (Elucidation) specifically depends on is a relation between a specifically dependent continuant b and specifically dependent continuant or independent continuant that is not a spatial region c such that b and c share no parts in common & b is of a nature such that at all times t it cannot exist unless c exists & b is not a boundary of c
example: A shape specifically depends on the shaped object; hue, saturation and brightness of a colour sample specifically depends on each other
scope note: The analogue of specifically depends on for occurrents is has participant.

bearer of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: specifically depended on by
inverse of: inheres in
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: specifically dependent continuant
definition: b bearer of c =Def c inheres in b
example: A patch of ink is the bearer of a colour quality; an organism is the bearer of a temperature quality

inheres in
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: specifically depends on
domain: specifically dependent continuant
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
definition: b inheres in c =Def b is a specifically dependent continuant & c is an independent continuant that is not a spatial region & b specifically depends on c
example: A shape inheres in a shaped object; a mass inheres in a material entity

occupies temporal region
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
range: temporal region
definition: p occupies temporal region t =Def p is a process or process boundary & the spatiotemporal region occupied by p temporally projects onto t
example: The Second World War occupies the temporal region September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945

occupies spatiotemporal region
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
range: spatiotemporal region
definition: (Elucidation) occupies spatiotemporal region is a relation between a process or process boundary p and the spatiotemporal region s which is its spatiotemporal extent
example: A particle emitted by a nuclear reactor occupies the spatiotemporal region which is its trajectory

occupies spatial region
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: spatial region
definition: b occupies spatial region r =Def b is an independent continuant that is not a spatial region & r is a spatial region & there is some time t such that every continuant part of b occupies some continuant part of r at t and no continuant part of b occupies any spatial region that is not a continuant part of r at t
preferred label: occupies spatial region at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

occupies spatial region at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: occupies spatial region
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: spatial region
definition: an independent continuant c that is not a spatial region occupies spatial region r at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (every continuant part of c occupies some continuant part of r at t and no continuant part of c occupies any spatial region that is not a continuant part of r at t)

spatially projects onto
type: ObjectProperty
domain: spatiotemporal region
range: spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) spatially projects onto is a relation between some spatiotemporal region b and spatial region c such that at some time t, c is the spatial extent of b at t
preferred label: spatially projects onto at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

spatially projects onto at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: spatially projects onto
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: spatiotemporal region
range: spatial region
definition: b spatially projects onto c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (b is a spatiotemporal region and c is a spatial region and c is the spatial extent of b at t)

has material basis
type: ObjectProperty
domain: disposition
range: material entity
definition: b has material basis c =Def b is a disposition & c is a material entity & there is some d bearer of b & there is some time t such that c is a continuant part of d at t & d has disposition b because c is a continuant part of d at t
preferred label: has material basis at some time
scope note: Users that require more sophisticated representations of time are encouraged to import a temporal extension of BFO-Core provided by the BFO development team. See documentation for guidance: <Link>

generically depends on at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: generically depends on
domain: generically dependent continuant
range: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
alternative label: g-depends on at all times
definition: a g-dependent continuant b g-depends on an independent continuant c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (there inheres in c an s-dependent continuant which concretizes b at t)

is carrier of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is carrier of
domain: Class
  intersection of: independent continuant
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: spatial region
range: generically dependent continuant
definition: b is carrier of c at all times =Def for all times t, b exists at t implies (c g-depends on b at t)

first instant of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has first instant
domain: temporal instant
range: temporal region
definition: t first instant of t' =Def t is a temporal instant & t' is a temporal region t' & t precedes all temporal parts of t' other than t
example: An hour starting at midnight yesterday has first instant midnight yesterday

has first instant
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: temporal region
range: temporal instant
definition: t has first instant t' =Def t' first instant of t
example: The first hour of a year has first instant midnight on December 31

last instant of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has last instant
domain: temporal instant
range: temporal region
definition: t last instant of t' =Def t is a temporal instant & t' is a temporal region & all temporal parts of t' other than t precede t
example: Last midnight is the last instant of yesterday

has last instant
type: ObjectProperty
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: temporal region
range: temporal instant
definition: t has last instant t' =Def t' last instant of t
example: The last hour of a year has last instant midnight December 31

achieves at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: concretizes
inverse of: is achieved by at some time
domain: process
range: information content entity
example: The staffing and ramping up of production to 2 shifts per work day acheives the company plan of satisfying a surge in demand for its products.
first-order logic axiom: achievesAtSomeTime(x,y) → Process(x) ∧ InformationContentEntity(y) ∧ (concretizesAtSomeTime(x,y) ∨ ∃z(continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(z,y) ∧ InformationContentEntity(z) ∧ concretizesAtSomeTime(x,z)))
natural language definition: relation from a process to an information content entity wherein the process partially or fully concretizes the information content entity
semi-formal natural language axiom: x achieves at some time y holds when x is a 'process' and y is an 'information content entity' and x 'concretizes at some time' y or a 'continuant part of at all times' y

acts on behalf of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
range: Class
  union of: engineered system
  union of: group of agents
  union of: person
example: An agent acts on behalf of a business organization. A laywer acts on behalf of a person.
first-order logic axiom: actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (Person(y) ∨ GroupOfAgents(y) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ ∃p∃d(PlannedProcess(p) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(d) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧achievesAtSomeTime(p,d) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(d,y))
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to a person or a group of agents or engineered system that holds when the material entity participates in some planned process in order to fulfill an objective for the person or group of agents or engineered system
semi-formal natural language axiom: x acts on behalf of at some time y holds when x is a 'material entity' (that is not a 'fiat object part') and y is some 'person' or 'group of agents' or 'engineered system' and at some time t, there exists a 'planned process' p such that x 'participates in' p and p 'achieves at some time' some 'objective specification' d that 'generically depends on at some time' y

after
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: preceded by
inverse of: before
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: A metal surface is polished after the surface is cleaned to make it free from dust or grease; a product is manufactured after it is designed; March comes after January.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: after(x,y) ↔ before(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of i is later than the first instant of the temporal extent of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'before' and 'after' are inverse relations

before
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: precedes
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: The surface of the metal is cleaned to make it free from dust or grease before polishing; a product is designed before it can be manufactured; January comes before March.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: before(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ before(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ precedes(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ before(i,j) → TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ before(i1,j1))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of i is earlier than the first instant of the temporal extent of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i is 'before' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i is 'before' j then the 'last instant of' i 'precedes' the 'first instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i is 'before' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies is 'before' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies

capability of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has capability
domain: capability
range: independent continuant
example: turning at the maximal speed of 4000RPM is the capability of a lathe; temperature sensor has the capability to measuring temperature with a 0.01C precision is the capability of a temperature sensor; measuring pH in the range of 0-14 is the capability of a pH meter
first-order logic axiom: capabilityOf(x,y) → Capability(x) ∧ IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ inheresIn(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a capability to an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the capability specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x capability of y holds when x is a 'capability' and y is a 'independent continuant' and x is 'inheres in' y

component part of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: proper continuant part of at all times
sub property of: component part of at some time
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
range: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
example: transmission assembly is a component part of a car; engine control ;sparger is a component part of a bioreactor
first-order logic axiom: componentPartOfAtAllTimes(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ properContinuantPartOfAtAllTimes(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to another material entity that it is a proper part of at all times it exists
semi-formal natural language axiom: x component part of at all times y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'proper continuant part of at all times' y

component part of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: proper continuant part of at some time
inverse of: has component part at some time
domain: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
range: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
example: a particular chromatography column is a component part of a chromatography system during several purification cycles; a particular tool is a component part of a CNC machine while it is being used for manufacturing a particular part
explanatory note: The IOF does not consider as component part of material entities that are delineated by a non-physical (fiat) boundary from the material entity they are a part of.
first-order logic axiom: componentPartOfAtSomeTime(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ properContinuantPartOfAtSomeTime(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to another material entity that it is a proper part of at some time
semi-formal natural language axiom: x component part of at some time y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'proper continuant part of at some time' y

contains occurence of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: occurs during
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: The grinding of metal contains occurrence of sparking; a storm contains occurrences of lightning.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: containsOccurrenceOf(x,y) ↔ occursDuring(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of j is later than the first instant of the temporal extent of i and the last instant of the temporal extent of j is earlier than the last instant of the temporal extent of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'contains occurrence of' and 'occurs during' are inverse relations

denoted by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is subject of
inverse of: denotes
domain: entity
range: information content entity
example: one or more individuals are denoted by the name 'John'; vehicle is denoted by a 'vehicle identification number'; molecules with the structure CH3-CH2-OH is denoted by 'ethanol'
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an information content entity that distinguishes the entity

denotes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example: the name 'John' denotes one or more individuals that have that name; 'vehicle identification number' denotes a vehicle; 'ethanol' is a name given by IUPAC which denotes molecules with the structure CH3-CH2-OH
explanatory note: The distinguishment implied by denotes is not necessarily unique, which is why this property is not made functional. For example, a name can, at one point, 'denote' multiple individuals.
natural language definition: relation from an information content entity to an entity that the information content entity distinguishes

described by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is subject of
inverse of: describes
domain: entity
range: information content entity
example: some current event is described by the content of a newspaper article; some facility visit is described by the content of a visitor's log; some accident is described by the content of an accident report
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an information content entity that characterizes the entity

describes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example: the content of a newspaper article describes some current event; the content of a visitor's log describes some facility visit; the content of an accident report describes some accident
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: relation from an information content entity to an entity that the information content entity characterizes

designated by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: denoted by
inverse of: designates
type: InverseFunctionalProperty
domain: entity
range: information content entity
example: a Web Page's location on the internet is designated by an URL; an individual in USA is designated by SSN ; a particular lot of product is designated by a 'lot number'
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an information content entity that uniquely distinguishes the entity from other entities

designates
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: denotes
type: FunctionalProperty
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example: a URL designates the location of a Web Page on the internet;SSN designates an individual; 'lot number' designates a particular lot of product
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
explanatory note: 1. To ensure uniqueness, each information content entity can designate exactly one entity. As such, this property is made functional. 2. The uniqueness of the entity is typically within a particular context that is represented in the identification scheme that conveys the meaning of the assignment.
natural language definition: relation from an information content entity to an entity that the information content entity uniquely distinguishes from other entities

disposition of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has disposition
domain: disposition
range: independent continuant
example: the disposition to decay to an atom of element Y is the disposition of an atom of element X; the disposition to break apart is the disposition of a poorly assembled item
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000092
first-order logic axiom: dispositionOf(x,y) → Disposition(x) ∧ IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ inheresIn(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a disposition to an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the disposition specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x disposition of y holds when x is a 'disposition' and y is a 'independent continuant' and x is 'inheres in' y

function of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has function
domain: function
range: independent continuant
example: this catalysis function is a function of this enzyme
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000079
first-order logic axiom: functionOf(x,y) → Function(x) ∧ IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ inheresIn(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a function to an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x function of y holds when x is a 'function' and y is a 'independent continuant' and x is 'inheres in' y

has capability
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: capability
example: a lathe has a capability to turn at the maximal speed of 4000RPM; temperature sensor has the capability to measure temperature with a 0.01C precision; pH meter has the capability to measure pH in the range of 0-14
first-order logic axiom: hasCapability(x,y) → IndependentContinuant(x) ∧ Capability(y) ∧ bearerOf(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from an independent continuant (the bearer) to a capability, in which the capability specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has capability y holds when x is a 'independent continuant' and y is a 'capability' and x is 'bearer of' y

has component part at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has proper continuant part at all times
sub property of: has component part at some time
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
range: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
example: car has component part a chasy; a bioractor has component part a stainless steel vessel
first-order logic axiom: hasComponentPartAtAllTimes(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ hasProperContinuantPartAtAllTimes(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to another material entity that it has as a proper part at all times it exists
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has component part at all times y holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x 'has proper continuant part at all times' y

has component part at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has proper continuant part at some time
domain: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
range: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Class
    complement of: fiat object part
example: a particular chromatography column is a component part of a chromatography system has a component part a particular chromatography column during several purification cycles; a CNC machine has component part a particular tool while it is being used for manufacturing a particular part
first-order logic axiom: hasComponentPartAtSomeTime(y,x) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(x))) ∧ (MaterialEntity(y) ∧ ¬(FiatObjectPart(y))) ∧ properContinuantPartOfAtSomeTime(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to another material entity that it has as a proper part at some time
semi-formal natural language axiom: y has component part at some time x holds when x is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and y is a 'material entity' that is not a 'fiat object part' and x is 'proper continuant part of at some time' y

has disposition
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: disposition
example: An atom of element X has the disposition to decay to an atom of element Y; a poorly assembled item has the disposition to break apart
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000091
first-order logic axiom: hasDisposition(x,y) → IndependentContinuant(x) ∧ Disposition(y) ∧ bearerOf(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from an independent continuant (the bearer) to a disposition, in which the disposition specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has disposition y holds when x is a 'independent continuant' and y is a 'disposition' and x is 'bearer of' y

has function
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: function
example: this enzyme has function this catalysis function (more colloquially: this enzyme has this catalysis function)
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000085
explanatory note: A bearer can have many functions, and its functions can exist for different periods of time, but none of its functions can exist when the bearer does not exist. A function need not be realized at all the times that the function exists.
first-order logic axiom: hasFunction(x,y) → IndependentContinuant(x) ∧ Function(y) ∧ bearerOf(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from an independent continuant (the bearer) to a function, in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has function y holds when x is a 'independent continuant' and y is a 'function' and x is 'bearer of' y

has input
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has participant
inverse of: is input of
domain: process
range: continuant
example: machine learning execution process has input a dataset;fermentation process has input growth medium; additive manufacturing process has input metal powder;
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
natural language definition: relation from a process to someone or something physical or digital (continuant) that is a necessary precondition for the process to start

has measured value at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has value expression at some time
inverse of: is measured value of at some time
domain: entity
range: value expression
example: '80kg' is the value of the weight of a male human on the 5th of October 2022; '37C' is the temperature inside a bioreactor in the 30th min from the process start
natural language definition: relation from an entity to a value expression that contains the value of the entity measured at some time t

has output
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has participant
inverse of: is output of
domain: process
range: continuant
example: chemical manufacturing process has output a wastestream; toluene manufacturing process has output a certain quantity of toluene; car manufacturing process has output a car
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
explanatory note: By introducing the condition that it must exist at the end of the process materials that only transitively exist during the process (e.g., reaction intermediary) are excluded from being considered the output.
natural language definition: relation from a process to someone or something physical or digital (continuant) that participates in the process such that it is generated or modified during the process, and that it exists at the end of the process

has process characteristic
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: process characteristic of
domain: process
range: process characteristic
example: product production process has process characteristic constant production rate; heating process has process characteristic temperature change of 5F/min
natural language definition: relation between a process and its characteristic

has quality
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
inverse of: quality of
domain: independent continuant
range: quality
example: this apple has quality this red color
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000086
explanatory note: A bearer can have many qualities, and its qualities can exist for different periods of time, but none of its qualities can exist when the bearer does not exist.
first-order logic axiom: hasQuality(x,y) → IndependentContinuant(x) ∧ Quality(y) ∧ bearerOf(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from an independent continuant (the bearer) to a quality, in which the quality specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has function y holds when x is a 'independent continuant' and y is a 'quality' and x is 'bearer of' y

has role
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
inverse of: role of
domain: independent continuant
range: role
example: this person has role this investigator role (more colloquially: this person has this role of investigator)
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000087
explanatory note: A bearer can have many roles, and its roles can exist for different periods of time, but none of its roles can exist when the bearer does not exist. A role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
first-order logic axiom: hasRole(x,y) → IndependentContinuant(x) ∧ Role(y) ∧ bearerOf(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from an independent continuant (the bearer) to a role, in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x has role y holds when x is a 'independent continuant' and y is a 'role' and x is 'bearer of' y

has specified output
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has output
inverse of: is specified output of
domain: planned process
range: continuant
example: biopharmaceutical production process has specified output an antibody solution of 99.999% purity; a simulation execution has specified output a prediction of part porosity; a temperature measurement process has specified output a temperature measurement result; a car manufacturing process has specified output a car
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0000299
explanatory note: this relation was added to specifically model the outputs that are not byproducts/wasteproducts
first-order logic axiom: hasSpecifiedOutput(x,y) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ Continuant(y) ∧ ∃o(ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ prescribes(o,y) ∧ achievesAtSomeTime(x,o) ∧ hasOutput(x,y))
natural language definition: relation from a planned process to someone or something physical or digital (continuant) that is produced or modified in the planned process as prescribed by an objective
semi-formal natural language axiom: x 'has specified output' y holds when x is a 'planned process' and y is a 'continuant' and x 'has output' y and y is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' which x 'achieves at some time'
synonym: has intended output

has value expression at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has value expression at some time
inverse of: is value expression of at all times
domain: entity
range: value expression
example: speed of light in a vacuum has value expression 3×10^8 m/s ; electric charge carried by a single proton has the value expression 1.602176634×10−19 coulombs
natural language definition: relation from an entity to a value expression that contains the value of the entity which does not change during the entire existence of the entity

has value expression at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: described by
inverse of: is value expression of at some time
domain: entity
range: value expression
example: the diameter of a screw head has value expression 1cm that is specified in its design; a bioreactor has value expression 37C that was measured during the production process; "low risk" is the value expression of a process parameter "low risk" that is based on the risk analysis classification scheme; an antibody has value expression 3 g/l that was generated by a process simulation
explanatory note: determined in this context can be interpreted as either being simulated or being measured
natural language definition: relation from an entity to a value expression that contains the value of the entity determined or set at some time t

is about
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: is subject of
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example: a temperature recording is about temperature; SSN is about a particular individual; commercial service agreement is about a commercial service
adapted from: IAO:http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000136 and CCO:http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: primitive, generic relationship between an information content entity and some entity

is achieved by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is concretized by
domain: information content entity
range: process
example: The company plan of satisfying a surge in demand for its products is achieved by the staffing and ramping up of production to 2 shifts per work day.
first-order logic axiom: isAchievedByAtSomeTime(y,x) → Process(x) ∧ InformationContentEntity(y) ∧ (concretizesAtSomeTime(x,y) ∨ ∃z(continuantPartOf(z,y) ∧ InformationContentEntity(z) ∧ concretizesAtSomeTime(x,z)))
natural language definition: relation from an information content entity to a process that partially or fully concretizes the information content entity
semi-formal natural language axiom: y is achieved by at some time x holds when x is a 'process' and y is an 'information content entity' and x 'concretizes' y or a 'continuant part of' y, at some time t

is available to at some time
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: site
  union of: material entity
range: agent
example: a roll of aluminum (resource) is avaiable to an agent to use in a forming process, a milling workstation (resource) is available to a manufacturer to produce some parts
explanatory note: this definition of 'is available to' is not the same as the state of availability e.g a machine is idle hence it is in the available state
first-order logic axiom: isAvailableToAtSomeTime(x,y) → (MaterialEntity(x) ∨ Site(x)) ∧ Agent(y) ∧ ∃p∃o∃c(Process(p) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ Capability(c) ∧ hasCapability(x,c) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(o,y) ∧ (realizes(p,c) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p)→ AchievesAtSomeTime(p,o)))
natural language definition: relation from a material entity or physical location to an agent that holds when the material entity or physical location have a capability that is needed by the agent to fulfil some objective carried by the agent
semi-formal natural language axiom: x is available at some time y holds when x is a 'material entity' or 'site' and y is an 'agent' and x 'has capability' some 'capability' which when 'realized in' some 'process' p that y 'participates in at some time' implies that p 'achieves at some time' some 'objective specification' that 'generically depends on at some time' y

is input of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: participates in
domain: continuant
range: process
example: a dataset is an input of a machine learning execution process; growth medium is an input of a fermentation process; metal powder is an input of an additive manufacturing process;
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
natural language definition: relates someone or something physical or digital (continuant) to a process that it is a necessary precondition for the process to start

is measured value of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is value expression of at some time
domain: value expression
range: entity
example: '80kg' is the measured weight of a particular male human
natural language definition: relation from a value expression to the entity indicating that the value expression contains the value of the entity measured at some time t

is output of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: participates in
domain: continuant
range: process
example: wastestream is an output of a chemical manufacturing process; a certain quantity of toluene is an output of a toluene manufacturing process; a car is an output of a car manufacturing process
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ExtendedRelationOntology
natural language definition: relation from someone or something physical or digital (continuant) to a process that it participates in such that it is generated or modified during the process, and it exists at the end of the process

is specified output of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is output of
domain: continuant
range: planned process
example: antibody solution of 99.999% purity is the specified output of a biopharmaceutical production process; prediction of part porosity is a specified output of a simulation execution; temperature measurement result is the specified output of a temperature measurement process; a car is the specified output of a car manufacturing process
first-order logic axiom: isSpecifiedOutputOf(y,x) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ Continuant(y) ∧ ∃o(ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ prescribes(o,y) ∧ achievesAtSomeTime(x,o) ∧ hasOutput(x,y))
natural language definition: relation from someone or something physical or digital (continuant) to a planned process in which it is produced or modified as prescribed by some objective
semi-formal natural language axiom: y 'has specified output' x holds when x is a 'planned process' and y is a 'continuant' and x 'has output' y and y is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' which x 'achieves at some time'
synonym: is intended output of

is subject of
type: ObjectProperty
domain: entity
range: information content entity
example: temperature is subject of temperature recording; particular individual is subject of SSN; commercial service is subject of commercial service agreement
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: primitive, generic relationship between an entity and some information content entity

is temporally overlapped by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: temporally overlaps
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: When two plates are being welded at a joint, the heating of current point being welded is temporally overlapped by the cooling of a previously welded point; the receiving process is temporally overlapped by the sending process in a transaction process; Sumerian civilization (c. 3500 BCE - c. 2000 BCE) in Mesopotamia was temporally overlapped by Ancient Egyptian civilization (c. 3000 BCE - 30 BCE).
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: isTemporallyOverlappedBy(x,y) ↔ temporallyOverlaps(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals and processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of j is earlier than and the last instant of the temporal extent of j is later than the first instant of the temporal extent of i, and the last instance of the temporal extent of j is earlier than the last instant of the temporal extent of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'is temporally overlapped by' and 'temporally overlaps' are inverse relations

is value expression of at all times
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is value expression of at some time
domain: value expression
range: entity
example: 3×10^8 m/s is the value expression of the speed of light in a vacuum; 1.602176634×10−19 coulombs is the value expression of the electric charge carried by a single proton
natural language definition: relation from a value expression to an entity indicating that the value expression contains the value of the entity which does not change during the entire existence of the entity

is value expression of at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: describes
domain: value expression
range: entity
example: 1cm is the value expression of the diameter of a screw head that is specified in its design; 37C is the value expression of the temperature of a bioreactor measured during the production process; "low risk" is the value expression of a process parameter based on the risk analysis classification scheme; 3 g/l is the value expression of titer of an antibody generated by a process simulation
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0001938
natural language definition: relation from a value expression to the entity indicating that the value expression contains the value of the entity determined or set at some time t

measured by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: measures at some time
domain: entity
range: material entity
example: the temperature within a production vessel is measured by a temperature sensor at certain points in time during a chemical production process; the weight of a material bulk is measured by a scale
natural language definition: relation from an entity to a material entity with a measurement capability that got realized to determine the value of the entity, at some time

measures at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: material entity
range: entity
example: a tempearture sensor measures the temperature within a production vessel at certain points in time during the chemical production process; a scale measures the weight of a material bulk
explanatory note: In this context, value is always determined relative to some classification scheme or on a quantitative scale
natural language definition: relation from a material entity to an entity indicating that the measurement capability of the material entity got realized to determine the value of the entity, at some time

meets
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: precedes
inverse of: met by
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: When an item is placed on a moving conveyor by a robotic arm, the process of placing the item meets the process of moving the item; summer meets fall; January meets February; the Christmas holiday period meets New Year’s holiday period.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: meets(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ meets(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ meets(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ meets(i1,j1))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of i is the same as the first instant of the temporal extent of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i 'meets' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i 'meets' j then the 'last instant of' i 'occurs simultaneously with' the 'first instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i 'meets' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies 'meets' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies

met by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: preceded by
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: When an item is placed on a moving conveyor by a robotic arm, the process of moving of the item is met by the process of placing the item; fall is met by summer; February is met by January; the New Year’s holiday period is met by the Christmas holiday period.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: metBy(x,y) ↔ meets(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of j is the same as the first instant of the temporal extent of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'met by' and 'meets' are inverse relations

observed by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: observes at some time
domain: entity
range: agent
example: a chemical reaction in an experiment is observed by a scientist, a machining process is observed by an operator, a group of COVID patients are observed by a doctor
first-order logic axiom: observedByAtSomeTime (y, x) → Agent(x) ∧ Entity(y) ∧ ∃p∃i(Process(p) ∧ InformationContentEntity(i) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧ hasOutput(p,i) ∧ isAbout(i,y))
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an agent indicating that the agent participates in some process that outputs information about the entity, at some time
semi-formal natural language axiom: p is observed by b at some time t holds when p is an 'entity' and b is an 'agent' and there is a 'process' in which b 'participates in at some time' and that 'has output' some 'information content entity' that 'is about' p

observes at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: agent
range: entity
example: a scientist observing a chemical reaction in an experiment, an operator observes a machining process, a doctor observes a group of COVID patients
explanatory note: this property was not put under participates in at some time because the target of observation can be continuant or an occurent and in the case of an occurent an agent that observes the occurent might not participate in that occurent
first-order logic axiom: observesAtSomeTime (x, y) → Agent(x) ∧ Entity(y) ∧ ∃p∃i(Process(p) ∧ InformationContentEntity(i) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧ hasOutput(p,i) ∧ isAbout(i,y))
natural language definition: relation from an agent to an entity indicating that the agent participates in some process that outputs information about the entity, at some time
semi-formal natural language axiom: b observes p at some time t when b is an 'agent' and p is an 'entity and there is a 'process' in which b 'participates in at some time' and that 'has output' some 'information content entity' that 'is about' p

occurs during
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: The final inspection and removal of defective products occur during the product is being moved to the packaging station by a conveyor belt; a sensor measures the thickness of the wall during the sand-grinding process; turkey is traditionally served during dinners on Thanksgiving In the United States.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: occursDuring(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ occursDuring(i,j) → ∃i1∃i2∃j1∃j2(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(i2) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(j,j2) ∧ precedes(j1,i1) ∧ precedes(i2,j2))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ occursDuring(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ occursDuring(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: occursDuring(i,j) ↔ ∃k(temporallyFinishes(i,k) ∧ temporallyStarts(k,j))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of i is later than the first instant of the temporal extent of j and the last instant of the temporal extent of i is earlier than the last instant of the temporal extent of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i 'occurs during' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i 'occurs during' j' then first instant of' j ‘precedes’ the 'first instant of' i and the 'last instant of' i ‘precedes’ the 'last instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i 'occurs during' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies 'occurs during' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: i 'occurs during' j if and only if there exists k such that i temporally finishes k and k temporally starts j

occurs simultaneously with
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
type: SymmetricProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
  union of: temporal interval
  union of: temporal instant
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
  union of: temporal interval
  union of: temporal instant
example: The rotation of the chuck in a lathe occurs simultaneously with the running of the motor.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: occursSimultaneouslyWith(i,j) → (TemporalInstant(i) ∧ TemporalInstant(j)) ∨ (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j)) ∧ (ProcessBoundary(i) ∧ ProcessBoundary(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInstant(i) ∧ TemporalInstant(j) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i,j) → ∃k∃l(TemporalInstantValueExpression(k) ∧ TemporalInstantValueExpression(l) ∧ hasValueExpressionAtAllTimes(i,k) ∧ hasValueExpressionAtAllTimes(j,l) ∧ ∃v1∃v2(hasDateTimeInstantValue(k,v1) ∧ hasDateTimeInstantValue(l,v2) ∧ (v1 = v2)))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i,j) → ∃i1∃i2∃j1∃j2(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ TemporalInstant(i2) ∧ TemporalInstant(j2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(j,j2) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i2,j2))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA5: ProcessBoundary(i) ∧ ProcessBoundary(j) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two time instants when they are simultaneous or between two intervals when they have same first and last instants or between two processes or two process boundaries when their temporal extents are the same
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if i 'occurs simultaneously with' j then either i and j are both ‘temporal instant’, or both are ‘temporal interval’ or both are ‘process’ or both are ‘process boundary’
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are both ‘temporal instant’ and i 'occurs simoultaneously with' j then 'temporal instant value expression' of i is equal to the 'temporal instant value expression' of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If i and j are both ‘temporal interval’ and i 'occurs simoultaneously with' j then the 'first instant of' i 'occurs simoultaneously with' the 'first instant of' j and the 'last instant of' i 'occurs simoultaneously with' the 'last instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: If both i and j are ‘process’ and i 'occurs simoultaneously with' j then the ‘temporal interval’ occupied by i ‘occurs simoultaneously with’ the ‘temporal interval’ occupied by j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA5: If i and j are both ‘process boundary’ and i 'occurs simoultaneously with' j then the ‘temporal instant’ that i occupies 'occurs simoultaneously with' ‘temporal instant’ that j occupies

prescribed by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is subject of
inverse of: prescribes
domain: entity
range: information content entity
example: some Artifact or Facility is modeled by a blueprint; a set of rules to be followed while acting in a role within a profession are prescribed by a professional code of conduct; tasks that need to be performed to achieve the Objectives of the Operation are prescribed by the Operation Plan
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an information content entity that the information content entity serves as a collection of rules or guide for if the entity is something that unfolds in time (occurrent), or as a model if the entity is someone or something physical or digital (continuant)

prescribes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example: a blueprint serves as a model of some Artifact or Facility; a professional code of conduct serves as a set of rules to be followed while acting in a role within that profession; an Operations Plan serves as a guide for the tasks that need to be performed to achieve the Objectives of the Operation
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
natural language definition: relation from an information content entity to an entity such that the information content entity serves as a collection of rules or guide for the entity if the entity is something that unfolds in time (occurrent), or as a model if the entity is someone or something physical or digital (continuant)

process characteristic of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: process characteristic
range: process
example: constant production rate is the process characteristic of a product production process; temperature change of 1C/min is the process characteristic of a heating process
natural language definition: relation between a characteristic and the process it is a characteristic of

quality of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
domain: quality
range: independent continuant
example: this red color is a quality of this apple
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000080
first-order logic axiom: qualityOf(x,y) → Quality(x) ∧ IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ inheresIn(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a quality to an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the quality specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x disposition of y holds when x is a 'quality' and y is a 'independent continuant' and x is 'inheres in' y

recognized by at some time
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: recognizes at some time
domain: entity
range: agent
example: a failure event is recognized by an operator that results in information about the event such as the time of occurrence and the description about the failure; a defect on a part is recognized by a quality control engineer that results in information about the defect such as the nature of the defect and the cause of the defect
natural language definition: relation from an entity to an agent that is able to describe the entity or is able to associate an information content entity that describes the entity, at some time

recognizes at some time
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: agent
range: entity
example: operator recognizes a failure event that results in information about the event such as the time of occurrence and the description about the failure, a quality control engineer recognizes a defect on a part that results in information about the defect such as the nature of the defect and the cause of the defect
explanatory note: Recognition is preceded by an observation of an entity that is related to the entity being recognized or the entity being recognized is an entity that is an attribute of the entity being observed
explanatory note: this property was not put under participates in at some time because the target of recognition can be continuant or an occurent and in the case of an occurent an agent that recognizes the occurent might not participate in that occurent
natural language definition: relation from an agent to an entity that the agent is able to describe the entity or is able to associate an information content entity that describes the entity, at some time

requirement satisfied by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: satisfies requirement
domain: requirement specification
range: entity
example: a UML requirement specification is satisfied by a a piece of software; functional requirement specification of a car is satisfied by its desgn specification
natural language definition: relation from a requirement specification to an entity that conforms to the requirement specification

role of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
domain: role
range: independent continuant
example: this investigator role is a role of this person
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/RO_0000081
first-order logic axiom: roleOf(x,y) → Role(x) ∧ IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ inheresIn(x,y)
natural language definition: relation from a role to an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: x disposition of y holds when x is a 'role' and y is a 'independent continuant' and x is 'inheres in' y

satisfies requirement
type: ObjectProperty
domain: entity
range: requirement specification
example: a piece of software satisfies a UML requirement specification, a design specification of a car satisfies its functional requirement specification
natural language definition: relation from an entity to a requirement specification that the entity conforms to

temporally finished by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: temporally finishes
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: A delivery process is temporally finished by the generation of “proof of delivery”; a football match is temporally finished by the Referee’s final whistle; every week is temporally finished by a Sunday.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: temporallyFinishedBy(x,y) ↔ temporallyFinishes(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of j is the same as the last instant of the temporal extent of i and the first instant of i is precedes the first instant of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'temporally finished by' and 'temporally finishes' are inverse relations

temporally finishes
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: The generation of “proof of delivery” temporally finishes the delivery process; Referee’s final whistle temporally finishes the football match; Sunday temporally finishes the week.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: temporallyFinishes(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ temporallyFinishes(i,j) → ∃i1∃i2∃j1∃j2(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(i2) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(j,j2) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i2,j2) ∧ precedes(j1,i1))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ temporallyFinishes(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ temporallyFinishes(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: temporallyFinishes(i,j) ↔ ∃k∃l(meets(i,k)∧meets(j,k) ∧ before(l,i) ∧ meets(l,j))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the last instant of the temporal extent of i is the same as the last instant of the temporal extent of j and the first instant of j is precedes the first instant of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i 'temporally finishes' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i 'temporally finishes' j then the 'last instant’ of i ‘occurs simultaneously with’ the 'last instant of' j and the 'first instant of' j 'precedes' the 'first instant’ of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i 'temporally finishes' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies 'temporally finishes' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: i 'temporally finishes' j if and only if there exists k such that i 'meets' k and j 'meets' k, and there exists l that is 'before' i and 'meets' j

temporally overlaps
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: When two plates are being welded at a joint, the cooling of a previously welded point temporally overlaps the heating of the point which is currently being welded; the sending process temporally overlaps the receiving process in a transaction process; Ancient Egyptian civilization (c. 3000 BCE - 30 BCE) temporally overlapped the Sumerian civilization (c. 3500 BCE - c. 2000 BCE) in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600 BCE - c. 1900 BCE) in South Asia.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: temporallyOverlaps(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ temporallyOverlaps(i,j) → ∃i1∃i2∃j1∃j2(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(i2) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(j,j2) ∧ precedes(j1,i2) ∧ precedes(i1,j1) ∧ precedes(i2,j2))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ temporallyOverlaps(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ temporallyOverlaps(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: temporallyOverlaps(i,j) ↔ ∃k(temporallyFinishes(k,i) ∧ starts(k,j))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals and processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of i is earlier than and the last instant of the temporal extent of i is later than the first instant of the temporal extent of j, and the last instance of the temporal extent of i is earlier than the last instant of the temporal extent of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i 'temporally overlaps' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i 'temporally overlaps' j then the 'first instant’ of j ‘precedes’ the 'last instant of' i and the 'first instant of' i ‘precedes’ the 'first instant’ of j and the 'last instant of' i ‘precedes’ the 'last instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i 'temporally overlaps' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies 'temporally overlaps' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: i 'temporally overlaps' j if and only if there exists k that 'temporally finishes' i and 'temporally starts' j

temporally started by
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: topObjectProperty
inverse of: temporally starts
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: An internal combustion engine is temporally started (running) by the process of cranking; some machine is temporally started (running) by pressing a switch; every year is temporally started by the New Year’s Day.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: temporallyStartedBy(x,y) ↔ temporallyStarts(y,x)
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of j is the same as first the instant of the temporal extent of i and the last instant of j precedes the last instant of i
semi-formal natural language axiom: 'temporally started by' and 'temporally starts' are inverse relations

temporally starts
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
domain: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
range: Class
  union of: process
  union of: temporal interval
example: the process of cranking temporally starts (the running of) an internal combustion engine; the pressing of a switch temporally starts (the running of) some machine; the New Year’s Day temporally starts a year.
adapted from: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/182.358434
first-order logic axiom: LA1: temporallyStarts(i,j) → (TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j)) ∨ (Process(i) ∧ Process(j))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: TemporalInterval(i) ∧ TemporalInterval(j) ∧ temporallyStarts(i,j) → ∃i1∃i2∃j1∃j2(TemporalInstant(i1) ∧ TemporalInstant(i2) ∧ TemporalInstant(j1) ∧ TemporalInstant(j2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(i,i1) ∧ hasLastInstant(i,i2) ∧ hasFirstInstant(j,j1) ∧ hasLastInstant(j,j2) ∧ occursSimultaneouslyWith(i1,j1) ∧ precedes(i2,j2))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: Process(i) ∧ Process(j) ∧ temporallyStarts(i,j) → ∃i1∃j1(TemporalInterval(i1) ∧ TemporalInterval(j1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(i,i1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(j,j1) ∧ temporallyStarts(i1,j1))
first-order logic axiom: LA4: temporallyStarts(i,j) ↔ ∃k∃l(meets(k,i) ∧ meets(k,j) ∧ before(i,l) ∧ meets(j,l))
natural language definition: relation that holds between two intervals or processes i and j when the first instant of the temporal extent of i is the same as first the instant of the temporal extent of j and the last instant of i precedes the last instant of j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: If i 'temporally starts' j then either both are 'temporal intervals' or both are 'process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: If both i and j are 'temporal intervals' and i 'temporally starts' j then the 'first instant’ of i ‘occurs simultaneously with’ the 'first instant of' j and the 'last instant of' i 'precedes' the 'last instant of' j
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: If both i and j are 'process' and i 'temporally starts' j then the 'temporal interval' that i occupies 'temporally starts' the 'temporal interval' that j occupies
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA4: i 'temporally starts' j if and only if there exists k that 'meets' i and j and there exists l such that i is 'before' l and j 'meets' l

has date-time instant value
type: DatatypeProperty
sub property of: has simple expression value
domain: temporal instant value expression
range: dateTime
example: The time point at 16:30pm at UTC on 3rd March 2023 is asserted by the associated (‘is value expression of at all times’) ‘temporal instant value expression’ having date-time value (‘has date-time instant value’) 2023-03-03T16:30:00Z.
explanatory note: 1. This data property may be used to specify a ‘temporal instant value expression’ in XSD date-time format (e.g., 2002-10-10T17:00:00Z). For a detailed description of xsd:DateTime, see https://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema-2/#dateTime. 2. While comparing two ‘temporal instant value expression’, it is important to make sure that their date-time expressions are given in the same calendar and clock system. 3. For detailed expression of date and time in a specific calendar system, use a suitable subclass of TemporalPosition class from Time ontology (https://www.w3.org/TR/owl-time/) instead of ‘temporal instant value expression’ (see mapping file https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/core/commonstocoremapping/MappingOWLTimeToIOF/).
natural language definition: data property that relates a time instance value to a XSD date-time

has simple expression value
type: DatatypeProperty
sub property of: topDataProperty
domain: value expression
example: value expression with the unit 'C' that is the value expression of temperature has simple expression value "37"
explanatory note: 1. the literal represents the magnitude or a category within a classification scheme of an entity that the value expression is the value expression of 2. The label 'simple expression' was chosen due to the possiblity of introduction of a 'complex expression' object property in the future release that would be utilized for representation of things such as mathematical formulas
natural language definition: data property that relates a value expression to a literal

entity
type: Class
definition: (Elucidation) An entity is anything that exists or has existed or will exist
example: Julius Caesar; the Second World War; your body mass index; Verdi's Requiem

continuant
type: Class
subclass of: entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: continuant part of
  all values from: continuant
disjoint with: occurrent
definition: (Elucidation) A continuant is an entity that persists, endures, or continues to exist through time while maintaining its identity
example: A human being; a tennis ball; a cave; a region of space; someone's temperature

occurrent
type: Class
subclass of: entity
definition: (Elucidation) An occurrent is an entity that unfolds itself in time or it is the start or end of such an entity or it is a temporal or spatiotemporal region
example: As for process, history, process boundary, spatiotemporal region, zero-dimensional temporal region, one-dimensional temporal region, temporal interval, temporal instant.

independent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: continuant part of
  all values from: independent continuant
definition: b is an independent continuant =Def b is a continuant & there is no c such that b specifically depends on c or b generically depends on c
example: An atom; a molecule; an organism; a heart; a chair; the bottom right portion of a human torso; a leg; the interior of your mouth; a spatial region; an orchestra

spatial region
type: Class
subclass of: immaterial entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: continuant part of
  all values from: spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A spatial region is a continuant entity that is a continuant part of the spatial projection of a portion of spacetime at a given time
example: As for zero-dimensional spatial region, one-dimensional spatial region, two-dimensional spatial region, three-dimensional spatial region

temporal region
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occurrent part of
  all values from: temporal region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: temporal part of
  all values from: temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A temporal region is an occurrent over which processes can unfold
example: As for zero-dimensional temporal region and one-dimensional temporal region

two-dimensional spatial region
type: Class
subclass of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: Class
    union of: two-dimensional spatial region
    union of: zero-dimensional spatial region
    union of: one-dimensional spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A two-dimensional spatial region is a spatial region that is a whole consisting of a surface together with zero or more surfaces which may have spatial regions of lower dimension as parts
example: The surface of a sphere-shaped part of space; an infinitely thin plane in space

spatiotemporal region
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occurrent part of
  all values from: spatiotemporal region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: temporal part of
  all values from: spatiotemporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A spatiotemporal region is an occurrent that is an occurrent part of spacetime
example: The spatiotemporal region occupied by the development of a cancer tumour; the spatiotemporal region occupied by an orbiting satellite
scope note: 'Spacetime' here refers to the maximal instance of the universal spatiotemporal region.

process
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  all values from: Class
    union of: process
    union of: process boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occurrent part of
  all values from: process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: temporal part of
  all values from: process
alternative label: event
definition: (Elucidation) p is a process means p is an occurrent that has some temporal proper part and for some time t, p has some material entity as participant
example: An act of selling; the life of an organism; a process of sleeping; a process of cell-division; a beating of the heart; a process of meiosis; the taxiing of an aircraft; the programming of a computer

disposition
type: Class
subclass of: realizable entity
disjoint with: role
alternative label: internally-grounded realizable entity
definition: (Elucidation) A disposition b is a realizable entity such that if b ceases to exist then its bearer is physically changed & b's realization occurs when and because this bearer is in some special physical circumstances & this realization occurs in virtue of the bearer's physical make-up
example: An atom of element X has the disposition to decay to an atom of element Y; the cell wall is disposed to transport cellular material through endocytosis and exocytosis; certain people have a predisposition to colon cancer; children are innately disposed to categorize objects in certain ways

realizable entity
type: Class
subclass of: specifically dependent continuant
disjoint with: quality
definition: (Elucidation) A realizable entity is a specifically dependent continuant that inheres in some independent continuant which is not a spatial region & which is of a type some instances of which are realized in processes of a correlated type
example: The role of being a doctor; the role of this boundary to delineate where Utah and Colorado meet; the function of your reproductive organs; the disposition of your blood to coagulate; the disposition of this piece of metal to conduct electricity

zero-dimensional spatial region
type: Class
subclass of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: zero-dimensional spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A zero-dimensional spatial region is one or a collection of more than one spatially disjoint points in space
example: The spatial region occupied at some time instant by the North Pole

quality
type: Class
subclass of: specifically dependent continuant
definition: (Elucidation) A quality is a specifically dependent continuant that, in contrast to roles and dispositions, does not require any further process in order to be realized
example: The colour of a tomato; the ambient temperature of this portion of air; the length of the circumference of your waist; the shape of your nose; the shape of your nostril; the mass of this piece of gold

specifically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
definition: b is a specifically dependent continuant =Def b is a continuant & there is some independent continuant c which is not a spatial region & which is such that b specifically depends on c
example: (with multiple bearers) John's love for Mary; the ownership relation between John and this statue; the relation of authority between John and his subordinates
example: (with one bearer) The mass of this tomato; the pink colour of a medium rare piece of grilled filet mignon at its centre; the smell of this portion of mozzarella; the disposition of this fish to decay; the role of being a doctor; the function of this heart to pump blood; the shape of this hole

role
type: Class
subclass of: realizable entity
alternative label: externally-grounded realizable entity
definition: (Elucidation) A role b is a realizable entity such that b exists because there is some single bearer that is in some special physical, social, or institutional set of circumstances in which this bearer does not have to be & b is not such that, if it ceases to exist, then the physical make-up of the bearer is thereby changed
example: The priest role; the student role; the role of subject in a clinical trial; the role of a stone in marking a property boundary; the role of a boundary to demarcate two neighbouring administrative territories; the role of a building in serving as a military target

fiat object part
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
definition: (Elucidation) A fiat object part b is a material entity & such that if b exists then it is continuant part of some object c & demarcated from the remainder of c by one or more fiat surfaces
example: The upper and lower lobes of the left lung; the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body; the Western hemisphere of the Earth; the FMA:regional parts of an intact human body

one-dimensional spatial region
type: Class
subclass of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: Class
    union of: zero-dimensional spatial region
    union of: one-dimensional spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A one-dimensional spatial region is a whole consisting of a line together with zero or more lines which may have points as parts
example: An edge of a cube-shaped portion of space; a line connecting two points; two parallel lines extended in space

object aggregate
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
definition: (Elucidation) An object aggregate is a material entity consisting exactly of a plurality (≥1) of objects as member parts which together form a unit
example: The aggregate of the musicians in a symphony orchestra and their instruments; the aggregate of bearings in a constant velocity axle joint; the nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere; a collection of cells in a blood biobank
scope note: 'Exactly' means that there are no parts of the object aggregate other than its member parts.
scope note: The unit can, at certain times, consist of exactly one object, for example, when a wolf litter loses all but one of its pups, but it must at some time have a plurality of member parts.

three-dimensional spatial region
type: Class
subclass of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A three-dimensional spatial region is a whole consisting of a spatial volume together with zero or more spatial volumes which may have spatial regions of lower dimension as parts
example: A cube-shaped region of space; a sphere-shaped region of space; the region of space occupied by all and only the planets in the solar system at some point in time

site
type: Class
subclass of: immaterial entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: continuant part of
  all values from: Class
    union of: site
    union of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: Class
    union of: site
    union of: continuant fiat boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occupies spatial region
  all values from: three-dimensional spatial region
definition: (Elucidation) A site is a three-dimensional immaterial entity whose boundaries either (partially or wholly) coincide with the boundaries of one or more material entities or have locations determined in relation to some material entity
example: A hole in a portion of cheese; a rabbit hole; the Grand Canyon; the Piazza San Marco; the kangaroo-joey-containing hole of a kangaroo pouch; your left nostril (a fiat part - the opening - of your left nasal cavity); the lumen of your gut; the hold of a ship; the interior of the trunk of your car; hole in an engineered floor joist
example: location of a container, floor area in a factory building, location of a machine (relative to the coordinate of a factory floor), location on a shelf in a warehouse
explanatory note: Even though site (physical location) always refers to a 3D space it is fine to define it practically just through 2D or 1D or 0D spatial region. For example when we want to talk about 2x2m area within a factory floor even though the space specified is 2D it is still ok to assert it as site as there is always the third dimension above the area that is implicit.
synonym: physical location

object
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
definition: (Elucidation) An object is a material entity which manifests causal unity & is of a type instances of which are maximal relative to the sort of causal unity manifested
example: An organism; a fish tank; a planet; a laptop; a valve; a block of marble; an ice cube
scope note: A description of three primary sorts of causal unity is provided in Basic Formal Ontology 2.0. Specification and User Guide

generically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
alternative label: g-dependent continuant
definition: (Elucidation) A generically dependent continuant is an entity that exists in virtue of the fact that there is at least one of what may be multiple copies which is the content or the pattern that multiple copies would share
example: The pdf file on your laptop; the pdf file that is a copy thereof on my laptop; the sequence of this protein molecule; the sequence that is a copy thereof in that protein molecule; the content that is shared by a string of dots and dashes written on a page and the transmitted Morse code signal; the content of a sentence; an engineering blueprint

function
type: Class
subclass of: capability
definition: (Elucidation) A function is a disposition that exists in virtue of its bearer's physical make-up & this physical make-up is something the bearer possesses because it came into being either through evolution (in the case of natural biological entities) or through intentional design (in the case of artefacts) in order to realize processes of a certain sort
example: The function of a hammer to drive in nails; the function of a heart pacemaker to regulate the beating of a heart through electricity

process boundary
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  all values from: process boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has temporal part
  all values from: process boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occurrent part of
  all values from: Class
    union of: process
    union of: process boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: temporal part of
  all values from: Class
    union of: process
    union of: process boundary
definition: p is a process boundary =Def p is a temporal part of a process & p has no proper temporal parts
example: The boundary between the 2nd and 3rd year of your life

one-dimensional temporal region
type: Class
subclass of: temporal region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has temporal part
  all values from: Class
    union of: one-dimensional temporal region
    union of: zero-dimensional temporal region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: temporal part of
  all values from: one-dimensional temporal region
disjoint with: zero-dimensional temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A one-dimensional temporal region is a temporal region that is a whole that has a temporal interval and zero or more temporal intervals and temporal instants as parts
example: The temporal region during which a process occurs

material entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: continuant part of
  all values from: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: Class
    union of: site
    union of: material entity
    union of: continuant fiat boundary
disjoint with: immaterial entity
definition: (Elucidation) A material entity is an independent continuant has some portion of matter as continuant part
example: A human being; the undetached arm of a human being; an aggregate of human beings

continuant fiat boundary
type: Class
subclass of: immaterial entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: location of
  all values from: continuant fiat boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: continuant fiat boundary
definition: (Elucidation) A continuant fiat boundary b is an immaterial entity that is of zero, one or two dimensions & such that there is no time t when b has a spatial region as continuant part & whose location is determined in relation to some material entity
example: As for fiat point, fiat line, fiat surface

immaterial entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
definition: b is an immaterial entity =Def b is an independent continuant which is such that there is no time t when it has a material entity as continuant part
example: As for fiat point, fiat line, fiat surface, site

fiat line
type: Class
subclass of: continuant fiat boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: Class
    union of: fiat line
    union of: fiat point
definition: (Elucidation) A fiat line is a one-dimensional continuant fiat boundary that is continuous
example: The Equator; all geopolitical boundaries; all lines of latitude and longitude; the median sulcus of your tongue; the line separating the outer surface of the mucosa of the lower lip from the outer surface of the skin of the chin

relational quality
type: Class
subclass of: quality
definition: b is a relational quality =Def b is a quality & there exists c and d such that c and d are not identical & b specifically depends on c & b specifically depends on d
example: A marriage bond; an instance of love; an obligation between one person and another

fiat surface
type: Class
subclass of: continuant fiat boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: continuant fiat boundary
definition: (Elucidation) A fiat surface is a two-dimensional continuant fiat boundary that is self-connected
example: The surface of the Earth; the plane separating the smoking from the non-smoking zone in a restaurant

fiat point
type: Class
subclass of: continuant fiat boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part
  all values from: fiat point
definition: (Elucidation) A fiat point is a zero-dimensional continuant fiat boundary that consists of a single point
example: The geographic North Pole; the quadripoint where the boundaries of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet; the point of origin of some spatial coordinate system

zero-dimensional temporal region
type: Class
subclass of: temporal region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has temporal part
  all values from: zero-dimensional temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A zero-dimensional temporal region is a temporal region that is a whole consisting of one or more separated temporal instants as parts
example: A temporal region that is occupied by a process boundary; the moment at which a finger is detached in an industrial accident

history
type: Class
subclass of: process
definition: (Elucidation) A history is a process that is the sum of the totality of processes taking place in the spatiotemporal region occupied by the material part of a material entity
example: The life of an organism from the beginning to the end of its existence

temporal interval
type: Class
subclass of: one-dimensional temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A temporal interval is a one-dimensional temporal region that is continuous, thus without gaps or breaks
example: The year 2018.
scope note: A one-dimensional temporal region can include as parts not only temporal intervals but also temporal instants separated from other parts by gaps.
explanatory note: 1. The ‘first instant of’ a ‘temporal interval’ should ‘precede’ the ‘last instant of’ that ‘temporal interval’. Therefore, the date-time asserted (i.e., ‘has date-time instant value’ of the ‘temporal instant value expression’ that ‘is value expression of at all times’ of the ‘temporal instant’) for the first instant should be before the last instant in terms their positions in the corresponding calendar and clock system. For example, the first instant and last instant of a ‘temporal interval’ are 2002-10-10T17:00:00Z and 2002-10-11T01:40:00Z. 2. If only one date-time is available for the interval due to lack of data or an interval being smaller than the tick time (the smallest duration by which the time progresses) then the date-time should be asserted either only for first instant or only for last instant of every interval uniformly for the entire knowledge base. For example, Barack Obama gained the role of presidency on 20 January 2009 should be modeled as the process p of type ‘gain of role’ ‘occupies temporal region’ r (a ‘temporal interval’) which ‘has last instant’ i (a ‘temporal instant’) which ‘has value expression at all times’ v (a ‘temporal instant value expression’) which ‘has data-time value’ 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z.

temporal instant
type: Class
subclass of: zero-dimensional temporal region
definition: (Elucidation) A temporal instant is a zero-dimensional temporal region that has no proper temporal part
example: The millennium

action specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
example: pour the contents of flask 1 into flask 2; to loosen a screw with a screwdriver, grab the screw driver with your hand, insert the tip into the head of the screw, apply forward pressure into the screwdriver, and rotate the screwdriver counterclockwise.
adapted from: Information Artifact Ontology, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000030 and also the Common Core Ontology, http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology (term Action Regulation)
explanatory note: 1. An action specification is typically a part of some plan specification. 2. All actions change the universe in some fashion. That is, they have outcomes, whether desired ones or not. Since desired outcomes are reasons for the existence of an action specification, we might argue that all action specifications are, in fact, plan specifications, with desired outcomes as objectives. However, our intent here is to capture instances of action specifications wherein objectives or desired outcomes are not explicitly stated and to delinate 'plan specifications' as cases where the objectives and the corresponding actions are explicitly stated. This is why the class is asserted directly under the information content entity. 3. Although not formalized at this stage, an action specification may prescribe a kind of process in more detail by prescribing the sequence of actions one or more participants are to do or by prescribing the actions persons bearing various roles are to do in bringing about the process. The latter would be relevant in situations where a particular participant bears two (or even more roles) in a process. An example of the latter would be a particular shop floor worker bearing and realizing both the role of the operator and that of the inspector as prescribed by some action specification and as realized in today's occurrences of some punch-press process. 4. Action specification can be used together with plan specification to create a hierarchy of work instruction composition.
first-order logic axiom: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃p(Process(p) ∧ prescribes(x,p)) → ActionSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes what participants shall do in a process
primitive rationale: See the rationale provided under information content entity for informational entity types.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'information content entity' that 'prescribes' some 'process' then x is an 'action specification'
synonym: actionable work instruction

agent
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: group of agents
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: agent role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: agent role
example: an employee; a transportation & logistics provider; a robot; a scheduling system
counter example: 1. Of physical and chemical in nature: Cleaning, vulcanizing, fluxing, indicator, sterilizing, emulisifying, refining. 2. Organisms: animals, cells, parts of organisms (organs, organelles, viruses).
explanatory note: 1. See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience. 2. The IOF has elected to exclude material substances often referred to as agents. That is, they realize some specific function that some person desires (e.g., platinum is a reducing agent in various reduction-type reactions -- as used in a catalytic converter to eliminate or reduce various pollutants in exhausts). 3. The IOF has, at this time, excluded non-human agents, such as animals and other organisms (often referred to as biological agents).
first order logic definition: Agent(x) ↔ (Person(x) ∨ GroupOfAgents(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃r(AgentRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: person, group of persons, or engineered system with an agent role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'agent' is defined as exactly an instance of 'person', 'group of agents', or 'engineered system' when it 'has role' some 'agent role'

agent role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      intersection of: material entity
      intersection of: Class
        complement of: fiat object part
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: acts on behalf of at some time
      some values from: Class
        union of: engineered system
        union of: group of agents
        union of: person
example: a person has an employee role when he/she acts on behalf of the business organization that employs them
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
counter example: Other types of agents we are not including at this stage are: 1. Those that are physical and chemical in nature: Cleaning, vulcanizing, fluxing, indicator, sterilizing, emulisifying, refining. 2. Organisms: animals, cells, parts of organisms (organs, organelles, viruses). 3. In computing: intelligent, artificial, mobile, & autonomous
explanatory note: 1.The IOF has elected to exclude material substances that may, at times, act like or are often referred to as agents, in that they realize some specific function that some person desires (e.g., platinum is a reducing agent in various reduction-type reactions -- as used in a catalytic converter to eliminate or reduce various pollutants in exhausts). 2. The IOF has at this time excluded other types of non-human agents, such as animals and other organisms (often referred to as biological agents). 3. in case the 'material entity' is an engineered system or group of agents or person acting on behalf of oneself is also allowed
first-order logic axiom: AgentRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃n∃m((MaterialEntity(m) ∧ ¬FiatObjectPart(x)) ∧ roleOf(x,m) ∧ (Person(n) ∨ GroupOfAgents(n) ∨ EngineeredSystem(n)) ∧ actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(m, n))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role that someone or something has when they act on behalf of a person, engineered system or a group of agents
primitive rationale: This term is expected to remain primitive. While 'acting on behalf of at some time' captures the essence of being an agent, the realization of the agent role is expected to have too generic of a scope to define a sufficient condition that would not cause conflict (overlap) with the realization of other roles, which can in turn lead to reasoner errors when a specific entity bears multiple roles simoultaneously. Also, no further conditions specific to the role and not to the bearer of the role have been created thus far.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'agent role' x then x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' (that is not a 'fiat object part') when it 'acts on behalf of at some time' some 'person' or 'group of agents' or 'engineered system'

agreement
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part at all times
  some values from: objective specification
example: prenuptial agreement; memorandum of understanding; non-disclosure agreement; employment agreement; purchase order that has been confirmed by the seller by e-mail; handshake agreement to buy something in the State of Florida, which happens to be legally-binding in that juristiction provided certain evidence can be produced
adapted from: FIBO https://spec.edmcouncil.org/fibo/ontology/FND/Agreements/Agreements, term by the same name
first-order logic axiom: Agreement(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃o(ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ hasContinuantPartAtAllTimes(x,o))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: understanding between two or more parties that contains a set of commitments on the part of the parties
primitive rationale: In addition to the general discussion provided for information content enty,there are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, patterns surrounding commitment and party need to be established
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'agreement' then x is an 'information content entity' that 'has continuant part at all times' some 'objective specification'

algorithm
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
example: pseudo code for sorting data, flowchart for automatic control of a process
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000064 and http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
counter example: executable code, source code
explanatory note: 1. to translate in this context means to implement the algorithm such that it is readily executable 2. algorithms in this context should be interpreted as implementation-independent (language-neutral) representations and are typically represented as pseudo-code or a flowchart 3. declarative steps should be interpreted in the context of declarative programming
first-order logic axiom: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y(EncodedAlgorithm(y) ∧ prescribes(x,y)) → Algorithm(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes procedural or declarative steps which can be translated to computer interpretable instructions
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided under information content entity.
semi-formal natural language axiom: If x is an 'information content entity' that 'prescribes' some 'encoded algorithm' then x is an instance of 'algorithm'

assembly
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact
subclass of: Restriction
  on property:
    inverse of: component part of at all times
  some values from: material component
example: powertrain assembly; partially-assembled powertrain + transmission assembly lying nearby; driveshaft assembly temporarily disassembled for repair or routine maintenance; separator assembly consisting of variously-shaped separator parts that safeguard wine bottles in a case of wine during transport; a material artifact produced entirely through additive manufacturing (provided it is a component somewhere, and can it can be disassembled without damage/destruction).
adapted from: APICS 14 ed., 2013, term by the same name; DoD Standard Practice, Identification Marking of US Military Property (MIL-STD-130N Nov. 2012) https://dodprocurementtoolbox.com/cms/sites/default/files/resources/2016-03/MIL-Std130N_Ch1_4.pdf, term by the same name
counter example: a portion of material; a piece of glass; a rod of aluminum; a roll of aluminum; an engine block
explanatory note: Although the term is polysemous and used in a number of other domains beyond manufacturing, it is introduced here as a covering term for any man-made artifact that satisfies the conditions provided, and independent of modality. We expect various subclasses of assembly to be introduced in future along with more precise heuristics for the various modalities in which they exist.
first-order logic axiom: LA1: Assembly(x) → MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃c∃c1(MaterialComponent(c) ∧ MaterialComponent(c1) ∧ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c,x) ∧ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c1,x) ∧ ¬(c=c1 ∨ (componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c,c1) ∨ componentPartOfAtAllTimes(c1,c))))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃p(AssemblyProcess(p) ∧ isSpecifiedOutputOf(x,p)) → Assembly(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: material artifact that is composed of material components that are physically connected and that is capable of disassembly
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs in the ontology to provide necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, 'disassembly capability' is missing.
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if x is an 'assembly' then x is a 'material artifact' and there are at least two distinct 'material component' that are 'component part of at all times' x
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: Material Artifact x that 'is specified output of' some Assembly Process p implies x is an Assembly
usage note: Every assembly has a plurality of material components. While this is captured in the FOL, due to reasoning limitations with cardinality restrictions and complex properties, the OWL axiom uses 'some' instead of min 2. Hence, this class should be modeled as having at least two material components on the instance level.

assembly process
type: Class
subclass of: manufacturing process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: material component
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: assembly
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has component part at all times
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: material component
        intersection of: Restriction
example: Driving a lug nut to hold the wheel of a car in place; welding two metal parts into a single object; automated drilling and riveting of a skin panel operation during fuselage assembly;
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/EventOntology
counter example: 3D printing on an existing part (existing part + a pool of printing material -> new part) -- Note that the pool of material is an object before the process but becomes liquid (there is physical state change) during the "assembly" process.
first-order logic axiom: AssemblyProcess(x) → ManufacturingProcess(x) ∧ ∃a∃c (Assembly(a) ∧ MaterialComponent(c) ∧ isInputOf(c,x) ∧ hasComponentPartAtAllTimes(a,c) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,a))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: manufacturing process in which a number of material components are physically connected to each other to form an assembly
primitive rationale: More conditions (differentia) need to be agreed upon by the domain experts as processes like 3D printing can also produce an assembly.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'assembly process' x then x is a 'manufacturing process' that 'has specified output' some 'assembly' which 'has component part at all times' some 'material component' that 'is input of' x

business function
type: Class
subclass of: function
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: function of
  some values from: organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: objective specification
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: generically depends on
      some values from: organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has realization
  all values from: business process
example: Pfizer has the business function to produce medicines; Airbus has the business function of manufacturing planes
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_purpose
counter example: any function of a non-profit organization
first-order logic axiom: LA1: BusinessFunction(x) → Function(x) ∧ ∃o∃i(Organization(o) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(i) ∧ functionOf(x,o) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(i,o) ∧ prescribedBy(x,i)) ∧ ∀y(hasRealization(x,y) → BusinessProcess(y))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: Function(x) ∧ ∃o∃i∃p(Organization(o) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(i) ∧ BusinessProcess(p) ∧ functionOf(x,o) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(i,o) ∧ prescribedBy(x,i) ∧ hasRealization(x,p)) → BusinessFunction(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: function of an organization to partake in for profit activities as prescribed by the objectives specified by that organization
primitive rationale: As a function will come into its existance prior to its realization in given business processes necessary and sufficient conditions can not be created at this point due to a lack of patterns to express process types regardless of the time of their existence
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if x is a 'business function' then x is a 'function' that is 'function of' some 'organization' and that is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' and whenever x 'has realization' y that y must be a 'business process'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: if x is a 'function' that is 'function of' some 'organization' and that is 'prescribed by' some 'objective specification' and that 'has realization' some 'business process' then x is a 'business function'

business organization
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: organization
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: bearer of
    some values from: business function
subclass of: organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: bearer of
  some values from: business function
example: Mercedes-Benz, Deloitte, Pfizer, Airbus
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business
explanatory note: Business entities are formally organized according to the laws prevailing in the locales and countries in which it operates or conducts business, and include companies, corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships.
first order logic definition: BusinessOrganization(x) ↔ Organization(x) ∧ ∃f(BusinessFunction(f) ∧ hasFunction(x,f))
natural language definition: organization engaging in or planning to engage in any activity of buying and selling goods or services for a profit
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of a business organization' is defined as exactly an instance of 'organization' that 'has function' some 'business function'

business process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: agent
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: acts on behalf of at some time
      some values from: business organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: plan specification
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has continuant part at all times
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: objective specification
        intersection of: Restriction
example: product production process; manufacturing enterprise process; finance operation; logistics operation.
adapted from: ISO 15704 and APICS
explanatory note: This definition leaves open the possibility that the business entity that carries the plan that prescribes the process, has no direct participation in the process, which would imply that some 3rd-party agent is playing a causal role as the process unfolds, and is acting on behalf of the Business Entity's interests.
first-order logic axiom: BusinessProcess (p) → PlannedProcess(p) ∧ ∃o∃b∃s∃y (ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ BusinessOrganization(b) ∧ PlanSpecification(s) ∧ isCarrierOfAtSomeTime(b,o) ∧ continuantPartofAtAllTimes(o,s) ∧ Agent(y) ∧ actsOnBehalfOfAtSomeTime(y,b) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,x))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: planned process which is prescribed by a plan specification with one or more objectives specified by a business organization
primitive rationale: More conditions (differentia) need to be agreed upon by the domain experts.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'business process' then x is a 'planned process' that 'has participant at some time' some 'agent' that 'acts on behalf of at some time' a 'business organization' that 'is carrier of at some time' some 'objective specification' that is 'continuant part of at all times' a 'plan specification' that 'prescribes' x

buyer
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: buyer role
subclass of: agent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: buyer role
example: Pfizer when it buys a bulk of chemicals from MiliporeSigma; a person is when they buy groceries at the supermarket; a manufacturing enterprise when they hire an external organization to do some manufacturing process (manufacturing as a service); a person when they hire someone to repair a broken pipe
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: Buyer(x) ↔ Person(x) ∨ Organization(x) ∧ ∃r(BuyerRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: person or organization which has a buyer role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'buyer' is defined as exactly an instance of 'person' or 'organization' that 'has role' some 'buyer role'

buyer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: organization
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: buying business process
example: Pfizer has a buyer role when it buys a bulk of chemicals from MiliporeSigma; a person has a buyer role when they buy groceries at the supermarket; a manufacturing enterprise has a buyer role when they hire an external organization to do some manufacturing process (manufacturing as a service); a person has a buyer role when they hire someone to repair a broken pipe
adapted from: OAGIS
first-order logic axiom: BuyerRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y∃p ((Organization(y) ∨ Person(y)) ∧ BuyingBusinessProcess(p) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x, y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: agent role held by a person or organization when it buys a product or a service
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for economic transactions and ownership are lacking
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'buyer role' x then x is an 'agent role' that is the 'role of' some 'person' or 'organization' when it 'participates in at some time' some 'buying business process'

buying business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: buyer
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    union of: commercial service agreement
    union of: material product
example: GM buys tires from Good Year to be assembled into its cars; GE Conglomerate (buyer) buys steels for uses in productions by its GE aviation subsidiary (customer) and GE Transportation subsidiary (customer)
adapted from: CCO:http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/ActOfBuying NL definition: OAGIS and CCO
explanatory note: 1.The agent who uses the finiancial instrument may not own the financial instrument and hence agent may not be the paying agent. 2. It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
first-order logic axiom: BuyingBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y∃z((MaterialProduct(y) ∨ CommercialServiceAgreement(y)) ∧ Buyer(z) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,z))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: business process wherein a financial instrument is used by an agent (buyer) to acquire ownership of a product or commercial service from another agent (seller) for the buyer itself or for another agent (customer)
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, ownership and economic transactions require formalization.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'buying business process' then x is a 'business process' that 'has participant at some time' some 'buyer' and x 'has participant at some time' some 'material product' or 'commercial service agreement'

capability
type: Class
subclass of: disposition
example: Capability of a person to play chess at the "master" level; of a team to play football in the professional league; of a lathe to turn at maximal speed of 4,000 RPM; or of your digestive system to digest tiramisu.
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
explanatory note: 1. Whereas the BFO term 'disposition refers to all tendencies, powers, habits, skills, potentials, and so forth, that a material entity may possess, a Capability narrows this down by requiring the existence of an Agent that has an interest in the realization of the capability 2. This definition does not attempt to capture "task-based" capabilities that an entity may bear -- e.g., a stone's capability to kill when used by some person. Rather, it captures "proper capabilities." See related discussion of "proper functions" in the literature. 3. All functions are capabilities and in a future release BFO:Function will be asserted directly under capability. 4. Not all capabilities are functions. Capabilities are often added to an artifact by the designer/engineer, or to a biological entity through evolution, as "additional benefits," and are differentiated from function (i.e., purpose). Examples: the air conditioner in your car is a capability but not the function of your car. Yet the function of the car air conditioner certainly forms some material basis of your car's ability to provide a comfortable experience. The ability of your heart to beat fast to support your need to run fast to escape a threat. The decaying stick on the forest lawn does not have the function to be used as a tool, but certainly a chimpanzee may have an interest in using a stick to extract food from a termite mound.
first-order logic axiom: Capability(x) → Disposition(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: disposition in whose realization some agent has an interest
primitive rationale: This concept will be further developed and formalized in a future release of BFO.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'capability' then x is a 'disposition'
synonym: ability

commercial service
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: service provider
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  some values from: supplying business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is subject of
  some values from: commercial service agreement
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: commercial service specification
example: Lufthansa Aviation Services maintains airplanes for United Airlines when the plane stops at Frankfurt International Airport.
explanatory note: 1. A consumption process means using or benefiting. 2.Typically, the service provisioning process and consumption process coincide temporally which is different from a material product that is consumed (used) only after supplied.
first-order logic axiom: Commercialervice(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃p∃y∃a∃s(CommercialServiceSpecification(p) ∧ ServiceProvider(y) ∧ CommercialServiceAgreement(s) ∧ SupplyingBusinessProcess(a) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y) ∧ hasOccurentPart(x,a) ∧ prescribedBy(x,p) ∧ isSubjectOf(x,s))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: business process that consists of a service provisioning process and a consumption process
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, service consumption needs to be formalized.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'commercial service' then x is a 'business process' that is 'prescribed by' some 'commercial service specification' and that 'has participant at some time' some 'service provider' 'and x 'has occurent part' some 'supplying business process' and x 'is subject of' some 'commercial service agreement'

commercial service agreement
type: Class
subclass of: agreement
example: a cellphone plan, a maintenance service agreement, equipment lease agreement that includes a maintenance plan
adapted from: https://schema.org/, http://www.heppnetz.de/projects/goodrelations/ and http://dini-ag-kim.github.io/service-ontology/service.html
counter example: a blanket purchase order, commodity contract
first-order logic axiom: Agreement(x) ∧ ∃c∃y∃z(CommercialService(c) ∧ ServiceProviderRole(y) ∧ CustomerRole(z) ∧ isAbout(x,c) ∧ prescribes(x,y) ∧ prescribes(x,z)) → CommercialServiceAgreement(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: agreement between a customer and service provider that is about some commercial service to be provided by the service provider in exchange for compensation from the customer
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: If x is an 'agreement' that 'is about' some 'commercial service' and that 'prescribes' some 'customer role' and some 'service provider role' then x is a 'commercial service agreement'

commercial service specification
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
example: protocol on how maintenance will be conducted on airplanes that is a part of the agreement between Frankfurt Airport and various airlines
adapted from: https://schema.org/, http://www.heppnetz.de/projects/goodrelations/ and http://dini-ag-kim.github.io/service-ontology/service.html
first-order logic axiom: PlanSpecification(x) ∧ ∃c(CommercialService(c) ∧ prescribes(x,c)) → CommercialServiceSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: plan specification that prescribes a commercial service
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'plan specification' that 'prescribes' some 'commercial service' then x is a 'commercial service specification'

computing process
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: planned process
  intersection of: Class
    union of: Restriction
      on property: achieves at some time
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: objective specification
        intersection of: Restriction
    union of: Restriction
      on property: has specified output
      some values from: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has participant
    some values from: agent
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: Class
        union of: algorithm
        union of: encoded algorithm
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: generically depends on
        some values from: agent
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: agent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: concretizes
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: algorithm
      union of: encoded algorithm
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: generically depends on
      some values from: agent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  all values from: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  all values from: information content entity
example: execution of a neural network implemented in tensorflow to classify a set of images on a specific cluster; running of the MPC algorithm to control pressure during the production process
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_(computing) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execution_(computing)
explanatory note: 1. The inputs and specified outputs of 'computing process' are strictly limited to information content entities. 2. While it is true that algorithms can result in an action by an agent that concretizes it (e.g. controller changes the pressure of a valve), the intermediate step is still an information content entity (e.g. action specification) that is 'concretized' in a separate process that results in the action.
first-order logic axiom: ComputingProcess(x) → ∀y((hasInput(x,y) ∨ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,y)) → InformationContentEntity(y))
first order logic definition: ComputingProcess(x) ↔ PlannedProcess(x) ∧ ∃y∃a(Agent(y) ∧ (Algorithm(a) ∨ EncodedAlgorithm(a)) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ genericallyDependsOnAtSomeTime(a,y) ∧ concretizesAtSomeTime(x,a) ∧ (∃o(ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(o,a) ∧ achievesAtSomeTIme(x,o)) ∨ ∃i(InformationContentEntity(i) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,i))))
natural language definition: planned process in which an algorithm or an encoded algorithm is realized by an agent
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'computing process' then whenever x 'has input' or 'has specified output' y that y must be an 'information content entity'
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'computing process' is defined as exactly an instance of 'planned process' that 'concretizes at some time' an 'encoded algorithm' or 'algorithm' y which 'generically depends on at some time' some 'agent' which 'participates in at some time' the 'computing process' and the 'computing process' either 'achieves at some time' some 'objective specification' that is 'continuant part of at all times y or it 'has specified output' some 'information content entity'

customer
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: customer role
subclass of: agent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: customer role
example: GE aviation subsidiary and GE Transportation subsidiary when they utilize the steel bought for them by the GE Conglomerate; a person when they utilize a lap top that they bought from Target; a person when they subscribe for a phone plan
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: Customer(x) ↔ (Person(x) ∨ Organization(x)) ∧ ∃r(CustomerRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: person or organization which has a customer role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'customer' is defined as exactly an instance of 'person' or 'organization' that 'has role' some 'customer role'

customer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
example: GE aviation subsidiary and GE Transportation subsidiary have the customer role when they utilize the steel bought for them by the GE Conglomerate; a person has a customer role when they utilize a lap top that they bought from Target; a person has a customer role when they subscribe for a phone plan
adapted from: OAGIS
first-order logic axiom: CustomerRole(x) → AgentRole(x) ∧ ∃y((Person(y) ∨ Organization(y)) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: agent role held by a person or organization when it utilizes the product or receives the service or subscribes to the commercial service agreement
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for 'utilizing the product' and 'subscribing to an agreement' need to be formalized.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'customer role' then x is an 'agent role' that is the 'role of' a 'person' or 'organization'

descriptive information content entity
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: describes
    some values from: entity
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: describes
  some values from: entity
example: a description of a product in a product catalogue, the wheelbase of this car is 3m, digital copy of a Mona Lisa drawing
abbreviation: descriptive ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
explanatory note: This class is intended to be a defined class used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected nor recommended that entities will be asserted as a subclass of this class.
first order logic definition: DescriptiveInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ describes(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that characterizes (gives a description of) an entity
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'descriptive information content entity ' is defined as exactly an instance of 'information content entity' that 'describes' some 'entity'

design specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribes
  all values from: continuant
example: document specifying the characteristics of a pharmaceutical product; the design of a software program to schedule the work orders in a factory
adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design and from http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology, term under the name 'artifact design'
counter example: process design
explanatory note: 1. Design specification may be a model or a textual or graphical specification. 2. This class is not intended to be used to represent the design of planned processes. For this purpose, plan specification should be used. 3. Something 'man-made' comprehends those physical and non-physical things that are intentionally created by human beings. Hence the thing specified by a design specification may be either BFO:GDC or BFO:Material Entity. 4. A design specification specifies what the thing should be, such as its shape, size, tolerance, and performance but not necessarily how the thing should be made. If it contains information on how a thing should be made, this should be modeled separately through a 'plan specification' that is 'part of' the design specification 5. Typically, a design specification satisfies a set of requirements
first-order logic axiom: LA1: DesignSpecification(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∀c (prescribes(x,c) → Continuant(c))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃c∃r(Continuant(c) ∧ RequirementSpecification(r) ∧ satisfiesRequirement(x,r) ∧ prescribes(x,c)) ∧ ∀c1(prescribes(x,c1) → Continuant(c1)) → DesignSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes something man-made
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if d is a 'design specification' then d is an 'information content entity' and whenever d 'prescribes' y that y must be a 'continuant'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: if d is an 'information content entity' that 'prescribes' some 'continuant' and that 'satisfies requirement' some 'requirement specification' and if all y that d 'presribes' are instance of 'continuant' then d is a 'design specification'

designative information content entity
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: entity
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: designates
  some values from: entity
example: uri of a website, social security number of a person, lot number of a batch of products, a serial number on a machine, a credit card number, a combination of data in a database table uniquely identify each record in the table
abbreviation: designative ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
explanatory note: 1. This class is intended to be a defined class used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected nor recommended that entities will be asserted as a subclass of this class. 2. Since the relation 'designates' is defined as a functional property, uniqueness is enforced in the term's formalization.
first order logic definition: DesignativeInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ designates(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that uniquely identifies an entity
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'designative information content entity' is defined as exactly an instance of 'information content entity' that 'designates' some 'entity'

designed function
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: function
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribed by
    some values from: design specification
subclass of: function
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: design specification
example: the function of a oil pump to pump oil, the function of a knife to cut things
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ArtifactOntology
first order logic definition: ArtifactFunction(x) ↔ Function(x) ∧ ∃d(DesignSpecification(m)∧ prescribedBy(x,d))
natural language definition: function that is intentionally designed
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'designed function' is exactly an instance of 'function' that is 'prescribed by' some 'design specification'

directive information content entity
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribes
    some values from: entity
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribes
  some values from: entity
example: blueprint of a building, process plan, software functional requirement
abbreviation: directive ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
explanatory note: This class is intended to be a defined class used for axiomatization and assertion convenience. It is not expected nor recommended that entities will be asserted as a subclass of this class.
first order logic definition: DirectiveInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ prescribes(x,e))
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes a set of rules or guidelines for a process or a model of something man-made
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'directive information content entity' is defined as exactly an instance of 'information content entity' that 'prescribes' some 'entity'

encoded algorithm
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
example: source code encoded in Java that implements a sorting algorithm; Python script that implements a decision tree and that has the objective to classify melt pool images
adapted from: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/swo/SWO_0000001
counter example: flowchart, pseudocode
explanatory note: Readily executable means that it can be 1) concretized by a computing process which is prescribed by the encoded algorithm or 2) in case of source code concretized by a compiling process
first-order logic axiom: PlanSpecification(x) ∧ ∃y(ComputingProcess(y) ∧ prescribes(x,y)) → EncodedAlgorithm(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: plan specification that is the implementation of an algorithm encoded in a specific programming language or framework and that is readily executable
primitive rationale: In addition to the general discussion provided for information content enty,there are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely constructs for 'encoded in', 'implementation of' and 'programming language' or 'framework' as well as 'compiling process' are still missing.
semi-formal natural language axiom: If x is a 'plan specification' that 'prescribes' some 'computing process' then x is an instance of 'encoded algorithm'

engineered system
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: system
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: bearer of
    some values from: designed function
subclass of: system
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: bearer of
  some values from: designed function
example: machine, laptop, traffic light system
adapted from: www.incose.com, term by the same name
first order logic definition: EngineeredSystem(x) ↔ System(x) ∧ ∃f(DesignedFunction(f) ∧ bearerOf(x,f))
natural language definition: system that is deliberately created to have a certain function
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'engineered system' is defined as exactly an instance of 'system' that is the 'bearer of' some 'designed function'

equipment role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: engineered system
      union of: material artifact
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: prescribed by
      some values from: Class
        union of: plan specification
        union of: Restriction
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has realization
  all values from: Class
    intersection of: planned process
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: realizes
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: function
        intersection of: Restriction
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  all values from: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: material artifact
example: role of a wrench when it is used in the maintenance process of a car; role of a chromatography column that is planned to be used in a protein purification process; role of a truck that is used to transport goods to the buyer; role of a single-use bioreactor when it is planned to be used in the upstream phase of a biomanufacturing process
adapted from: adapted from Oxford Languages, term by the name ‘equipment’
explanatory note: 1. By including in the definition that the material artifact or engineered system is not consumed in the process, the equipment role intentionally excludes entities such as consumables and reagents, which should be modeled separately. 2. In the definition, "utilized for carrying out" implies that the function of the given material artifact or the engineered system needs to be realized in the process. That is, entities with the equipment role should not passively participate in the prescribed process. This differentiates 'material entities with the equipment role' (a piece of equipment) from material entities that are acted upon (transformed or modified) in the given process.
first-order logic axiom: LA1: EquipmentRole(x) → ∀y (hasRealization(x,y) → (PlannedProcess(y) ∧ ∃f (Function(f) ∧ realizes(y,f) ∧ ∃z ((EngineeredSystem(z) ∨ MaterialArtifact(z)) ∧ functionOf(f,z)))))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: EquipmentRole(x) → ∀y (roleOf(x,y) → (EngineeredSystem(y) ∨ MaterialArtifact(y)))
first-order logic axiom: LA3: EquipmentRole(x) → ∃y ( roleOf(x,y) ∧ (EngineeredSystem(y) ∨ MaterialArtifact(y)) ∧ ∃z ( prescribedBy(y,z) ∧ ( PlanSpecification(z) ∨ ∃p ( PlanSpecification(p) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(z,p) ) ) ) )
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role held by a material artifact or an engineered system when it is planned to be involved in or is involved in carrying out some part of a planned process and that is not consumed in that planned process
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to define necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, patterns for utilized in carrying out and not consumed need to be developed further.
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if x is an ‘equipment role’ then whenever x ‘has realization’ y, y is a ‘planned process’ that ‘realizes’ some ‘function’ that is ‘function of’ some ‘engineered system’ or ‘material artifact’
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: if x is an ‘equipment role’ then whenever x ‘role of’ y, y must be an ‘engineered system’ or a ‘material artifact’
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA3: if x is an ‘equipment role’ then x is ‘role of’ some y such that y is an ‘engineered system’ or a ‘material artifact’, and y is ‘prescribed by’ some entity that is either a ‘plan specification’ or something that is ‘continuant part of at all times’ some ‘plan specification’

event
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
subclass of: Class
  union of: process
  union of: process boundary
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: recognized by at some time
  some values from: agent
example: a machine failure event, the amount of cells in a bioreactor reaches a certain threshold
adapted from: Oxford Languages, term by the same name
counter example: an event in discrete event simulation is too generic and that notion of event is just BFO:Occurrent
first-order logic axiom: Event(x) → (Process(x) ∨ ProcessBoundary(x)) ∧ ∃y(Agent(y) ∧ recognizedByAtSomeTime(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: phenomena (process or process boundary) that is recognized by an agent and typically recorded
primitive rationale: More conditions (differentia) need to be agreed upon by the domain experts as not all occurrents recognized by an agent are events.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'event' then x is a 'process' or 'process boundary' and there is some 'agent' that 'recognizes at some time' x

gain of role
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: process
  intersection of: Class
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: occupies temporal region
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: temporal interval
        intersection of: Class
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has output
      some values from: role
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has participant at all times
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: independent continuant
      intersection of: Class
        complement of: spatial region
subclass of: process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant at all times
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occupies temporal region
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: temporal interval
    intersection of: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: meets
        some values from: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: temporally overlaps
        some values from: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: temporally starts
        some values from: Class
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has output
  some values from: role
example: the process of gaining an operator role when someone is assigned in that position
adapted from: CCO
explanatory note: 1. If only one date-time is available for some gain of role processes due to lack of data or an interval being smaller than the tick time (the smallest duration by which the time progresses) then the date-time should be asserted either only for first instant or only for last instant of every interval, for which a gain of role process occurs, uniformly for the entire knowledge base. For example, Barack Obama gained the role of presidency on 20 January 2009 should be modeled as the process p of type ‘gain of role’ ‘occupies temporal region’ r (a ‘temporal interval’) which ‘has last instant’ i (a ‘temporal instant’) which ‘has value expression at all times’ v (a ‘temporal instant value expression’) which ‘has data-time value’ 2009-01-20T00:00:00Z.
first order logic definition: GainOfRole(p) ↔ Process(p) ∧ ∃t∃t1∃r∃y(TemporalInterval(t) ∧ TemporalInterval(t1) ∧ Role(r)∧ (IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ ¬SpatialRegion(y)) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(p,t) ∧ (temporallyOverlaps(t,t1) ∨ temporallyStarts(t,t1) ∨ meets(t,t1)) ∧ hasOutput(p,r) ∧ existsAt(r,t1) ∧ hasRole(y,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtAllTimes(p,y) ∧ ∀t2(TemporalRegion(t2) ∧ existsAt(r,t2) → (occurrentPartOf(t2,t1) ∨ t2 = t1)))
natural language definition: process in which someone or something (independent continuant that is not a spatial region) becomes the bearer of a role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of ‘gain of role’ is defined exactly as an instance of a ‘process’ p that 'occupies temporal region' some 'temporal interval' t that ‘temporally starts’ or ‘temporally overlaps’ or 'meets' some 'temporal interval' t1, and p ‘has participant at all times’ some 'independent continuant' that is not a 'spatial region' y and p ‘has output’ some ‘role’ r that only ‘exists at’ t1 and y 'has role' r

group of agents
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: object aggregate
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member part
    some values from: agent
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member part
    all values from: agent
subclass of: object aggregate
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has member part
  some values from: agent
example: organization; an automated manufacturing cell; division; protesters
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
explanatory note: 1. Group of agents being a BFO:Object Aggregate allows for a point in time where only one 'agent' is present. 2. As the name suggests, a group of agents is a grouping of agents based on some criteria. As such, it can only have agents as members. 3. The members of the group of agents can be any combination of persons, organizations, or engineered systems (classes that can be 'agent'). They are typically grouped based on the fact that they are working collectively in a particular type of process on behalf of someone.
first order logic definition: GroupOfAgents(x) ↔ ObjectAggregate(x) ∧ ∃y(Agent(y) ∧ hasMemberPartAtSomeTime(x, y)) ∧ ∀z (hasMemberPartAtSomeTime(x, z) → Agent(z))
natural language definition: group (object aggregate) that has one or more agents as members
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'group of agents is defined as exactly an instance of 'object aggregate' that only has 'agent' as 'member parts' and that always has at least one 'agent as its 'member part'

group of persons
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: object aggregate
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member part
    some values from: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member part
    all values from: person
subclass of: object aggregate
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has member part
  some values from: person
example: The band, called The Beatles, survived the change in drummer from Pete Best to Ringo Starr
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
first order logic definition: GroupOfPersons(x) ↔ ObjectAggregate(x) ∧ ∃y(Person(y) ∧ hasMemberPartAtSomeTime(x, y)) ∧ ∀z(hasMemberPartAtSomelTime(x, z) → Person(z))
natural language definition: group (object aggregate) that has one or more persons as members
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'group of persons' is defined as exactly an instance of 'object aggregate' that 'has member part at some time' some 'person' and 'has member part at some time' only 'person'

identifier
type: Class
subclass of: designative information content entity
example: URI of a website; social security number of a person (living in the United States), a global location number assigned to the Amazon regional distribution center at 12300 Bermuda Rd in Henderson, NV; the lot identifier assigned to a batch of rivets just received from China by the Airbus final assembly plant in Toulouse, FR; the VIN number assigned to the Tesla in my garage; a credit card number, the value of a field in a company's internal IT systems system used to uniquely identify a particular product and product revision.
adapted from: https://www.omg.org/spec/Commons/Identifiers/Identifier
explanatory note: 1. Identifier can be just one designative ICE or consist of a combination of them. It can also be a combination of other types of information; for example, in a particular domain of discourse, a combination of first name and last name can provide sufficient uniqueness for entities in that domain. 2. The designative property enforces uniqueness as it is a functional property. In other words, on the instance level, each instance of identifier designates exactly one instance of an entity.
first-order logic axiom: Identifier(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ designates(x,e))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that is used to uniquely identify an entity within a particular context
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely patterns to connect context to the identifier are still missing
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'identifier' then x is an 'information content entity' that 'designates' some 'entity'

information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: generically dependent continuant
example: the content of an email; the content of a document; the content in a CAD file; an algorithm for solving the quadratic equation; a guide or standard for writing and formatting conference papers.
abbreviation: ICE
adapted from: Information Artifact Ontology, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000030 and also the Common Core Ontology, http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology
explanatory note: 1. Information content entity is intended to be a class of entities whose instances represent some distinct content or pattern independent from the various ways of conveying it by physical, electronic, or other means. For example, three instances of information bearers -- a bar chart, a color-coded map, and a written report -- each conveying the GDP of Countries for the year 2010, are each different carriers of the same information content. It is this content that is generically dependent upon its carrier. This treatment of information content entity leads to a principle of subtyping based upon the relationship that ICE's have with the entity they are about rather than attributes such as format, language, measurement scale, or media. The latter are treated here as various qualities of the material entities that have them. 2. Information content entities are typically textual or schematic.
first-order logic axiom: GenericallyDependentContinuant(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ isAbout(x,e)) → InformationContentEntity(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: content or a pattern (generically dependent continuant) that is about some entity
primitive rationale: Information content entities may well "be about" entity types for which no instances ever come into existence (e.g., a plan or requirement not implemented or satisfied, a command or directive never obeyed or followed, or an objective never achieved). IOF's current approach to modeling such informational entity types is to provide one or more sufficient conditions that can be readily expressed in OWL.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'generically dependent continuant' that 'is about' some 'entity' then x is an 'information content entity'
synonym: Information

loss of role
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: process
  intersection of: Class
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: occupies temporal region
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: temporal interval
        intersection of: Class
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has input
      some values from: role
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has participant at all times
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: independent continuant
      intersection of: Class
        complement of: spatial region
subclass of: process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant at all times
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: independent continuant
    intersection of: Class
      complement of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occupies temporal region
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: temporal interval
    intersection of: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: is temporally overlapped by
        some values from: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: met by
        some values from: Class
      union of: Restriction
        on property: temporally finishes
        some values from: Class
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: role
example: the process of losing a student role when a student graduates
adapted from: CCO
explanatory note: 1. If only one date-time is available for some loss of role processes due to lack of data or an interval being smaller than the tick time (the smallest duration by which the time progresses) then the date-time should be asserted either only for first instant or only for last instant of every interval, for which a loss of role process occurs, uniformly for the entire knowledge base. For example, Bill Clinton lost the role of presidency on 19 December 1998 should be modeled as the process p of type ‘loss of role’ ‘occupies temporal region’ r (a ‘temporal interval’) which ‘has first instant’ i (a ‘temporal instant’) which ‘has value expression at all times’ v (a ‘temporal instant value expression’) which ‘has data-time value’ 1998-12-19T00:00:00Z.
first order logic definition: LossOfRole(p) ↔ Process(p) ∧ ∃t∃t1∃r∃y(TemporalInterval(t) ∧ TemporalInterval(t1) ∧ Role(r) ∧ (IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ ¬SpatialRegion(y)) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(p,t) ∧ (isTemporallyOverlappedBy(t,t1) ∨ temporallyFinishes(t,t1) ∨ metBy(t,t1)) ∧ hasInput(p,r) ∧ existsAt(r,t1) ∧ hasRole(y,r) ∧ hasParticipantAtAllTimes(p,y) ∧ ∀t2(TemporalRegion(t2) ∧ existsAt(r,t2) → (occurrentPartOf(t2,t1) ∨ t2 = t1)))
natural language definition: process in which someone or something (independent continuant that is not a spatial region) ceases to be the bearer of a role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of ‘loss of role’ is defined exactly as an instance of a ‘process’ p that 'occupies temporal region' some 'temporal interval' t that ‘temporally finishes’ or 'is temporally overlapped by’ or is 'met by' some 'temporal interval' t1 and p ‘has participant at all times’ some 'independent continuant' that is not a 'spatial region' y, and p ‘has input’ some ‘role’ r that only ‘exists at’ t1 and y 'has role' r

maintainable material item
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: material artifact
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: maintainable material item role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: maintainable material item role
example: CNC machine on which routine maintenance is performed
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: MaintainableMaterialItem(x) ↔ (MaterialArtifact(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃r (MaintainableMaterialItemRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material artifact or engineered system which has the maintainable material item role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'maintainable material item' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material artifact' or an 'engineered system' which 'has role' some 'maintainable material item role'

maintainable material item role
type: Class
subclass of: role
example: a CNC machine has the maintainable material item role when it is undergoing repair after a failure
adapted from: https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2900/WS5Paper2.pdf
first-order logic axiom: MaintainableMaterialItemRole(x) → Role(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role played by an asset (engineered system or material artifact) when there is a maintenance strategy prescribing its maintenance process
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for 'maintenance strategy' and 'maintenance process' need to be formalized.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'maintainable material item' then x is a 'role'

manufacturer
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: organization
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: manufacturer role
subclass of: agent
subclass of: organization
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: manufacturer role
example: MiliporeSigma is a manufacturer of single-use bioreactors; Boeing is a manufacturer of airplanes; dell is a manufacturer of lap-tops
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: Manufacturer(x) ↔ Organization(x) ∧ ∃r(ManufacturerRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: organization which has a manufacturer role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'manufacturer' is defined as exactly an instance of 'organization' that 'has role' some 'manufacturer role'

manufacturer role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: organization
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: product production process
example: MiliporeSigma has a manufacturer role when it produces single-use bioreactors; Boeing has a manufacturer role when it produces airplanes; Dell has a manufacturer role when it produces lap-tops
adapted from: bizfluent.com
first-order logic axiom: ManufacturerRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y∃p(Organization(y) ∧ ProductProductionProcess(p) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: agent role held by an organization when it produces material products
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for linking the manufacturer to a product it produces are still lacking.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'manufacturer role' x then x is an 'agent role' that is the 'role of' some 'organization' when it 'participates in at some time' some 'product production process'

manufacturing process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: agent
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: is carrier of
      some values from: plan specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  some values from: Class
    union of: material artifact
    union of: Class
      intersection of: material entity
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: prescribed by
        some values from: design specification
example: Drilling a hole on an engine block; manufacturing operation for making a shaft consisting of milling, turning, and drilling manufacturing processes; assembly process, and quality control process; a manufacturing process that uses 3D printing to create the output material entity.
adapted from: ISO 15531-1 and ISO 15531-43:2006(en)
counter example: statistical process control and preventative maintenance management processes that maximize machine availability and the product quality of manufactured products.
explanatory note: 1. This definition presupposes that the outputs of a manufacturing process are in every case material artifacts or man-made substances. 2. Processes that have as their primary output, something immaterial or informational in nature (digital outputs), such as found in the production of software, will be considered speparately at a later stage. 3.. There are other processes that while they may come into direct contact with a manufactured component or substance and are often considered part of the overall set of activities planned and executed to manufacture something, they are not "transformative" in nature relative to that which is manufactured, and are specifically excluded the definition. Examples include setup, tear down, transporting components or materials between locations, inspection, and so forth. This is addressed by output in the axiom. Setup => does not have output. Tear down like disassembly should still be considered transformative. 4. This definition places no additional restrictions on the output of a manufacturing process in terms of being in a state of completion (completed component or finished good).
first-order logic axiom: ManufacturingProcess(x) → PlannedProcess(x) ∧ ∃m∃y∃p∃z(MaterialEntity(m) ∧ (MaterialArtifact(y) ∨ ∃d(MaterialEntity(y) ∧ DesignSpecification(d) ∧ prescribes(d,y))) ∧ PlanSpecification(p) ∧ prescribes(p,x) ∧ Agent(z) ∧ isCarrierOfAtSomeTime(z,p) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(z,x) ∧ isInputOf(m,x) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: planned process that consists of a structured set of operations through which input material is transformed or modified
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for 'being transformed or modified' need to be formalized
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'manufacturing process' x then x is a 'planned process' that 'has input' some 'material entity' and 'has specified output' some 'material artifact' or a 'material entity' that is 'prescribes by' some 'design specification' and x 'has participant at some time' some 'agent' that is the 'carrier of at some time' a 'plan specification' that 'prescribes' x

material artifact
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: object
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: bearer of
    some values from: designed function
subclass of: object
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: bearer of
  some values from: designed function
example: a machine, a screwdriver, a screw, a sheet of paper
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ArtifactOntology
first order logic definition: MaterialArtifact(x) ↔ Object(x) ∧ ∃f(DesignedFunction(f) ∧ bearerOf(x,f))
natural language definition: object that is deliberately created to have a certain function
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'material artifact' is defined as exactly an instance of 'object' that is the 'bearer of' some 'designed function'

material component
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material component role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: material component role
example: portion of water; portion of crude oil; sea shells; bolt; transmission assembly;engine in an airplane
counter example: Braking subsystem -- systems and subsystems are object aggregates and often have fiat boundaries, in which case they may be incorrectly inferred as product components. Othertimes, they are systems with bonafide boundaries and should be inferred as a product component.
explanatory note: 1. Assemblies that are components for one manufacturer may be final products for another (e.g., the selling of diesel engines is a primary product line of Cummins diesel engine yet a component assembly for its customers, Freightliner Trucks). In other words, the context in which a material entity is used must be considered to determine whether it bears the component role. 2. In most manufacturing use cases, material components will be a subclass of 'material artifact'. 3. See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: MaterialComponent(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialComponentRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the material component role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'material component' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material entity' that 'has role' some 'material component role'
synonym: part

material component role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: material entity
example: an engine has the component role when it is a part of a car; a tool when it is planned to be mounted on a CNC machine
adapted from: APICS
first-order logic axiom: MaterialComponentRole(x) → Role(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role held by a material entity when it is a proper part of another material entity or is planned to be a proper part of another material entity
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for 'planned to be a part' need to be formalized. Also, the realization of the material component role needs to be analyzed further.
semi-formal natural language axiom: If x is a 'material component role' then x is a 'role'

material location change process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property:
        inverse of: location of at all times
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: independent continuant
        intersection of: Restriction
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property:
        inverse of: location of at all times
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: independent continuant
        intersection of: Restriction
example: Shipping goods from a warehouse to a customer; moving a tool from one location (work center) to another within the factory; transporting finished goods from one warehouse to another; pumping portions of crude oil through a pipeline; transferring a load of apples from a bin to a container; picking an apple; transporting passengers on a bus;
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/EventOntology and https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motion
counter example: A specific type of material handling: E.g., changing only the orientation of the object within the same site (this does not change the site from t to t'); throwing waste into a garbage bin; removing a wing nut from a fixture in preparation for inserting a workpiece into the fixture.
explanatory note: 1. Material transfer process includes both the internal (e.g., inside a factory) and external (e.g., between factories) movement of an object 2. BFO:Site is the synonym for physical location which is why Site is used in the axioms
first-order logic axiom: MaterialLocationChangeProcess(​x​) → PlannedProcess(​x)​ ∧ ​∃​y∃​​t∃​​t​1∃​​t2∃​s∃​s1∃​z∃​z1(MaterialEntity(​y​) ∧ TemporalInstant(t) ∧ TemporalInstant(t1) ∧ TemporalRegion(t2) ∧ IndependentContinuant(s) ∧ IndependentContinuant(s1) ∧ Site(z) ∧ Site(z1) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y) ∧ firstInstantOf(​t​, ​t2) ∧ lastInstantOf(​t1​, ​t2​) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(​x,​t2)​ ∧ existsAt(s,t) ∧ existsAt(s1,t1) ∧ locatedInAtalltimes(s,z) ∧ locatedInAtAlltimes(s1,z1) ∧ locationOfAtAlltimes(s,y) ∧ locationOfAtAllTimes(s1,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: planned process that results in a material entity moving from one physical location to another
primitive rationale: Patterns for adequate reification of the n-ary pattern that is change of location need further refinement and testing.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'material location change process' then x is a 'planned process' in which a 'material entity' is moved from one 'site' to another

material product
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material product role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: material product role
example: 1. Natural resources: the seashells lying on the beach that some person collects, packages and sells; the iron ore in a mountain the rights to which some mining company has just purchased which they intend to mine and sell to iron-making processors; 2. Any manufactured good when it is offered for sale, supplied or being bought
counter example: certified pre-owned warranty plan; software as a service (SaaS); training course; consultancy services; Office 365
explanatory note: 1. The definition does exclude services sold as product which deviates from some standard definitions and economic theory. Services as products as well as software products will be considered in the next version of the IOF Core 2. See expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: MaterialProduct(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialProductRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the material product role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'material product' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material entity' that is the 'has role' some 'material product role'

material product role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: Class
        union of: buying business process
        union of: offering for sale business process
        union of: supplying business process
example: a manufactured good has a material product role when a manufacturer offers it for sale; a drug product has a material product role when it is bought by a customer in a pharmacy; sea shells have a material product role when they are collected, packaged and offered for sale;
adapted from: Oxford Languages, term by the name ‘product’; also Wikipedia, term by the name ‘goods’ (as used in economics) and in particular, tangible goods
first-order logic axiom: MaterialProductRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y∃z((BuyingBusinessProcess(y) ∨ OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(y) ∨ SupplyingBusinessProcess(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(z) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(z,y) ∧ roleOf(x,z))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role held by a material entity that is intended to be sold, or has been bought, or has been supplied
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for economic transactions and ownership are lacking
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'material product role' x then x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' when it 'participates in at some time' some 'buying business process' or 'offering for sale business process' or 'supplying business process'

material resource
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: material resource role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: material resource role
example: factory available to be used for producing a product; a body of water available to cool a reactor; money available to a person to buy an item; a portion of raw material available to produce a good or service
counter example: (ambiguous/undesirable): a portion of water on my factory floor that formed after a recent rainshower.
explanatory note: 1. This defined class is designed to group material entities according to a very broad criterion and is not intended to be used as a parent class for resource types that can be more specifically asserted under another class. 2. Skills and capabilities or other entities in the SDC branch are not resources but they can be considered resources indirectly through their bearer 3. See expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: MaterialResource(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(MaterialResourceRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the material resource role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'material resource' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material entity' that 'has role' some 'material resource role'

material resource role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: is available to at some time
      some values from: Class
        union of: engineered system
        union of: group of agents
        union of: person
example: factory has a material resource role when it is available to be used for producing a product; a body of water has a material resource role when it is available to cool a reactor; money has a material resource role when it is available to a person to buy an item; a portion of raw material has a material resource role when it is available to produce a good or service
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/ArtifactOntology
first-order logic axiom: MaterialResourceRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃a∃y((Person(a) ∨ GroupOfAgents(a) ∨ EngineeredSystem(y)) ∧ MaterialEntity(y) ∧ isAvailableToAtSomeTime(y,a) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role played by a material entity that consists in it being available to a person or group of agents or engineered system
primitive rationale: This term is expected to remain primitive. While 'is available to at some time' captures the essence of being a material resource, the realization of the material resource role is expected to have too generic of a scope to define a sufficient condition that would not cause conflict (overlap) with the realization of other roles.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'material resource role' x then x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' when it 'is available to at some time' some 'person' or 'group of agents' or 'engineered system'

material state
type: Class
subclass of: process
example: the lightswitch in the off state from 9 PM to 8 AM; the machine in fail state from 4 PM to 5 PM; perfusion bioreactor was run in steady state for two days, a truck is in a stop state because its position has been unchanged
adapted from: Oxford Languages, term by the name ‘state’
explanatory note: 1. Although the notion of "particular condition"; has not been introduced in this release, the IOF's approach will be to model this as a dependent entity such that at any timeframe during which it exists, it depends on some material entity -- meaning a material state will necessarily "be focused on" a particular condition of some material entity for which the state is ascribed. Condition here would encompass BFO: specifically-dependent continuants (qualities, dispositions and other realizable entities types) as well as site (the absolute or relative location of a material entity). In the future, the coverage will be expanded to include some currently "missing dependent entity types"; including orientation, and cases wherein a material entity is in a particular condition because it has or is in particular composition or configuration (e.g. the setup action of a machine and jig is complete and it is not in a setup/ready-for-run state). 2. Unchanging, is intended to encompass not just having a particular condition for the duration of the state, but potentially being value-bound to some constant or even within a given range as prescribed by some design or requirement specification. Specialized sub-types may be introduced to handle such value-based constant and range-bound states and conditions. 3. The term as introduced here is not intended to be used for modeling what we might call the "state of a process" (e.g., equilibrium state for chemical, physical and biological processes or steady-state or discrete or continuous production processes), nor for modeling the states of non-real entities (e.g., virtual entities participating in virtual simulation program and any other informational or abstract entities, when they are considered to be in a particular condition). Extensions to the BFO framework as well as further work on 'process characteristic' may be first needed to handle these use cases and such specialized state classes will be introduced in a future release.
first-order logic axiom: MaterialState(x) → Process(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: process in which a material entity that participates in the process has a condition that remains unchanged
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs to formalize range,limits and constant values over a period of time are still lacking.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'material state' then x is a 'process'
synonym: stasis

maturity level
type: Class
definition: classifier used to specify the state of a resource in its development process

measured value expression
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: value expression
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is measured value of at some time
    some values from: Class
      union of: temporal region
      union of: specifically dependent continuant
      union of: process characteristic
subclass of: value expression
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is measured value of at some time
  some values from: Class
    union of: temporal region
    union of: specifically dependent continuant
    union of: process characteristic
example: the value of '20g' that represents the measured weight of a mouse and that is determined on the quantitative scale of mass
adapted from: International Vocabulary of Metrology Fourth edition,2.11
explanatory note: 1. The values of the measured value expression are generated during the measurement process that produces the measurement information content entity the measured value expression is a part of. The corresponding parthood axiom is captured in the measurement information content entity class and is not reintroduced in the formal definition here to avoid redundancy. 2. Since this class is a subclassOf: value expression, the values contained in the measured value expression are always according to a classification scheme or a quantitative scale.
first order logic definition: MeasuredValueSpecification(x) ↔ ValueExpression(x) ∧ ∃e((TemporalRegion(e) ∨ ProcessCharacteristic(e) ∨ SpecificallyDependentContinuant(e)) ∧ isMeasuredValueOfAtSomeTime(x,e))
natural language definition: value expression that contains the measured value of an attribute (specifically dependent continuant or process characteristic or temporal region)
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'measured value expression' is defined exactly as an instance of 'information content entity' that 'is measured value of at some time' some 'process characteristic' or 'temporal region' or 'specifically dependent continuant'

measurement capability
type: Class
subclass of: capability
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: capability of
  some values from: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has realization
  all values from: measurement process
example: the capability of a pH sensor to measure the pH; capability of a scale to measure the weight of an object
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0000453
explanatory note: To measure the value means to determine the entities value relative to some classification scheme or on a quantitative scale.
first-order logic axiom: MeasurementCapability(x) → Capability(x) ∧ ∃z(MaterialEntity(z) ∧ capabilityOf(x,z)) ∧ ∀y(hasRealization(x,y) → MeasurementProcess(y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: capability of a material entity to measure the value of some entity
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs in the ontology to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, 'to measure the value' needs a better formalization in its connection to the capability
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'measurement capability' then x is a 'capability' that is the 'capability of' some 'material entity' and whenever some y 'realizes' x that y must be a 'measurement process'

measurement information content entity
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: information content entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has continuant part at all times
    some values from: measured value expression
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: describes
    some values from: Class
      union of: temporal region
      union of: specifically dependent continuant
      union of: process characteristic
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is about
    some values from: Class
      union of: process
      union of: process boundary
      union of: Class
        intersection of: independent continuant
        intersection of: Class
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is output of
    some values from: measurement process
subclass of: descriptive information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part at all times
  some values from: measured value expression
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: describes
  some values from: Class
    union of: temporal region
    union of: specifically dependent continuant
    union of: process characteristic
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: Class
    union of: process
    union of: process boundary
    union of: Class
      intersection of: independent continuant
      intersection of: Class
        complement of: spatial region
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is output of
  some values from: measurement process
example: a two fold increase in expression of a gene in a cancer patient and the associated metadata; results of measuring the thickness of a piece of steel; results of measuring the change in pH in a bioreactor over the interval of two days
abbreviation: measurement ICE
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/InformationEntityOntology and the International Vocabulary of Metrology
counter example: similarity measurement of information
explanatory note: 1. Attribute here comprehends qualities in case the entity the measurement content entity 'is about' is an independent continuant and process characteristics if the entity is a process or temporal region if the entity is a process or process boundary. 2. Measurement ICE describes attributes of physical entities. As such, it is not intended to be used for capturing metrics related to strictly digital objects (information content entities in the IOF framework). 3. Measurement ICE can contain qualitative, semi-quantitative, or quantitative measurements of the attribute. These values are stored within the measured value expression that is a part of the measurement ICE. 4. Measurement ICE can be utilized for both raw and processed measurement data. 5. The International Vocabulary of Metrology defines measurement ICE as a "set of values being attributed to a measurand together with any other available relevant information." This implies that, in addition to the actual measurement value, the measurement ICE contains other information(e.g., the entity of interest of which the measurand is the 'attribute of').
first order logic definition: MeasurementInformationContentEntity(x) ↔ InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y∃z∃m∃p(((IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ ¬(SpatialRegion(y)) ∧ SpecificallyDependentContinuant(z) ∧ bearerOf(y,z)) ∨ (Process(y) ∨ ProcessBoundary(y) ∧ TemporalRegion(z) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(y,z)) ∨ (Process(y) ∧ ProcessCharacteristic(z) ∧ processCharacteristicOf(z,y))) ∧ MeasuredValueExpression(m) ∧ MeasurementProcess(p) ∧ isAbout(x,y) ∧ describes(x,z) ∧ hasContinuantPartAtAllTimes(x,m) ∧ isMeasuredValueOf(m,y) ∧ isOutputOf(x,p))
natural language definition: informational content that is the result of measuring a set of attributes (specifically dependent continuant or process characteristic or temporal region) belonging to the entity (independent continuant or process or process boundary) the informational content is about
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'measurement information content entity is defined as exactly an instance of 'information content entity' that is 'output of' some 'measurement process' that 'describes' some 'specifically dependent continuant' or 'temporal region' or 'process characteristic' y that are an attribute of ('inhere in' or 'process characteristic of' or temporally occupied by) a 'process' or 'process boundary' or 'independent continuant'(that is not a 'spatial region') the 'measurement information content entity' 'is about' and that 'has continuant part at all times' some 'measured value expression' that 'is measured value of' y

measurement process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      intersection of: material entity
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: has capability
        some values from: measurement capability
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: measures at some time
      some values from: Class
        union of: temporal region
        union of: specifically dependent continuant
        union of: process characteristic
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  all values from: measurement information content entity
example: measuring the pH of a buffer by a pH probe; measuring of a weight of a bulk of a substance by an industrial scale; measuring the rate of an enzymatic reaction by a spectrophotometer; measuring the time it takes to produce a unit of a product
adapted from: ISO 9000:2015(en), 3.11.5
explanatory note: 1. Determining the value here is to be interpreted in the context of qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative measurements. As such, it comprehends both categorical and numerical measurements. 2. Typically, the results of measurements are recorded and stored as a measurement information content entity. 3. Measurement processes can have as temporal or occurrent parts other measurement processes as well data transformation processes which transform the raw measurement data. 4. The entity whose attribute is measured might either participate in the process if it is a continuant or occupy a temporal interval that precedes or partially coincides with the measurement process if it is an occurrent. 5. The material entity measuring the attribute must be capable of measuring that attribute. This is axiomatically captured by mandating that the material entity that is measuring the attribute must have a measurement capability.
first-order logic axiom: MeasurementProcess ↔ PlannedProcess(x) ∧ ∃m∃y∃z∃c(MaterialEntity(m) ∧ MeasurementCapability(c) ∧ hasCapability(m,c) ∧ (((IndependentContinuant(y) ∧ ¬(SpatialRegion(y))) ∧ SpecificallyDependentContinuant(z) ∧ bearerOf(y,z) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,x)) ∨ (Process(y) ∨ ProcessBoundary(y) ∧ TemporalRegion(z) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(y,z) ∧ ∃t(temporalRegion(t) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(x,t) ∧ (occurrentPartOf(t,z) ∨ hasOccurrentPart(t,z)))) ∨ (Process(y) ∧ ProcessCharacteristic(z) ∧ processCharacteristicOf(z,y) ∧ (preceedes(y,x) ∨ ∃t1∃t2(temporalRegion(t1) ∧ temporalRegion(t2) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(x,t1) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(y,t2) ∧ (occurrentPartOf(t1,t2) ∨ hasOccurrentPart(t1,t2)))))) ∧ measuresAtSomeTime(m,z)) ∧ ∀b(hasSpecifiedOutput(x,b) → MeasurementInformationContentEntity(b))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: planned process to determine the value of an attribute (specifically dependent continuant or temporal region or process characteristic) of an entity of interest
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, n-ary constructs that are able to adequately capture the relation between the process, attribute and the entity of interest are still lacking. Also formalization of being an entity of interest is lacking.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'measurement process' then x is a 'planned process' that 'has participant at some time' some 'material entity' y that 'has measurement capability' and y 'measures at some time' either 1) 'process characteristic' that is 'process characteristic of' a 'process' that 'preceedes' or (partially or fully) temporally coincides with x) or 2)'specifically dependent continuant' that 'inheres in' an 'independent continuant' (that is not a 'spatial region') which 'participates in at some time' x or 3) 'temporal region' that is temporally occupied by some 'process' or 'process boundary' and that 'has occurrent part' or 'occurent part of' a 'temporal region' temporally occupied by x and whenever x 'has specified output' b that b must be a 'measurement information content entity'

objective specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
example: The objective specification in a manufacturer's six-sigma process improvement program will describe in some detail, the quality improvements to be achieved (as in e.g. the level of reduction in causes of defects, or in the level variability in either or both manufacturing and business processes).
adapted from: http://www.obofoundry.org/ontology/iao.html
explanatory note: 1.Typically is part of a plan specification. 2.The NL definition states that the objective specification 'prescribes' the outcome of a 'process'. This does not necessarily imply that a given process exists as an instance during the entire 'objective specification' lifecycle. Instead, it should be interpreted as "if an instance of the Process X (X here is intended to represent an OWL:Class that is SubClassOf: Process) exists, then its outcome should be as 'prescribed by' the 'objective specification'.
first-order logic axiom: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y∃p(Process(p) ∧ isAchievedByAtSomeTime(x,p) ∧ ((ProcessCharacteristic(y) ∧ processCharacteristicOf(y,p))∨ (Capability(y) ∧ hasRealization(x,y)) ∨ (Continuant(c) ∧ isOutputOf(c,p))) ∧ prescribes(x,y)) → ObjectiveSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes what the outcome of some process should be
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'information content entity' that 'is achieved by at some time' some 'process' p and that 'prescribes' some 'process characteristic' which is a 'process characteristic of' p or 'capability' that 'has realization' p or 'continuant' c that is 'output of' p then x is an 'objective specification'

organization
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: organized group of agents
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member part at all times
    some values from: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designated by
    some values from: organization identifier
subclass of: organized group of agents
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has member part at all times
  some values from: person
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: designated by
  some values from: organization identifier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has member part
  all values from: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has proper continuant part at some time
  all values from: organization
example: goverment, a company, a political party, a city goverment, yakuza, department, division
adapted from: https://spec.edmcouncil.org/fibo/ontology/FND/Organizations/Organizations/Organization
explanatory note: 1. An organization may have a set of organizational rules that, among other things, prescribe a set of roles and responsibilities its members bear, how important decisions are made, and how members should behave when acting on behalf of the organization. 2. As introduced here, the mere gathering of a group of persons does not imply the existence of an organization, unless and until such members agree to form an organization and have agreed to a common set of objectives as mentioned in point 1.
first-order logic axiom: Organization(x) → ∀y(hasMemberPartAtSomeTime(x,y) → (Person(y) ∨ Organization(y))) ∧ ∀z(hasProperContinuantPartAtSomeTime(x,z) → Organization(z))
first order logic definition: Organization(x) ↔ OrganizedGroupOfAgents(x) ∧ ∃p∃i(Person(p) ∧OrganizationIdentifier(i) ∧ designatedBy(x,i) ∧ hasMemberPartAtAllTimes(x,p))
natural language definition: group of persons that identifies itself by some name and pursues a common set of plans and objectives
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'organization' then whenever x 'has member part at some time' y that y must be a 'peson' or 'organization' and whenever x 'has proper continuant part at some time' z that z must be a 'organization'
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'organization' is defined exactly as an instance of 'organized group of agents' that is 'designated by' some 'organization identifier' and that 'has member part at all times' one or more 'person'
usage note: Members of organizations are people or other organizations. However, an organization may be composed of several sub-organizations (e.g., departments). This composition should be modeled through 'proper continuant part' relations.

organization identifier
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: identifier
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: organization
subclass of: identifier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: designates
  some values from: organization
example: DUNS Number, CAGE Code, EIN, FIIN, BICID, DODAACID, SCACID
explanatory note: 1. Organization identifier used here is intended to uniquely identify a particular organization within a region, country, or globally. A government body usually issues one such identifier in the region or country where the business operates (a.k.a. legal entity identifier). Other such identifiers may be assigned by well-known business organizations operating in a locale, a region, or a country -- an example being Dun and Bradstreet for businesses operating in the United States. Moreover, others may still be assigned by international trade organizations for multi-national organizations. In all cases, these unique identifiers facilitate regional or international trade and commerce between such "legal entities." 2. As introduced here, the term serves to identify other organizational types, including government entities, who are often parties in trade or commerce or have a vested interest in controlling it. In the future, the IOF will introduce and adopt a mid-level ontology for legal entities and relations. 3. The identifier of an organization may be the name of an organization or an alias and may only be unique in a particular jurisdiction (locale, region) and may not be unique on a wider scale - namely at the country level or globally.
first order logic definition: OrganizationIdentifier(x) ↔ Identifier(x) ∧ ∃b(Organization(b) ∧ designates(x,b))
natural language definition: identifier that identifies an organization
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of ‘organization identifier’ is defined as exactly an instance of ‘identifier' that 'designates' an 'organization'

organized group of agents
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: group of agents
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: bearer of
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: function
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: prescribed by
        some values from: directive information content entity
subclass of: group of agents
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: bearer of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: function
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: prescribed by
      some values from: directive information content entity
example: goverment, division, an automated manufacturing cell
adapted from: http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/Mid/AgentOntology
first order logic definition: OrganizedGroupOfAgents(x) ↔ ObjectAggregate(x) ∧ ∃i∃f(DirectiveInformationContentEntity(i) ∧ Function(f) ∧ bearerOf(x, f) ∧ prescribes(i, f))
natural language definition: group of agents that is pursuing a common set of plans and objectives
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'organized group of agents' is defined as exactly an instance of 'group of agents' that is the 'bearer of' some 'function' which is 'prescribed by' some 'directive information content entity'

person
type: Class
subclass of: object
example: any individual human being
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/MF_0000016
first-order logic axiom: Person(x) → Object(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: organism that is the member of the species of homo sapiens
primitive rationale: This term is expected to remain primitive. While the IOF might introduce a term for 'organism' in the future, speciation is out of the scope of IOF and should be utilized if needed from a biological ontology
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'person' then x is an 'object'
synonym: human being

physical location identifier
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: identifier
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: designates
    some values from: site
subclass of: identifier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: designates
  some values from: site
example: postal address, GPS coordinate, GS1 global location number (GLN) for physical and digital location, 42.8864° N, 78.8784° W, London, the factory floor
explanatory note: 1. Physical location is a synonym for BFO:Site and hence the usage of BFO:Site within the axioms should be interpreted as physical location 2. As introduced here, the IOF ontology is only dealing with physical locations. Identifiers for other kinds of location designators (e.g., virtual locations) will be considered in a future version. 3. More classes need to be introduced to represent coordinates in 3D space. For this, the OGC specification may be utilized: http://docs.opengeospatial.org/is/18-010r7/18-010r7.html#106
first order logic definition: PhysicalLocationIdentifier(x) ↔ Identifier(x) ∧ ∃l(Site(l) ∧ designates(x,l))
natural language definition: identifier that identifies a physical location (site)
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'physical location identifier' is defined as exactly an instance of 'identifier' that 'designates' a 'site'
synonym: site identifier, site designator

piece of equipment
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: engineered system
    union of: material artifact
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: equipment role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: equipment role
example: wrench when it is used in the maintenance process of a car; chromatography column that is planned to be used in a protein purification process; r truck that is used to transport goods to the buyer; single-use bioreactor when it is planned to be used in the upstream phase of a biomanufacturing process
counter example: buffer designed to keep pH in a bioreactor constant
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience. Therefore, specific kinds of equipment such as machines, devices, and tools should be asserted under 'material artifact' or 'engineered system' as appropriate and not directly under 'piece of equipment'.
first order logic definition: PieceOfEquipment(x) ↔ (MaterialArtifact(x) ∨ EngineeredSystem(x)) ∧ ∃r(EquipmentRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material artifact or engineered system with an equipment role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'piece of equipment' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material artifact' or 'engineered system' that 'has role' some 'equipment role'

plan specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part at all times
  some values from: action specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has continuant part at all times
  some values from: objective specification
example: a manufacturer's sales plan; process plan for producing a part; a schedule for routine maintenance and inspection of a machine; a work order to build 100 of a particular kind component for today.
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_0000104
explanatory note: When concretized, plan specification may be realized in a process where participants take the prescribed actions to achieve the prescribed process objectives. In other words, a plan specification is concretized in a 'planned process' that it 'prescribes'
first-order logic axiom: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃a∃o∃p(ActionSpecification(a) ∧ ObjectiveSpecification(o) ∧ PlannedProcess(p) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(a,x) ∧ continuantPartOfAtAllTimes(o,x) ∧ prescribes(x,p)) → PlanSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that has action specifications and objective specifications as parts
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'information content entity' that 'prescribes' some 'planned process' and x 'has continuant part at all times' some 'action specification' and some 'objective specification' then x is a 'plan specification'
synonym: process design
synonym: process specification
synonym: work instruction

planned process
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: prescribed by
    some values from: plan specification
subclass of: process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: prescribed by
  some values from: plan specification
example: A tire manufacturing process occurs as prescribed by a manufacturing plan specification.
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0000011
counter example: unexpected failure events; unexpected malfunctioning of a machine; safety occurrence (that lacks explicit plan specifications);
explanatory note: 1. 'Planned' is here functioning as a specifier, rather than as a modifier analogous to 'cancelled' or 'averted'. Therefore, to say that a process is planned is not to say that it has not yet taken place. Rather, it is to say that it is (was or will have been) protocol-driven, instruction-driven, command-driven, or software-driven, or in some combination thereof. 2. 'Planned' means 'protocol driven'. Protocols may be written, spoken, or simply thought – as when upon waking up, we plan, for instance, what to eat for breakfast.
first order logic definition: PlannedProcess(x) ↔ Process(x) ∧ ∃s(PlanSpecification(s) ∧ prescribes(s,x))
natural language definition: process that is prescribed by a plan specification
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'planned process' is defined as exactly an instance of 'process' that is 'prescribed by' some 'plan specification'

process characteristic
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
example: the rate of production of a product production process, heart rate, the rate of temperature change resulting from a heating process
explanatory note: Here ‘attribute’ is not a technical term.
first-order logic axiom: ProcessCharacteristic(x) → Occurrent(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: attribute of a process
primitive rationale: This term is expected to remain primitive as it is highly unlikely that a a set of conditions will be created such that no circularity is introduced.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'process characteristic' then x is an 'occurrent'

procuring business process
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has occurrent part
    some values from: buying business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has occurrent part
    some values from: Class
      union of: offering for sale business process
      union of: supplying business process
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  some values from: buying business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  some values from: Class
    union of: offering for sale business process
    union of: supplying business process
example: AstraZeneca buying and being supplied with a bulk of raw materials from MiliPoreSigma; buying and being supplied with a shipment of office supplies
adapted from: ISO 6707-2:2017, 3.5.18
explanatory note: 1. The procurement process considers the whole cycle from identification of needs through to the end of a services contract or the end of the life of goods, including disposal. 2. Sourcing is a part of the procurement process that includes planning, defining specifications (3.26) and selecting suppliers. [Source: ISO 20400:2017] 3. It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
first order logic definition: ProcuringBusinessProcess(x) ↔ BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃b∃s(BuyingBusinessProcess(b) ∧ SupplyingBusinessProcess(s) ∧ hasOccurrentPart(x,b) ∧ hasOccurrentPart(x,s))
natural language definition: business process that consists of buying and ensuring the supply of products or services
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'procuring business process' is defined as exactly an instance of 'business process' that has some 'buying business process' and 'supplying business process' as 'occurent parts'

product production process
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: business process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has occurrent part
    some values from: manufacturing process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: occupies temporal region
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: temporal region
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: temporally overlaps
        some values from: Restriction
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has specified output
    some values from: material product
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has occurrent part
  some values from: manufacturing process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: occupies temporal region
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: temporal region
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: temporally overlaps
      some values from: Restriction
        some values from: material product
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has specified output
  some values from: material product
example: Making of an engine block as a product that consists of many processes such as manufacturing process, assembly process, inspection process etc.
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing and ISO 23952:2020(en)
counter example: 1.Providing a service that does not deliver any tangible good 2.Acquiring unprocessed raw material (e.g., roll of aluminum) with intention to sell them or reselling. The Product existed before the initiation of the planned process.
explanatory note: 1. A product production process is distinct from a maintenance process in that, in the latter case, the product exists both before and after the process occurs. 2. A product production process has several planned processes as parts (sub-processes), including at least one manufacturing or assembly process, and optionally, may include other planned process types such as inspection, packaging, rework, and material handling. 3. Note that the various parts of a product production process, for example, inspection, and testing, cannot be a product production process alone. 4. Some manufacturing processes will also be product production processes.
first order logic definition: ProductProductionProcess(x) ↔ BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃m(ManufacturingProcess(m) ∧ occurentPartOf(m,x)) ∧ ∃y∃t∃t1(MaterialProduct(y) ∧ TemporalRegion(t) ∧ TemporalRegion(t1) ∧ hasSpecifiedOutput(x, y) ∧ occupiesTemporalRegion(x, t) ∧ temporallyOverlaps(t, t1) ∧ existsAt(y, t1))
natural language definition: business process that consists of at least one manufacturing process through which raw materials and components are transformed or modified to create a material product
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'product production process' is defined as exactly an instance of 'business process' that 'has occurrent part', some 'manufacturing process', and 'has specified output' some 'material product' which did not 'exist at' the beginning of the 'product production process'

raw material
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: raw material role
subclass of: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: raw material role
example: rolls of aluminum a manufacturer purchases to be consumed on its bottling lines to produce aluminum cans to package its product, crude oil that is converted into gasoline in a refining process; wheels an automobile manufacturer purchases to assemble into a car
counter example: oil used to power the refining process
explanatory note: This class is very general and it is intended to be used for grouping inputs to the product production process external to the bussiness organization. But, things like material artifacts should not be asserted as subclasses of this class
first order logic definition: RawMaterial(x) ↔ MaterialEntity(x) ∧ ∃r(RawMaterialRole(x) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: material entity which has the raw material role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'raw material' is defined as exactly an instance of 'material entity' that 'has role' some 'raw material role'

raw material role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: buying business process
        intersection of: Restriction
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has realization
  all values from: Class
    union of: product production process
    union of: Class
      intersection of: manufacturing process
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: occurrent part of
        some values from: product production process
example: rolls of aluminum a manufacturer purchases to be consumed to produce aluminum cans
adapted from: ISO 17889-1:2021(en) and https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw%20material
counter example: production intermediary going from one production cell to another; reagent that is used in a quality testing process of the product or any intermediary
explanatory note: 1. IOF considers raw materials only material entities that are acquired from a different organizational unit. However, that organizational unit can be within the same manufacturing enterprise (e.g., exchange of goods between divisions). 2. Raw materials are incorporated during the product production process into the final product. In other words, 'raw materials' exclude consumables from non-manufacturing processes that are a part of product production (e.g., maintenance or quality control) or consumables that are not incorporated into the product (e.g., single-use equipment).
first-order logic axiom: RawMaterialRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y∃m∃z∃b(BuyingBusinessProcess(y) ∧ Organization(m) ∧ MaterialEntity(z) ∧ BuyerRole(b) ∧ roleOf(b,m) ∧ roleOf(x,z) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(y,m) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(y,z)) ∧ ∀y1(hasRealization(x,y1) → (ProductProductionProcess(y1) ∨ ManufacturingProcess(y1)))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: role held by a material entity when it is acquired by an organizational entity with some plan to transform or modify it into intermediate-level components or substances or into a product
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for transforming or modifying are lacking.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'raw material role' then x is a 'role' that is the 'role of' some 'material entity' when it 'participates in at some time' a 'buying business process' in which some 'organization' that 'has role' 'buyer role' participates in at some time' and whenever x 'has realization' y that y must be a 'product production process' or a 'manufacturing process'

requirement specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: objective specification
example: UML use case document, competency questions, high level activity diagram
adapted from: https://demo-irm-dnvgl.northeurope.cloudapp.azure.com/ontology/requirement-ontology/core/A01A
explanatory note: Being a requirement specification can be context specific. For example, a UML class diagram may be a requirement specification for a data exchange specification or a design specification for software code.
first-order logic axiom: LA1: RequirementSpecification(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y(ObjectiveSpecification(y) ∧ isAbout(x,y))
first-order logic axiom: LA2: InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃y(Entity(y) ∧ satisfiesRequirement(y,x)) → RequirementSpecification(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that prescribes a set of requirements
primitive rationale: See the general discussion and rationale provided for informational entities under 'information content entity'.
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA1: if x is a 'requirement specification' then x is an 'information content entity' that 'is about' some 'objective specification'
semi-formal natural language axiom: LA2: if x is an 'information content entity' and exists an entity that 'satisfies requirement' x then x is a 'requirement specification'

offering for sale business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: supplier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Class
    union of: commercial service agreement
    union of: material product
example: Good Year offers tires for sale, Boeing offers 737 planes for along with service agreements for the maintenance of the planes
adapted from: CCO:http://www.ontologyrepository.com/CommonCoreOntologies/ActOfBuying NL definition: OAGIS and CCO
explanatory note: It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
first-order logic axiom: OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y∃z((MaterialProduct(y) ∨ CommercialServiceAgreement(y)) ∧ Supplier(z) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTIme(x,y) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,z))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: business process wherein a product or commercial service is offered by an agent (seller) for another agent (buyer) to acquire ownership via a financial instrument
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, ownership and economic transactions require formalization.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is an 'offering for sale business process' then x is a 'business proces' that 'has participant at some time' some 'supplier' and x 'has participant at some time' some 'material product' or 'commercial service agreement'

service provider
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: service provider role
subclass of: supplier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: service provider role
example: FedEx; Home-cleaning service; aircraft maintenance service; internet service provider
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: ServiceProvider(x) ↔ (Person(x) ∨ Organization(x)) ∧ ∃r(ServiceProviderRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: person or organization which has a service provider role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'service provider' is defined as exactly an instance of 'person' or 'organization' that 'has role' some 'service provider role'

service provider role
type: Class
subclass of: supplier role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: organization
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: Class
        union of: commercial service
        union of: Class
example: FedEx; Home-cleaning service; aircraft maintenance service; internet service provider
adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_provider
first-order logic axiom: ServiceProviderRole(x) → AgentRole(x) ∧ ∃y∃p((Organization(y) ∨ Person(y)) ∧ (CommercialService(p) ∨ (OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(p) ∧ ∃c(CommercialServiceAgreement(c) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(p,c)))) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: supplier role held by a person or organization when it offers to sell or provide a commercial service
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for economic transactions and ownership are lacking
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'service provider role' then x is an 'agent role' that is the 'role of' some 'person' or 'organization' that 'participates in at some time' some 'commercial service' or some 'offering for sale business process' which 'has participant at some time' some 'commercial service agreement'

supplier
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: Class
    union of: organization
    union of: person
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: supplier role
subclass of: agent
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has role
  some values from: supplier role
example: logistics service provider; vending machine; the material handling department (which manages the raw material and finished goods in company warehouses, and provides material handling services to manufacturing and other departments within its factories)
explanatory note: See the expanded definition under the corresponding role class. The term is formalized here as a defined class by referring to its corresponding role class and exists primarily for ontological modeling and implementation convenience.
first order logic definition: Supplier(x) ↔ Person(x) ∨ Organization(x) ∧ ∃r(SupplierRole(r) ∧ hasRole(x,r))
natural language definition: person or organization which has a supplier role
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'supplier' is defined as exactly an instance of 'person' or 'organization' that 'has role' some 'supplier role'

supplier role
type: Class
subclass of: agent role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: role of
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      union of: organization
      union of: person
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: participates in
      some values from: Class
        union of: offering for sale business process
        union of: supplying business process
example: logistics service provider; vending machine; the material handling department (which manages the raw material and finished goods in company warehouses, and provides material handling services to manufacturing and other departments within its factories)
adapted from: APICS, term by the same name and Oxford Languages, term by the name ‘vendor’
first-order logic axiom: SupplierRole(x) → Role(x) ∧ ∃y∃p((Organization(y) ∨ Person(y)) ∧ (SupplyingBusinessProcess(p) ∨ OfferingForSaleBusinessProcess(p)) ∧ participatesInAtSomeTime(y,p) ∧ roleOf(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: agent role held by a person or organization when it offers to sell or provide products or services
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for economic transactions and ownership are lacking.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'supplier role' x then x is an 'agent role' that is the 'role of' some 'person' or 'organization' when it 'participates in at some time' some 'supplying business process' or 'offering for sale business process'

supplying business process
type: Class
subclass of: business process
subclass of: Class
  union of: Restriction
    on property: has participant
    some values from: material product
  union of: Restriction
    on property: occurrent part of
    some values from: commercial service
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: supplier
example: BMW dealer supplies a car to the Customer; US importer of steel from China supplies the steel to a US manufacturer; company (supplier) supplied (ship directly) a product to a buyer who bought the product on Amazon (seller)
adapted from: https://www.oberlo.com/ecommerce-wiki/supply
counter example: A BMW dealer supplies a car to a Customer in the US, but the BMW Manufacturer in Germany does not supply the car to the Customer. The BMW Manufacturer supplies the car to the BMW dealer.
explanatory note: 1. To supply a product means to deliver the product to another agent. 2.To supply a service means to perform a process (e.g. commercial service) for another agent, typically involving a service agreement. 3.It should be noted that we consciously exclude the person-to-person transactions, but person-to-business is not excluded.
first-order logic axiom: SupplyingBusinessProcess(x) → BusinessProcess(x) ∧ ∃y(Supplier(y) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,y)) ∧ (∃p(MaterialProduct(p) ∧ hasParticipantAtSomeTime(x,p)) ∨ ∃c(CommercialService(c) ∧ occurrentPartOf(x,c)))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: business process wherein a product or service is supplied
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely, constructs for economic transactions, service or product provision and ownership are lacking
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'supplying business process' then x is a 'business process' that 'has participant at some time' some 'supplier' and x 'has participant at some time' some 'material product' or is 'occurent part of' some 'commercial service'

system
type: Class
subclass of: object aggregate
example: solar system, digestive system, forest ecosystem, hydraulic system, subway system, social system, technical system, natural system
adapted from: Merriam-Webster Dictionary for term under the same name.
explanatory note: 1. As introduced here, the term is limited to natural, social and technical systems that are tangible and whose "elements" are also tangible. 2. Frequently, the elements comprising a system are instances of BFO: object. However, the system elements may also include object aggregates (e.g., a system of systems; a system that includes a production line consisting of humans, machines, and other equipment) 3. Although the system is asserted under BFO: object aggregate, which is constrained to have only material entities (tangible things) as elements, the approach to modeling systems comprised of both software and hardware (also known as a cyber-physical system) can still be modeled indirectly: by introducing a 'generically depends on' relationship between the software or other intangible elements (information content entity types) and its physical bearer (hardware or hardware system), which are in turn members of the system.
first-order logic axiom: System(x) → ObjectAggregate(x)
is primitive: true
natural language definition: collection of elements (object aggregate) that form a unified whole and interact
primitive rationale: The term is introduced here as a general class to allow the introduction of specialized kinds of systems that appear in particular modalities. Furthermore, an effort remains to formalize what it means for two things to interact, or what it means to regularly interact.
semi-formal natural language axiom: if x is a 'system' then x is an 'object aggregate'

temporal duration value expression
type: Class
subclass of: Class
  intersection of: value expression
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is value expression of at all times
    some values from: temporal interval
disjoint with: temporal instant value expression
example: the expression of the duration of the temporal interval that corresponds to the time during which a worker sewed a particular garment.
explanatory note: 1. This class was introduced as a helper class to map OWL time to IOF Core. For detailed expression of a duration of a ‘temporal interval’, use a suitable subclass of TemporalDuration class from Time ontology (https://www.w3.org/TR/owl-time/) instead of ‘temporal duration value expression’ (see mapping file https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/core/commonstocoremapping/MappingOWLTimeToIOF/)
first-order logic axiom: TemporalDurationValueExpression(x) → ValueExpression(x) ∧ ∃y(TimeInterval(y) ∧ isValueExpressionOfAtAllTimes(x,y))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: value expression that describes the duration of some temporal interval
primitive rationale: The definition of this class is weakened to only necessary condition because the current formal conditions do not specify which characteristic of the temporal interval is being expressed; without a mechanism to formally distinguish duration from other temporal qualities (e.g., temporal position), the construct cannot be given a necessary-and-sufficient definition. Until such representational machinery exists—i.e., a property or formal device that links a value expression specifically to the duration quality of a temporal interval—the conditions can function only as necessary, not necessary and sufficient, making this class primitive.
semi-formal natural language axiom: every instance of 'temporal duration value expression' is an instance of 'value expression' that 'is value expression of at all times' some 'temporal interval'

temporal instant value expression
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: value expression
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is value expression of at all times
    some values from: temporal instant
subclass of: value expression
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is value expression of at all times
  some values from: temporal instant
example: The time instant at which a train arrives at a station has its clock time expressed by a temporal instant value expression.
explanatory note: 1. This class was introduced as a helper class to map OWL time to IOF Core. For detailed expression of date and time in a specific calendar system, use a suitable subclass of TemporalPosition class from Time ontology (https://www.w3.org/TR/owl-time/) instead of ‘temporal instant value expression’ (see mapping file https://spec.industrialontologies.org/ontology/core/commonstocoremapping/MappingOWLTimeToIOF/)
first order logic definition: TemporalInstantValueExpression(x) ↔ ValueExpression(x) ∧ ∃y(TemporalInstant(y) ∧ isValueExpressionOfAtAllTimes(x,y))
natural language definition: value expression that describes the position of a time instant in the time line
semi-formal natural language definition: every instance of 'temporal instant value expression' is defined exactly as an instance of 'value expression' that 'is value expression of at all times' some 'temporal instant'

value expression
type: Class
subclass of: descriptive information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is value expression of at some time
  some values from: entity
example: 1cm is the value expression of the diameter of a screw head that is specified in its design; 37C is the value expression of the temperature of a bioreactor measured during the production process; "low risk" is the value expression of a process parameter based on the risk analysis classification scheme; 3 g/l is the value expression of titer of an antibody generated by a process simulation
adapted from: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/OBI_0001933
explanatory note: 1. Value expressions comprehend qualitative, semi-quantitative, or quantitative values. 2. All value expressions have a value associated with them through ‘has simple expression value’. This part is not formally captured as we do not want to impose a specific datatype constraint (e.g., xsd:int,rdfs:Literal) with the value expression. Nevertheless, any instance of ‘value expression’ MUST have a ‘has simple expression value’ or its subproperty pointing to a value. 3. This class is intended to provide a single framework for representing unit-value pairs and the connection between a value and a particular classification scheme in the case of qualitative values. While currently, IOF still needs to define classification schemes and quantitative scales, this class is compatible with and thus can be mapped to external ontologies such as the QUDT and the Units Ontology to get the necessary representation of units.
first-order logic axiom: ValueExpression(x) → InformationContentEntity(x) ∧ ∃e(Entity(e) ∧ isValueExpressionOfAtSomeTime(x,e))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: information content entity that contains a value of an entity within a classification scheme or on a quantitative scale
primitive rationale: There are insufficient constructs to create necessary and sufficient conditions. Namely constructs for representing classification schemes and quantitative scales are still missing.
semi-formal natural language axiom: If x is a 'value expression' then x is an 'information content entity' that 'is value expression of at some time' some 'entity'
synonym: value information content entity

valve
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has component part at all times
  some values from: flow control element
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has component part at all times
  some values from: seat
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has component part at all times
  some values from: valve body
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has function
  some values from: flow control function
disjoint with: Compressor
disjoint with: Pump
disjoint with: Turbine
definition: [CFIHOS] A fluid regulator that can be used to control (i.e. permit, obstruct, regulate or divert) a fluid stream.
definition: [ISO 15926-4] A <VALVE> is a <FLUID REGULATOR> that can be used to control (i.e. permit, obstruct, regulate or divert) a fluid stream
definition: [OnePetro] Any of several valves: plug, gate, butterfly, needle, etc., used in oil field operations.
definition: [POSC Caesar] A fluid regulator that can be used to control (i.e. permit, obstruct, regulate or divert) a fluid stream.
first-order logic axiom: ∀x(Valve(x) ↔ MaterialArtifact(x) ∧ ∃f(FlowControlFunction(f) ∧ bearerOf(x,f)))
is primitive: true
natural language definition: A valve is a material artifact that bears a flow control function to permit, obstruct, regulate, or divert fluid streams.
natural language definition: Uma válvula é um artefato material que possui uma função de controle de fluxo para permitir, obstruir, regular ou desviar correntes de fluido. @pt
primitive rationale: Might be too restrictive to define as sufficient being a material artifact and having a flow control function.
semi-formal natural language axiom: Every valve is a material artifact that has the function to control fluid flow by permitting, obstructing, regulating, or diverting fluid streams.

flow control element
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact

flow control function
type: Class
subclass of: designed function
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has realization
  all values from: flow control process
natural language definition: A valve is a material artifact that bears a flow control function to permit, obstruct, regulate, or divert fluid streams.

flow control process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has input
  some values from: FluidPortion
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has output
  some values from: FluidPortion

seat
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact

valve body
type: Class
subclass of: material artifact

provisional
type: NamedIndividual
type: maturity level
definition: construct or ontology development state in which content is subject to change and may change considerably
explanatory note: IOF users should be aware that the resource is not dependable, but can be used for reference and for further work.

released
type: NamedIndividual
type: maturity level
definition: construct or ontology development state in which the resource is stable, usable, and has been made available to external users
explanatory note: Release notes will be provided for any changes concerning released content, and any revisions will be backward compatible with the prior version to the degree possible.

comment
definition: instance of rdf:Property that may be used to provide a human-readable description of a resource
usage note: Use of this annotation is deprecated in IOF. This annotation MUST NOT be used in IOF ontologies. IOF authors SHOULD use explanatoryNote, usageNote, or scopeNote when additional information about the resource is needed. skos:note may be used directly in a case where none of the other annotation properties enumerated apply.