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The discussion about "quantity" and "unit of measure" overlooks two related concepts that I suggest this effort should consider.
* "Coordinate" as in ISO 18206 "Spatial Reference Model", distinct from "quantity". For example, "3pm on July 14, 2009" is a
coordinate or place in time, while "3 hours" is a duration (a time quantity). Similarly, "mile 5" denotes a place, whereas "5 miles"
denotes a distance (a quantity of kind 'length').
* "Scales", as in yard sticks or weight scales or time scales. From 18206: "Abstract objects are conceptual objects including virtual, engineering, and/or
mathematical models. A length of one metre does not have intrinsic meaning in the object-space of abstract objects. For the purpose of specifying relationships
among abstract object-spaces, a designated length scale shall be associated with each abstract object-space."
Scales can help us model the relationship between quantities and coordinates. "Mile 5" is the coordinate you reach if you go quantity "5 miles" from some
origin.
I believe that scales can also help us model repeating coordinates. For example, "every 10th yard line" or "the first day of each year".
In summary, I am asking that we explicitly decide whether "coordinates" and "scales" are within or outside the scope of this uom-ontology effort.
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Mark H. Linehan
STSM, Model Driven Business Transformation
IBM Research
phone: (914) 784-7002 or IBM tieline 863-7002
internet: mlinehan@xxxxxxxxxx
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