This thesis investigates how the Information Modelling Framework (IMF) relates to foundational ontologies such as Basic Formal Ontology (BFO )and Industrial Ontologies Foundry (IOF), which already claim to provide conceptual clarity and interoperability for engineering data. While IMF partially overlaps with these ontologies, it is neither just another ontology nor a competing standard. Instead, IMF takes a pragmatic, model-driven approach that focuses on supporting real engineering workflows. The central challenge is to analyse where IMF aligns with foundational ontologies, where it differs, and how it can complement their use in industrial contexts.
Together with supervisors, the student will conduct a systematic ontology analysis of BFO and IOF with respect to IMF’s key aspects—function, product, location, and modality—identifying shared concepts, gaps, and points of divergence. The outcome will clarify IMF’s unique role as a bridging framework that connects foundational ontologies with practical engineering information needs. This positioning is crucial for demonstrating how IMF can improve interoperability while remaining lightweight and applicable in industry settings.
Please have a look at:
https://www.imfid.org/
https://gitlab.com/imf-lab/
https://github.com/iofoundry/ontology