Resources
A collection of presentations, publications, and guidelines from the UnitsML project's 25-year history.
SciDataCon 2022 — Units Summit
At the SciDataCon 2022 “Units Summit” session, a comprehensive introduction to UnitsML was presented, covering the project’s history, architecture, and future direction under CalConnect TC UNITS.
The presentation covered:
- The problem of ambiguous units — why existing approaches (code lists, symbols, names) fail for reliable scientific data exchange
- UnitsML’s approach — structured models for encoding units, quantities, and dimensions
- UnitsDB — the comprehensive database of scientific units, from SI base units to non-SI units
- Standards governance — the transition from NIST through OASIS to CalConnect TC UNITS
- Future directions — international alignment with ISO, IEC, and BIPM towards a “Digital SI”
Presentations & Talks
Sixth Open Forum on Metadata Registries
Early UnitsML presentation at the metadata registries forum in Santa Fe, NM — one of the first public introductions of the project.
OASIS UnitsML Flyer
Two-page overview of UnitsML, UnitsDB, and tools, distributed when the OASIS Technical Committee was forming.
First OASIS TC Teleconference
Introductory slides from the first official UnitsML Technical Committee meeting, including charter, roster, and goals.
SCC-20 TII/TAD Working Group
Bob Dragoset's presentation to the IEEE SCC-20 working group, covering schema evolution and UnitsDB at NIST.
CIPM / BIPM — Semantic SI Brochure
CalConnect presentation on UnitsML's role in the semantic BIPM SI Brochure and the path toward an interoperable Digital SI.
Publications
Guidelines & Rules
Guidelines for the Use of UnitsML
Official guidelines document covering how to use UnitsML in practice — writing valid markup, choosing appropriate elements, and incorporating UnitsML into other formats.
UnitsML Guidelines Draft v0.4.2
Early draft of the UnitsML usage guidelines, providing context on the design decisions and intended usage patterns.
Naming & Design Rules v1.0
Normative naming and design rules (NDRs) for UnitsML 1.0, governing element names, identifiers, and schema conventions.