Assuring information quality in e-Science

In this paper we outline a framework for assuring information quality (IQ) in an e-science context, using semiotics theory, semantic explanation of resources, and data couplings. Scientists can define the quality characteristics that are of importance in their particular domain by applying an IQ semiotics, which classifies and organizes these domain-specific quality characteristics within this quality assurance framework. Resource description framework (RDF) is used to explain data resources, with reference to IQ indicators defined in the semiotics. Data couplings - again defined in RDF - are used to represent mappings between data elements and the IQ semiotics. As a practical illustration of our approach, we present a case study from the domain of natural science.