About

I model information and write software for libraries; mainly semantic web applications based on RDF and linked data (like this page, in fact – take a look at it using W3C's RDF Validator).

NTNU University Library is the most forward-looking university library that I know of — I work with a great team.

My professional interests cover web technologies generally, and the semantic web specifically. I write and speak about my professional interests; I list some of these activities below.

I spend most of my time working with knowledge organization representing information using RDF, OWL and standard vocabularies within the fields I work within. Some of the most challenging work I undertake is creating new models for previously catalogued non-relational data, where additional models are needed to create relations programmatically based on rules-based and parametric inferencing.

Currently, I am working on modelling/structuring data from three different spheres: integrated statistical data and reports from third-party systems, theatrical production and role data and organizational data. I'm interested in working with anyone involved in any of these or related spheres.

Outside work, I'm interested in languages both artificial and natural; I don't speak many though, just English (my mother tongue) and Norwegian, with a bit of French and German if really pressed; I like food and drink, brewing beer, hiking and fly fishing. And computers.

• UBiT2010: 2007–2010

  Project participant in this three-year Library modernization project at NTNU University Library.

• Rådata nå!: 2010 (Norwegian: Raw data now!)

  Project manager for NTNU University Library in this collaborative project with BIBSYS that created a linked data representation of a large dataset, a large scale (>1.5 million persons) authority file representing Norwegian authors.

• MeSH in Norwegian: 2010–present

  This project based at Helsebiblioteket (the Norwegian Health library), and I participate in it at an informal level, providing programming, analysis and technical assistance. We have created a linked-data data set and a simple application to facilitate translation of MeSH terms between English and Norwegian.

• Bibliotekslaboratoriet: 2010–2011 (Norwegian: The library lab)

  As a member of the working group in this four year project, I have participated in strategic planning for the project, as well as participating in the projects workshops.

• Søketjenester: 2010 (Norwegian: Discovery services)

  I provided programming and strategic planning skills to this NTNU University Library project.

• Discovery services: 2011

  I participated in this project that created an executive summary that outlines the key features of currently available discovery services.

• Gunnerus library: 2010–present

  I am programmer and system architect for this linked-data-based project to create a web presence for NTNU University Library's special collections.

• Integrated Environmental Monitoring: 2012–2012

  I work with Statoil on their integrated environmental monitoring project (a joint project with Kongsberg, IBM and DNV). I work as a researcher on environmental data access and management, which is based on semantic-web principles.

• Realfagstermer-TEKORD: 2012–present

  RDF-related and programming consultancy at University of Oslo Library.

Stuff written in Java, Javascript and PHP. If properly motivated, I also use other languages. Some examples of the type of software I work with:

• NTNU Library Toolbar

  [download] A toolbar extension (all the rage once upon a time) for Mozilla-based web browsers; this was the original big boy, given that it supported service-side sessions and user-created searches (yes, even for searches that used sessions). Altogether too complex and difficult to maintain. Now a shadow of its former self, but nevertheless rather useful (and infinitely more maintainable), it uses RDF created from NTNU University Library's MetaLib database descriptions to draw up a multilevel interface.

• Ellipsis jQuery Plugin

  [download] A plugin for the Javascript library, jQuery. This plugin adds a '…[+]' to the end of long texts and extends them when [+] is clicked. Simple, but effective.

• ReSTful API for SRU

  [documentation] A simple API that wraps the overly complex and rather silly SRU.

• Website for NTNU Special Collections

  [link] A website that delivers a "whistles & bells" interface for searching in the NTNU Special Collections; the site is HTML5+RDFa 1.1 and uses content negotiation to deliver the RDF it is based on when this is requested (try validating document pages on the site with W3C's RDF Validator).

Some of the data packages I maintain at CKAN.net

• Norwegian Classification of Scientific Disciplines

  [Package] A linked data representation of the Norwegian Classification of Scientific Disciplines (Norsk inndeling av vitenskapsdisipliner), an ontology of academic subjects used to classify academic disciplines in various public systems.

• Rådata nå!

  [Package] A linked data representation of the BIBSYS person authority file; we created this data set in the ABM-u funded project "Rådata nå!".

• TEKORD

  [Package] An RDF representation of a controlled vocabulary of Norwegian terms and Universal Decimal Classification numbers created at NTNU University Library.

• NorMeSH

  [Package] An RDF representation of the Norwegian translation of the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH).

• NTNUSC

  [Package] An RDF representation of NTNU's special collections metadata.

I give many talks every year; I only list those presented outside my place of work. (If you're wondering why there is always some inconsistency in the ordering of these listings, so do I — this data is retrieved from the Norwegian national research repository, Cristin.)

• 2002–2004 Cand philol. English language & linguistics, NTNU. (A)
• 1995–1998 BA English language & linguistics, University of Wales, Bangor (2.1)
• Courses
• 2006 University pedagogics, NTNU

• 1995 David Crystal Scholarship
• 2007 Biblioteklaboratoriets prize for best library website
• One of Macworld Norway's favourite widgets for Mac OS X (Yr weather widget) ;-)
• 2011 Årets Bibliotekprosjekt (for BIBSYS/NTNU-samarbeidet Rådata nå!) [PDF]

• 2006–pres NTNU University Library

  This is my current place of work, where I do all of the lovely things with Java & RDF goodness

• 2012–2012 Statoil

  Semantic modelling of environmental data and semantic-web-technology consultancy for the IBM/Statoil/Kongsberg/DNV Integrated Environmental Monitoring project

• 2003–2006 Autronica Fire & Security AS, Trondheim

  Projects related to text authoring, document-management systems (automated workflows), graphic design

• 1998–2007 Teaching Assistant/Research assistant, NTNU

  Teaching linguistics courses for the English department, research assistant on a digital manuscript analysis project, various IT-related stuff

• 1998–2010 Translator

  Translation of science and technology related texts as well as legal documents (I don't do this any more, so please don't ask :-) )