Alignment of Gist with Basic Formal Ontology

This technical report outlines the alignment of the Semantic Arts foundational ontology, known as gist, with the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) to support the Federal Government and Life Sciences sectors. It explains the rationale behind this alignment, emphasizing the need for interoperability and the advantages of using a well-structured upper ontology. The report details the characteristics of both ontologies, including their simplicity, formality, breadth, and active evolution. It discusses the motivations for this alignment, particularly the demand from clients and the prevalence of life science ontologies based on BFO. Additionally, the document provides guidance on how to implement this alignment in practice, including the use of compatible versions of both ontologies and tips for defining domain-specific classes. The report serves as a resource for organizations looking to enhance their ontology frameworks by leveraging the strengths of both gist and BFO.