📐 Overview

Unlike traditional static hierarchies, Aevum's taxonomy is a hybrid graph-hierarchical system. It combines rigid academic disciplines with fluid, AI-augmented semantic relationships, ensuring every article can be reached through multiple contextual paths while maintaining scholarly precision.

Our system is built on three core pillars:

  • Disciplinary Roots: Established academic fields as primary anchors
  • Faceted Metadata: Tags for themes, eras, regions, methodologies, and audiences
  • Dynamic Linking: AI-generated cross-references that evolve with new research

🌳 Hierarchical Structure

The primary classification tree follows a modified Dewey-LCC hybrid, adapted for digital interconnectivity. Expand any node to explore subcategories.

01. Natural Sciences
Physics STEM
• Classical Mechanics
• Quantum Theory
• Thermodynamics
Chemistry STEM
• Organic
• Inorganic
• Analytical
• Biology & Life Sciences
• Earth & Planetary Sciences
02. Humanities & Social Sciences
• History & Archaeology
• Philosophy & Ethics
• Linguistics & Literature
• Anthropology & Sociology
• Economics & Political Science
03. Arts & Culture
• Visual Arts & Design
• Performing Arts & Music
• Film & Media Studies
• Cultural Heritage & Folklore
04. Technology & Applied Sciences
• Computer Science & AI
• Engineering & Manufacturing
• Medicine & Public Health
• Agriculture & Environmental Tech

Click any parent node to expand/collapse its branches. Full taxonomy depth reaches 6 levels with ~4.2M leaf nodes.

🏷️ Faceted Classification

To handle interdisciplinary topics, every article is enriched with structured metadata facets. These enable precise filtering and contextual discovery.

Temporal Facet

Historical periods, eras, or date ranges (e.g., "20th Century", "Late Bronze Age")

Geographic Facet

Regions, countries, biomes, or cosmological scopes tied to the subject

Methodology Facet

Research approaches, theoretical frameworks, or artistic movements

Audience Facet

Reading level & specialization tier (Undergrad → Graduate → Expert)

Facets are stored as structured JSON-LD and exposed via our search API for programmatic filtering.

🔍 Methodology & Curation

Classification is not automatic. It follows a rigorous human-in-the-loop pipeline:

  1. Initial AI Suggestion: NLP models propose primary category + 3–5 facets based on text analysis
  2. Editorial Review: Subject-matter editors validate placement and adjust for nuance
  3. Peer Cross-Check: A second reviewer from a related discipline ensures no siloing
  4. Graph Integration: Approved taxonomy entries are linked to the knowledge graph via RDF triples
  5. Quarterly Audit: ML drift and academic paradigm shifts trigger reclassification reviews

This ensures that taxonomy remains academically rigorous while adapting to emerging fields.

🔗 Cross-References & Knowledge Mapping

Articles are never isolated. Our semantic engine maintains three types of relational mapping:

  • Prerequisite Links: Foundational concepts required to understand the current topic
  • Contrastive Links: Related but opposing theories, movements, or classifications
  • Application Links: Practical implementations, case studies, or downstream effects

These relationships power the interactive Knowledge Graph visualization and influence search ranking weights.

⚙️ Developer Resources

Access the full taxonomy tree, facet dictionaries, and relationship endpoints via our REST & GraphQL APIs.

Schema Example (JSON-LD)

// Article Taxonomy Payload { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "EncyclopediaArticle", "@id": "ae:art/quantum-entanglement", "primaryCategory": { "@id": "ae:cat/physics/quantum-theory", "label": "Quantum Theory", "depth": 3 }, "facets": [ { "type": "Temporal", "value": "20th Century" }, { "type": "Methodology", "value": "Mathematical Physics" } ], "graphRelations": [ { "type": "prerequisite", "target": "ae:art/wave-particle-duality" } ] }

API Endpoints

  • GET /api/v3/taxonomy/tree — Retrieve full hierarchical structure
  • GET /api/v3/taxonomy/facets — Query available metadata dimensions
  • POST /api/v3/taxonomy/classify — Submit content for AI classification review

Full documentation, SDKs, and rate limits are available in the Developer Portal.