This paper explains a new approach for creating topic maps from existing data sources. The approach consists of a three-step procedure, and include going via RDF to produce the final topic map.

Very few topic maps have to be developed from scratch, since there in most cases are existing data sources that can be used to populate them, and often more than a single data source exist.

The paper starts out by examining the components of a topic map and their use, with a focus on how to identify subjects and how to assign them characteristics. Steps for ensuring quality and optimizing their usefulness are discussed.

This paper shows that Topic Maps and RDF are technologies particularly suited to be used as the glue between incompatible data sources.