ROSM — Resource Origin & Source Module
Architecture: RSGA™ — Resource Sustainability Governance Architecture
Parent Standard: Resource Characterization Standard (RCHS)
Category: Governance & Enforcement
Subcategory: Resource Governance
Type: Core Module
Governed Space: Resource Origin & Source Governance
Module ID: RSGA-RCHS-ROSM-04
Origin ID: OOF-RSGA-RCHS-ROSM
Version: 1.0
Status: Draft Module
Effective Date: Pending
Compatibility: Methodology OS — Modular Compatibility
GIE-Compatible: Yes
AI-Readable: Yes
Authority: OOF® — OriginOpen® Foundation
Protection: Protected Methodological Work
Canonical Language: English
1. Canonical Definition
ROSM — Resource Origin & Source Module governs how the origin, source, source pathway, source transformation, source composition, source concentration, and materially relevant provenance of a Resource or Resource System are identified, distinguished, represented, evidenced, and reassessed for Resource Sustainability governance.
ROSM establishes where the Governed Resource originates, from which immediate or intermediate source it is obtained, how it reaches the governed system, and whether materially different origins or sources must remain distinguishable.
Resource Origin ≠ Resource Source.
2. Operational Role
After the Resource boundary, type, constraint characteristics, and state have been established, RSGA™ must understand where the Resource comes from.
A Resource may have:
One Origin and one Source One Origin and multiple Sources Multiple Origins and one aggregated Source Primary and Secondary Sources Recovered Sources Backup Sources Imported Sources Distributed Sources Transformed Sources Unknown or partially evidenced Sources
ROSM prevents these relationships from being collapsed into a single generic label.
Its operational role is to answer:
Where did the Resource originate? What is its immediate Source? Are Origin and Source the same? Has the Resource passed through intermediate Sources? Has it been transformed? Is it primary, recovered, regenerated, secondary, imported, local, distributed, or blended? How concentrated is its Source structure? Which Source dependencies are materially relevant? Can the Source be traced sufficiently? Has the Source changed? Does a Source change require downstream reassessment?
3. Governed Object
The primary Governed Object is:
The Origin and Source structure of a Resource or Resource System governed under RSGA™.
ROSM governs Origin and Source characterization.
It does not determine:
Ownership Governance Authority Supplier liability Resource access entitlement Resource availability quantity Allocation priority Economic Value Source legality as a general legal determination Source sustainability by itself
4. Position in Parent Standard Internal Module Flow
The Resource Characterization Standard (RCHS) internal flow is:
RBDM — Resource Boundary Definition Module → RTCM — Resource Type & Constraint Module → RSDM — Resource State Definition Module → ROSM — Resource Origin & Source Module → RCXM — Resource Context Module
RBDM establishes the boundary.
RTCM establishes Resource Type and Constraint characteristics.
RSDM establishes Resource State.
ROSM establishes where the Resource originates and through which Source structure it enters the Governed Resource System.
5. Resource Origin
Resource Origin identifies the foundational point, process, stock, system, or prior Resource state from which the Resource derives.
Origin may be:
Natural Extracted Generated Manufactured Recovered Recycled Regenerated Converted Transferred Secondary Composite
The appropriate Origin concept depends upon the Resource.
6. Resource Source
Resource Source identifies the immediate or relevant supplying Source from which the Governed Resource is obtained.
A Source may be:
Physical stock Facility Infrastructure system Generation asset Storage system Supplier pathway Recovery system Secondary Resource stream Network Reservoir Production system
Origin answers where the Resource fundamentally comes from. Source answers where the governed system obtains it.
7. Origin vs Source
Origin and Source may coincide.
They do not have to.
Example:
A recovered metal may originate from retired equipment while its immediate Source is a recycling facility.
Electricity may originate from several generation technologies while the immediate Source for a facility is the regional grid.
Water may originate from a watershed or aquifer while the immediate Source is a municipal distribution system.
Same Source does not establish Same Origin.
Same Origin does not establish Same Source.
8. Source Pathway
A Resource may pass through multiple intermediate systems before reaching the governed system.
ROSM may represent:
Origin → Extraction / Generation → Processing → Storage → Transport / Transmission → Distribution → Immediate Source → Governed Resource System
Not every Resource requires every stage.
The pathway must follow actual Resource reality.
9. Direct Source
A Direct Source supplies the Resource without a materially relevant intermediate Source layer for the governed question.
Examples may include:
On-site generation Direct extraction Direct recovery Direct storage release
Direct Source does not imply independent operation.
External dependencies may still exist.
10. Indirect Source
An Indirect Source supplies the Resource through one or more materially relevant intermediate systems.
Examples:
Grid-supplied electricity Municipal water Processed critical materials Cloud compute infrastructure Distributed Resource networks
Intermediate Source structure should remain visible where material.
11. Primary Source
A Primary Source supplies Resource originating from an initial extraction, generation, production, or equivalent first-cycle pathway.
Primary Source must not automatically be interpreted as preferable, more sustainable, or more reliable.
Primary Source ≠ Preferred Source.
12. Secondary Source
A Secondary Source supplies Resource that has previously passed through another use, recovery, recycling, regeneration, or secondary lifecycle.
Secondary Source status must not automatically imply lower quality.
Secondary Source ≠ Inferior Source.
13. Recovered Source
A Recovered Source supplies Resource returned from a prior use or Resource lifecycle.
Recovered Source may contribute to future availability.
ROSM records its Source character.
Resource Recovery & Circularity governance determines broader recovery performance.
14. Regenerated Source
A Regenerated Source supplies Resource replenished through a relevant regenerative process.
Regenerated status does not itself establish sustainable regeneration.
Regenerated Source ≠ Sustainable Source by definition.
15. Recycled Source
A Recycled Source provides Resource produced through recycling of prior Resource-containing material.
Recycled content should remain distinguishable from recovered but unprocessed Resource where material.
16. Reused Source
A Resource may re-enter use without substantial transformation.
Where relevant, ROSM may distinguish direct reuse from recycling or remanufacturing.
This preserves the actual Source pathway.
17. Repurposed Source
A Resource or Resource-containing object may enter a different functional use without returning to an equivalent original function.
ROSM may represent repurposing where it materially affects Origin or Source interpretation.
18. Remanufactured Source
A Resource may be supplied through a remanufacturing pathway.
Remanufacturing must not be collapsed into primary production where Source history is materially relevant.
19. Local Source
A Local Source is geographically proximate according to a defined Resource context.
“Local” must not remain undefined where it materially influences governance.
A local Source may still depend heavily upon external Resources or infrastructure.
Local Source ≠ Independent Source.
20. Remote Source
A Remote Source supplies Resource from outside the immediate governed locality.
Distance alone does not establish Source vulnerability or unsustainability.
Its governance significance depends upon relevant transport, infrastructure, concentration, substitution, and dependency conditions.
21. Domestic Source
A Domestic Source lies within a defined national or jurisdictional context.
Domestic status must not be confused with:
Local Independent Sustainable Unconstrained Secure
Domestic Source ≠ Resource Independence.
22. Imported Source
An Imported Source supplies Resource across a defined jurisdictional boundary.
Imported status may be relevant to:
Transport dependency Infrastructure dependency Source concentration Continuity Substitution Cross-border dependency
It does not automatically establish higher risk.
23. Distributed Source
A Distributed Source structure consists of multiple geographically, technically, operationally, or organizationally separated Source components.
Examples:
Distributed energy generation Distributed water systems Distributed compute infrastructure Distributed recovery systems
Distributed does not automatically mean resilient.
24. Centralized Source
A Centralized Source structure depends materially upon one or a small number of central Source systems.
Centralization may create efficiency or concentration.
ROSM characterizes the Source structure without presuming the resulting governance outcome.
25. Backup Source
A Backup Source is intended to provide Resource when the primary or normal Source becomes unavailable or insufficient.
Backup Source must remain distinguishable from currently active Source.
Backup Source Existence ≠ Backup Source Availability.
RACS determines actual availability.
26. Emergency Source
An Emergency Source becomes relevant under defined emergency conditions.
Its existence, activation conditions, capacity, and dependencies should remain distinguishable where material.
Emergency Source status does not establish authority to activate it.
27. Alternative Source
An Alternative Source is a plausible Source pathway capable of supplying the Resource or a functionally suitable substitute under defined conditions.
ROSM identifies the Source relationship.
Resource Substitution & Flexibility governance determines whether switching is appropriate.
28. Conditional Source
A Conditional Source can supply Resource only when defined conditions hold.
Conditions may concern:
Season Infrastructure Price or contract conditions Resource State Technology Emergency status Environmental conditions
ROSM preserves the condition.
29. Intermittent Source
An Intermittent Source provides Resource non-continuously or with materially variable availability.
Intermittency may be intrinsic or dependent upon external conditions.
ROSM identifies the Source characteristic.
Actual availability remains governed by RACS.
30. Source Transformation
A Resource may undergo transformation between Origin and final Source.
Examples:
Crude material → Refined material
Solar radiation → Electricity
Waste material → Recovered secondary material
Raw water → Treated water
Primary energy → Electricity
Transformation must remain visible where it materially changes Resource characteristics.
31. Transformation Chain
A Resource may pass through multiple transformations.
ROSM may represent:
Origin → Transformation 1 → Intermediate Resource → Transformation 2 → Source Resource → Governed System
Transformation chains should be represented only to the level required for Resource Sustainability governance.
32. Transformation Loss
Transformation may involve Resource loss, conversion loss, degradation, waste, or residual Resource.
ROSM may identify the existence of such transformation effects.
It does not independently determine efficiency or sustainability.
33. Composite Source
A Composite Source supplies Resource composed of multiple Origins, Sources, or Source pathways.
Examples:
Electricity grid mix Blended fuels Mixed recycled materials Multi-source water supply Aggregated compute capacity
Composite Sources require sufficient representation of materially different components.
34. Source Composition
Where Source composition materially affects Resource governance, ROSM may represent:
Source component Contribution Origin Resource Type Source pathway Relevant constraint characteristics
Composition precision should follow governance relevance.
35. Source Mix
A Source Mix represents the relative participation of multiple Sources in the Governed Resource.
Source Mix may change over time.
Historical Source Mix must not automatically be treated as current.
36. Unknown Source Component
Where a Composite Source contains an unknown component, ROSM must preserve the uncertainty.
Unknown Source ≠ Assumed Source.
Unknown components must not be silently assigned to the most favorable Source category.
37. Source Concentration
Source Concentration describes the degree to which Resource supply depends upon a limited number of Sources.
Concentration may be:
Physical Geographic Supplier-related Infrastructure-related Processing-related Technology-related
RTCM characterizes strategic concentration as a Resource characteristic.
ROSM provides the Source structure necessary to establish it.
38. Single-Source Dependency
A Resource System has Single-Source Dependency where one Source materially dominates or exclusively supplies the relevant Resource.
Single-source status does not automatically establish vulnerability.
However, it must remain visible for downstream resilience governance.
39. Multi-Source Structure
A Multi-Source Structure exists where more than one Source contributes materially to Resource supply.
Multiple Sources do not automatically create diversification.
Multiple Sources ≠ Source Diversity.
Several Sources may depend upon the same underlying Origin, infrastructure, processing system, or geographic region.
40. Apparent Diversification
Apparent diversification occurs when multiple immediate Sources conceal a common upstream dependency.
Example:
Supplier A Supplier B Supplier C
may all depend upon:
Same processor Same mine Same grid Same pipeline Same cloud region Same water system
Supplier Diversity ≠ Source Diversity.
41. Source Independence
Source Independence describes the degree to which one Source can continue functioning without another materially shared Source or dependency.
ROSM may identify common dependencies.
It does not determine overall resilience.
42. Source Correlation
Multiple Sources may fail or constrain together because they share:
Geography Infrastructure Energy dependency
Water dependency Processing Technology Transport Climate exposure
ROSM should preserve material Source correlation where known.
43. Source Dependency Chain
A Source may itself depend upon other Resources or Source systems.
Example:
Compute Source → Electricity → Cooling → Water
or:
Battery Source → Processed Materials → Raw Materials → Extraction
ROSM may represent the relevant Source chain without absorbing downstream Interdependency governance.
44. Source Hierarchy
Where necessary, Sources may be represented hierarchically:
Origin Source → Primary Source → Intermediate Source → Immediate Source → Governed Resource
This prevents complex Source chains from being flattened into one label.
45. Source Network
Some Resource Systems are better represented as networks rather than linear chains.
A Source Network may contain:
Multiple Origins Multiple transformations Storage nodes Distribution nodes Recovery nodes Multiple consuming systems
ROSM supports network representation where linear Source logic would materially misrepresent reality.
46. Source Identity
Every materially relevant Source should have a sufficiently stable identity to support traceability.
Source Identity may include:
Source ID Source type Location Relevant operator reference Resource supplied Effective period
Source identity is not equivalent to legal identity or ownership.
47. Source Ownership
Ownership may provide relevant context.
It does not define Source identity or Origin by itself.
Resource Source ≠ Resource Owner.
A Source may change ownership while remaining the same physical Source.
A Resource may also pass through multiple owners without changing Origin.
48. Source Operator
The entity operating a Source may differ from:
Owner Supplier Distributor Resource consumer Authority
ROSM preserves these distinctions where relevant.
49. Supplier
A Supplier is an organizational or commercial actor providing access to Resource supply.
Supplier identity does not necessarily establish physical Source.
Supplier ≠ Source.
This distinction is critical for utilities, energy markets, cloud services, material supply chains, and distributed infrastructure.
50. Distributor
A Distributor transports or distributes Resource.
Distribution may be part of the Source pathway without being the Resource Origin.
Distributor ≠ Origin.
51. Resource Producer
A Resource Producer creates, extracts, generates, transforms, recovers, or otherwise produces a Resource.
Producer status may coincide with Source.
It does not have to.
52. Source Location
Source Location identifies where the relevant Source physically or operationally exists.
Location may materially affect:
Accessibility Transport Flow Constraint Concentration Continuity Dependency
Source Location must remain distinct from Resource Origin where those differ.
53. Origin Location
Origin Location identifies where the underlying Resource originated where relevant.
For transformed or aggregated Resources, Origin Location may differ materially from Source Location.
54. Source Time
Sources may change over time.
ROSM must support:
Source activation time Source termination time Source substitution time Source Mix period Source transformation period
Current Source ≠ Historical Source.
55. Source Continuity
ROSM may characterize whether a Source relationship is:
Continuous Intermittent Seasonal Conditional Temporary Emergency Unknown
This characterization becomes an input to later continuity governance.
ROSM does not determine Resource Continuity itself.
56. Source Capacity Reference
ROSM may record nominal or referenced Source capacity where necessary to identify Source characteristics.
It does not determine actual available capacity.
Source Capacity ≠ Resource Availability.
RACS governs availability and usable capacity.
57. Source Quality Relationship
Different Sources may provide Resource with different quality characteristics.
Where materially relevant, ROSM preserves the Source-quality relationship.
It does not replace specialized quality determination.
58. Source Condition Relationship
Source condition may affect the Resource supplied.
Examples:
Degraded infrastructure Contaminated source Reduced regeneration Damaged storage
ROSM identifies the relationship where material.
59. Origin Integrity
Resource Origin should be represented according to available evidence.
Where Origin cannot be established, the system must preserve uncertainty.
Origin must not be invented to complete a Source record.
60. Source Integrity
A Source representation should correspond to the actual Source supplying the Resource.
Contractual supplier labels, organizational categories, or reporting conventions must not substitute for Source reality where the distinction is material.
61. Origin Evidence
Origin evidence may include:
Extraction records Production records Generation records Recovery records Material provenance Scientific determination Technical records Chain-of-custody evidence
ROSM defines the Resource Origin evidence need.
It does not replace general Evidence Governance.
62. Source Evidence
Source evidence may include:
Metering System records Supplier records Infrastructure data Operational records Source declarations Technical evidence Recovery records
Evidence requirements should follow governance significance.
63. Source Declaration
A Source may be declared by a supplier, operator, producer, or other party.
Declaration must remain distinguishable from independently established Source evidence.
Declared Source ≠ Verified Source.
64. Source Inference
Where Source is inferred rather than directly observed, the inference basis must remain traceable.
Inferred Source ≠ Observed Source.
65. Source Assumption
An assumed Source must remain identified as an assumption where material.
Source Assumption ≠ Source Evidence.
Repeated use of an assumption must not transform it into established fact.
66. Source Uncertainty
Possible Source uncertainty states may include:
Source Established Source Conditionally Established Source Partially Established Source Evidence-Limited Source Conflicted Source Unknown Source Unresolved
Material uncertainty must propagate downstream.
67. Origin Uncertainty
Origin may be less certain than immediate Source.
A Resource may have a well-established supplier or distribution Source while upstream Origin remains unknown.
ROSM must support this distinction.
Known Immediate Source ≠ Known Resource Origin.
68. Source Conflict
A Source Conflict exists where materially credible evidence supports incompatible Source representations.
Conflict must remain visible until resolved or legitimately bounded.
69. Source Materiality
Not every upstream Source detail requires governance.
Source information is material where it could reasonably affect:
Resource characterization Availability Dependency Criticality Access Allocation Scarcity Recovery Substitution Resilience Continuity Sustainability
Source traceability requires governance-relevant depth, not infinite upstream tracing.
70. Minimum Source Depth
ROSM requires Source tracing to sufficient depth to resolve materially relevant Resource Sustainability questions.
The appropriate depth may be:
Immediate Source only Immediate + Intermediate Source Full Origin chain Critical upstream dependencies only
The depth must follow the governed question.
71. Source Truncation
Source tracing must not stop at a convenient intermediate actor where doing so conceals a material Origin or Source dependency.
Example:
Company → Supplier
may be insufficient where:
Supplier → Processor → Single Raw Material Origin
creates the material Resource constraint.
Commercial visibility must not define methodological Source depth.
72. Source Aggregation
Source information may be aggregated where detailed separation is unnecessary.
Aggregation must not conceal material differences.
Where aggregation could change downstream governance, the components must remain distinguishable.
73. Source Disaggregation
A previously aggregated Source may require disaggregation when:
Source concentration becomes material Different Origins matter Different Resource Types matter Different constraint characteristics matter Recovery content matters Source continuity differs materially
Disaggregation should follow governance relevance.
74. Source Change
A Resource Source may change through:
Supplier change Infrastructure change Source substitution Recovery activation New production Source loss Import change Generation mix change Storage release
A material Source change may require ROSM reassessment.
75. Origin Change
Some transformations may create a Resource whose relevant Origin classification changes for downstream governance.
For example, recovered Resource entering a Secondary Resource lifecycle may require a new Origin representation.
Origin changes must be governed rather than inferred from naming alone.
76. Source Substitution
A Source may be replaced without changing the underlying Resource function.
ROSM records Source substitution.
Resource Substitution & Flexibility governance determines the broader substitution decision and consequences.
Source Change ≠ Resource Substitution Governance.
77. Source Loss
A Source may cease supplying the Resource.
Source loss does not automatically establish total Resource unavailability where alternatives exist.
Source Loss ≠ Resource Loss.
RACS determines resulting availability.
78. Source Addition
A new Source may enter the Resource System.
Source addition does not automatically establish increased usable or allocable capacity.
Its actual contribution must be governed downstream.
79. Source Re-entry
A Source previously inactive may return.
Examples:
Recovered infrastructure Seasonal Source Emergency Source Restarted production
Re-entry must be time-bounded and evidenced where material.
80. Source Versioning
Material Source changes require distinguishable Source Profile versions where necessary for traceability.
A revised Source Profile should preserve:
Previous Source structure New Source structure Change reason Effective time Evidence Affected Resource components Known downstream implications
81. Source History
ROSM may preserve Source History where Resource governance depends upon past Source conditions.
Historical Source records must remain distinguishable from current Source representation.
82. Source Reassessment Trigger
Reassessment should occur following material:
Source addition Source loss Source substitution Origin discovery Origin correction
Transformation change Supplier-pathway change Infrastructure change Recovery activation Source concentration change Source Mix change New evidence Source conflict Boundary revision Resource State transition
83. Source Reassessment Logic
Canonical logic:
Existing Origin & Source Profile → New Evidence / Material Change → Source Impact Test → Profile Retained or Revised → Version Update → Downstream Reassessment Trigger where material
84. Source Comparability
Two Resource supplies should not be assumed equivalent merely because they deliver the same nominal Resource.
Different Sources may have materially different:
Origins Constraint characteristics Concentration Recovery status Dependencies Continuity characteristics Transformation pathways
Same Resource Type ≠ Same Source Profile.
85. Origin Comparability
Two Resources may share the same immediate Source but have different Origins.
Conversely, they may share Origin while passing through different Source pathways.
Origin and Source comparison must therefore remain separate.
86. Source Equivalence
Two Sources may be treated as equivalent only where differences are immaterial to the governed Resource question.
Source equivalence must not be assumed from:
Same supplier Same product name Same Resource category Same contractual classification
87. Source Diversity
Source Diversity requires materially independent Source options rather than simple Source count.
Relevant dimensions may include:
Origin diversity Geographic diversity Infrastructure diversity Processing diversity Technology diversity Supplier diversity
No single diversity dimension establishes overall Source resilience.
88. Source Concentration Profile
Where material, ROSM may produce a Source Concentration Profile representing:
Number of Sources Relative Source dependence Shared upstream Origin Shared processing dependency Shared infrastructure Geographic concentration Technology concentration
This becomes an input to downstream dependency and resilience governance.
89. Source Criticality Input
ROSM may identify Source relationships potentially relevant to Resource criticality.
It does not determine Criticality itself.
RDCS — Resource Dependency & Criticality Standard governs that determination.
Source Dependence ≠ Resource Criticality.
90. Source and Recovery
Recovered and Secondary Resource Sources must preserve their recovery pathway where materially relevant.
ROSM provides Source provenance.
RRCS — Resource Recovery & Circularity Standard governs recovery and reintegration.
91. Source and Substitution
Alternative Sources may be represented by ROSM.
RSFS — Resource Substitution & Flexibility Standard determines substitution governance.
Alternative Source Existence ≠ Valid Substitute.
92. Source and Availability
ROSM identifies Source structure.
RACS determines whether Resource quantity or capacity is actually available.
A Source may exist but be:
Unavailable Constrained Disconnected Insufficient Reserved Temporally inaccessible
Source Existence ≠ Resource Availability.
93. Source and Access
ROSM identifies where Resource comes from.
It does not determine who may access it.
Resource Source ≠ Resource Access Right.
RAGS governs Access.
94. Source and Allocation
A Resource Source may contribute to the allocable Resource pool.
ROSM does not decide how Resource is allocated.
Source Contribution ≠ Allocation Decision.
95. Source and Sustainability
A Source may be characterized as regenerative, recovered, local, diversified, or secondary.
None of these labels independently establishes sustainability.
Source Characteristic ≠ Sustainability Determination.
RCSS governs Continuity & Sustainability.
96. Source and Economic Value
Price or economic Value may influence Source selection.
ROSM does not determine Source Value.
Source Price ≠ Resource Sustainability State.
97. Source and Authority
Source identity does not establish governance authority over the Resource.
Ownership, operation, supply, and authority must remain distinct.
Source Control ≠ Governance Authority.
GOA™ retains Governance Authority.
98. Source and Liability
ROSM may preserve Source provenance relevant to another architecture.
It does not determine liability.
Resource Provenance ≠ Liability Determination.
LIGA™ retains Liability Governance.
99. Source and Prediction
Future Source availability, Source Mix, or Source change may depend upon prediction.
Predicted Source conditions must remain distinguishable from current Source reality.
Predicted Source ≠ Current Source State.
PGA™ governs Prediction methodology.
100. Source and Simulation
Simulation may test alternative Source configurations.
Simulated Source conditions must remain distinguishishable from observed Source reality.
SIMULOS® retains simulation governance.
101. Origin & Source Profile
The principal ROSM output is the:
Resource Origin & Source Profile
The Profile may contain:
Resource ID Boundary reference Origin Origin location Immediate Source Intermediate Sources Source pathway Source type Source location Source composition Source Mix Transformation chain Primary / Secondary / Recovered status Source concentration Shared dependencies Source evidence Origin evidence Source uncertainty Origin uncertainty Source version Effective period Reassessment triggers
102. Profile Sufficiency
The Origin & Source Profile is sufficient when it preserves all materially relevant Source and Origin information necessary for downstream Resource governance.
Possible states:
Profile Sufficient Profile Conditionally Sufficient Profile Partially Sufficient Profile Evidence-Limited Profile Conflicted Profile Insufficient Profile Unresolved
103. Failure Conditions
ROSM should not be treated as sufficiently completed where:
Origin and Source are materially conflated Supplier is treated as physical Source without evidence Owner is treated as Origin Immediate Source conceals a material upstream dependency Recovered Source is represented as primary Source Composite Source hides material components Source Mix is materially outdated Multiple suppliers are represented as diversified Sources despite shared upstream dependency Unknown Origin is represented as known Declared Source is represented as verified without basis Source assumptions are represented as facts Predicted Source is represented as current Source Source changes are not versioned where material Material Source concentration is concealed Source existence is represented as Resource availability Source characteristic is represented as sustainability determination
Such conditions require correction, qualification, or escalation.
104. Governance Requirements
A conforming ROSM implementation must:
1. identify the Governed Resource; 2. preserve the applicable Resource boundary; 3. distinguish Resource Origin from Resource Source; 4. identify immediate Source where material; 5. identify intermediate Source layers where material; 6. identify Origin where governance-relevant; 7. support primary, secondary, recovered, regenerated, recycled, reused, repurposed, and remanufactured Source distinctions where applicable; 8. support local, remote, domestic, imported, distributed, centralized, backup, emergency, alternative, conditional, and intermittent Source characteristics where material; 9. preserve Source transformation chains where material; 10. support Composite Source representation; 11. preserve Source Mix where material; 12. identify material Source concentration; 13. distinguish Source count from Source diversity; 14. identify shared upstream dependencies where material; 15. distinguish supplier, owner, operator, producer, distributor, Source, and Origin; 16. preserve Source and Origin locations where relevant; 17. preserve temporal Source validity; 18. preserve evidence and provenance;
19. distinguish observed, declared, inferred, assumed, predicted, and unresolved Source information; 20. preserve Source uncertainty; 21. support Source versioning and history where material; 22. support Source reassessment after material change; 23. identify downstream reassessment triggers; 24. prevent Source existence from being substituted for Resource availability; 25. produce a governed Resource Origin & Source Profile; 26. produce an explicit Profile Sufficiency State.
105. Governance Logic
Canonical ROSM logic:
Governed Resource → Boundary Reference → Resource State → Origin Identification → Immediate Source → Intermediate Source Structure → Source Pathway → Transformation Chain → Source Composition → Source Concentration → Shared Dependencies → Origin & Source Evidence → Uncertainty → Profile Sufficiency → Resource Origin & Source Profile
Where uncertainty exists:
Unknown Origin / Source → Missing Evidence → Minimum Evidence Requirement → Additional Evidence → Reassessment
Where change occurs:
Existing Source Profile → Material Source Change → Source Impact Test → Revised Profile → Version Update → Downstream Reassessment where required
106. Governance Outputs
ROSM may produce:
Resource Origin & Source Profile Origin Record Origin Location Immediate Source Record Intermediate Source Record Source Pathway Source Network Source Type Source Location Source Composition Source Mix Transformation Chain
Source Concentration Profile Source Diversity Representation Shared Source Dependency Record Source Evidence Reference Origin Evidence Reference Source Assumption Record Source Uncertainty State Origin Uncertainty State Profile Sufficiency State Source Version Source History Source Reassessment Trigger Downstream Reassessment Trigger
107. Minimum Implementation Framework
A minimum operational implementation of ROSM must contain at least eight governed layers.
Layer 1 — Resource Reference
Receive:
Resource ID Resource boundary reference Resource Type & Constraint Profile Resource State Profile Relevant location Relevant time horizon
Layer 2 — Origin Identification
Record:
Origin ID: where available Origin type Origin location where relevant Origin evidence Origin uncertainty
Unknown Origin must remain representable.
Layer 3 — Source Identification
Record:
Immediate Source Source type Source location Source operator reference where relevant Effective period
Layer 4 — Source Pathway
Where material, record:
Origin Intermediate Source(s) Transformation(s) Storage / transport / transmission layer Immediate Source Governed Resource System
Layer 5 — Source Composition
Where multiple Sources contribute:
Source components Contribution where measurable Source Mix period Unknown components
Layer 6 — Source Dependency & Concentration
Record where material:
Single / Multi-Source structure Shared upstream dependencies Geographic concentration Processing concentration Infrastructure concentration Source correlation
Layer 7 — Evidence & Sufficiency
Determine:
Origin evidence Source evidence Assumptions Conflicts Uncertainty Profile Sufficiency
Layer 8 — Governed Output & Reassessment
Produce:
Resource Origin & Source Profile Profile version Effective period Known limitations Source-change triggers Downstream reassessment triggers
Minimum machine-readable logic:
Resource → Origin[] → Source[] → Pathway[] → Transformation[] → Composition[] → Dependencies[] → Evidence[] → Uncertainty[] → Sufficiency State → Origin & Source Profile
A compliant implementation may extend this structure.
It must preserve ROSM canonical distinctions.
108. Minimum Source Model
At minimum, a Source object should support:
Source ID Resource ID
Source Type Source Location Immediate / Intermediate status Primary / Secondary / Recovered status where applicable Effective Time Source Evidence Source Uncertainty Source Version
Additional fields should be required only where materially relevant.
109. Minimum Origin Model
At minimum, an Origin object should support:
Origin ID: where known Resource ID Origin Type Origin Location where relevant Origin Evidence Origin Uncertainty
Unknown Origin must be a legitimate state.
It must not block governance where immediate Source information is sufficient for the relevant question.
110. Minimum Source Pathway Model
Where Source pathway is material:
Origin → Intermediate Source(s) → Transformation(s) → Immediate Source → Governed Resource
Each material node should remain individually identifiable.
Unknown nodes must remain explicitly unknown rather than invented.
111. Minimum Decision States
At minimum, implementations must distinguish:
Origin Established
Origin Conditionally Established
Origin Unknown
Source Established
Source Conditionally Established
Source Evidence-Limited
Source Conflicted
Source Unknown
Profile Sufficient
Profile Conditionally Sufficient
Profile Insufficient
112. Minimum Evidence Path
Where materially relevant Origin or Source information is unresolved:
Unresolved Origin / Source → Governance-Relevant Missing Evidence → Minimum Evidence Requirement → Evidence Acquisition → Reassessment → Updated Origin & Source Profile
The objective is sufficient traceability for legitimate Resource governance, not infinite Source-chain investigation.
113. Minimum Reassessment Framework
At minimum, ROSM must support reassessment following:
New Source Source loss Source substitution Source Mix change Origin correction New Origin evidence Transformation change Recovery activation Infrastructure change Source concentration change Supplier-pathway change Shared dependency discovery Source conflict Resource State change Boundary change
The system must identify whether the change affects only ROSM or requires downstream RSGA™ reassessment.
114. Use Case 1 — Critical Material Supply for Battery Production
A battery manufacturer purchases a processed critical material from three suppliers.
A superficial Source representation may conclude:
Three Suppliers = Three Independent Sources
ROSM requires deeper Source characterization where upstream dependency is material.
The Source structure may reveal:
Supplier A → Processor X → Mining Region Y
Supplier B → Processor X → Mining Region Y
Supplier C → Processor Z → Mining Region Y
The company therefore has three commercial suppliers but remains materially concentrated around:
One dominant Origin region Two processors Shared transport infrastructure
ROSM does not determine whether the Resource is currently scarce.
It does not determine allocation.
It establishes the Origin & Source structure required for those later determinations.
Supplier diversification can exist without Resource Source diversification.
115. Use Case 2 — Electricity Supply for an AI Data Center
An AI data center receives electricity from a regional grid.
Its immediate Source may be:
Regional Electricity Grid
The electricity supplied through that grid may originate from a changing mix of:
Hydropower Nuclear generation Solar generation Wind generation Gas generation Imported electricity Storage discharge
ROSM preserves the distinction between:
Immediate Source Underlying Origin / Generation Sources Source Mix Time period Shared infrastructure dependencies
The data center therefore cannot legitimately characterize all electricity simply by naming its contractual supplier where underlying Source structure is material to Resource governance.
ROSM does not determine how much electricity is available to the data center.
RACS performs that determination.
It establishes the Source structure upon which Resource dependency, resilience, continuity, and sustainability governance can later operate.
The company that sells the Resource is not necessarily the Source that produces it.
116. Critical Distinctions
Resource Origin ≠ Resource Source
Origin ≠ Immediate Source
Source ≠ Supplier
Source ≠ Owner
Source ≠ Operator
Source ≠ Distributor
Producer ≠ Supplier
Source Location ≠ Origin Location
Same Source ≠ Same Origin
Same Origin ≠ Same Source
Primary Source ≠ Preferred Source
Secondary Source ≠ Inferior Source
Recovered Source ≠ Automatically Sustainable Source
Regenerated Source ≠ Sustainable Source
Local Source ≠ Independent Source
Domestic Source ≠ Resource Independence
Imported Source ≠ High-Risk Source by definition
Distributed Source ≠ Resilient Source by definition
Backup Source Existence ≠ Backup Source Availability
Alternative Source Existence ≠ Valid Substitute
Source Count ≠ Source Diversity
Supplier Diversity ≠ Source Diversity
Multiple Sources ≠ Independent Sources
Source Capacity ≠ Resource Availability
Source Loss ≠ Resource Loss
Source Dependence ≠ Resource Criticality
Source Contribution ≠ Allocation Decision
Source Characteristic ≠ Sustainability Determination
Source Control ≠ Governance Authority
Declared Source ≠ Verified Source
Inferred Source ≠ Observed Source
Source Assumption ≠ Source Evidence
Predicted Source ≠ Current Source
Known Immediate Source ≠ Known Origin
117. Cross-Architecture Boundary
ROSM may consume scientific, technical, operational, supply-chain, geographic, infrastructure, provenance, or other governed information.
It does not absorb the governance domains that produce those inputs.
ORA™ governs general Operational Reality.
PGA™ governs future Source predictions.
ADIT® governs Audit and Evidence Governance.
VALIDOS™ governs general Validation Governance.
GOA™ governs Governance Authority.
LIGA™ governs Liability.
RRCS governs Resource Recovery & Circularity.
RSFS governs Resource Substitution & Flexibility.
RIRS governs Resource Interdependency & Resilience.
Specialized Resource architectures govern Resource-specific Source mechanisms.
ROSM governs the Origin & Source characterization required by RSGA™.
118. Cross-Architecture Mechanism Principle
An operational mechanism may produce inputs for multiple governance architectures, but it belongs only to the architecture whose governed domain includes that mechanism itself. Other architectures govern only its domain-specific relevance or consequences.
A geological methodology may determine mineral Origin.
A power-system methodology may determine generation Source.
A hydrological methodology may determine water Origin.
A recycling system may determine recovered-material Source.
A supply-chain system may provide Source-pathway evidence.
ROSM consumes relevant governed outputs.
It does not take ownership of the originating mechanism.
119. Canonical Boundary
ROSM governs how the Origin, Source, Source pathway, Source composition, Source concentration, transformation history, and materially relevant provenance of a Resource are represented for Resource Sustainability governance. It does not determine ownership, authority, current availability, allocation, liability, Value, or sustainability by itself.
The Module ends when the Resource Origin & Source Profile is sufficiently established for remaining Resource Characterization and downstream RSGA™ governance.
120. Canonical Closing Statement
A Resource cannot be governed solely by knowing that it exists. Governance must also know where it came from, where it is coming from now, and which Source dependencies make that supply possible.
ROSM turns “where the Resource comes from” into a governed, traceable Resource reality.