Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/service/metrics/CubeService.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/service/metrics/CubeService.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/service/metrics/CubeService.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2012 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.service.metrics;
+
+import org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube.ReadBuilder;
+import org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube.Rollup;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+/**
+ * The cube API service, for reading addressable counts from a basic cube.
+ */
+public interface CubeService {
+
+  /**
+   * Using the supplied {@link ReadBuilder} to obtain the address, looks up the cube value.
+   * 
+   * @param addressBuilder To obtain the address at which to look up from the cube.
+   * @return The value which might be 0. A value of 0 means that the count is truly at 0.
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException Should the addressBuilder provide an address that does not exist in the cube.
+   */
+  long get(ReadBuilder addressBuilder) throws IllegalArgumentException;
+
+  /**
+   * Provides the list of rollups which specifies the available combinations of addressable dimensions for a cube.
+   * 
+   * @return The list of rollups, effectively documenting how one could query the cube.
+   */
+  List<Rollup> getSchema();
+}
Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Dimension.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Dimension.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Dimension.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2012 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+
+/**
+ * A typed dimension to a cube, which is constructed with a unique key. This key defines the HTTP parameter name during
+ * serialization, and the type is respected by the {@link ReadBuilder} during lookups.
+ * 
+ * @param <T> The value type supported for the dimension
+ */
+public class Dimension<T> {
+
+  private final String key;
+
+  /**
+   * Force the provision of the key in construction, which should be unique for the cube.
+   * 
+   * @param key Which is used in the HTTP parameters
+   */
+  public Dimension(String key) {
+    this.key = key;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+    if (this == obj) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    if (obj == null) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    Dimension<?> other = (Dimension<?>) obj;
+    if (key == null) {
+      if (other.key != null) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    } else if (!key.equals(other.key)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @return The dimension key
+   */
+  public String getKey() {
+    return key;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public int hashCode() {
+    final int prime = 31;
+    int result = 1;
+    result = prime * result + ((key == null) ? 0 : key.hashCode());
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public String toString() {
+    return Objects.toStringHelper(this).add("key", key).toString();
+  }
+}
Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/OccurrenceCube.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/OccurrenceCube.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/OccurrenceCube.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2012 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
+
+import org.gbif.api.vocabulary.BasisOfRecord;
+import org.gbif.api.vocabulary.Country;
+import org.gbif.api.vocabulary.Kingdom;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.UUID;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
+
+/**
+ * The occurrence cube dimension definitions and the way in which they are rolled up into counts.
+ */
+public class OccurrenceCube {
+
+  public static final Dimension<Kingdom> KINGDOM = new Dimension<Kingdom>("kingdom");
+  public static final Dimension<Country> COUNTRY = new Dimension<Country>("country");
+  public static final Dimension<Integer> YEAR = new Dimension<Integer>("year");
+  public static final Dimension<Boolean> IS_GEOREFERENCED = new Dimension<Boolean>("georeferenced");
+  public static final Dimension<BasisOfRecord> BASIS_OF_RECORD = new Dimension<BasisOfRecord>("basisOfRecord");
+  public static final Dimension<Country> HOST_COUNTRY = new Dimension<Country>("hostCountry");
+  public static final Dimension<UUID> DATASET_KEY = new Dimension<UUID>("datasetKey");
+  public static final Dimension<Integer> MONTH = new Dimension<Integer>("month");
+  public static final Dimension<Integer> NUB_KEY = new Dimension<Integer>("nubKey");
+
+
+  public static final List<Rollup> rollups = ImmutableList.of(
+    new Rollup(BASIS_OF_RECORD),
+    new Rollup(IS_GEOREFERENCED),
+    new Rollup(KINGDOM),
+    new Rollup(COUNTRY),
+    new Rollup(HOST_COUNTRY),
+    new Rollup(DATASET_KEY),
+    new Rollup(YEAR),
+    new Rollup(NUB_KEY),
+    new Rollup(KINGDOM, BASIS_OF_RECORD),
+    new Rollup(KINGDOM, IS_GEOREFERENCED),
+    new Rollup(KINGDOM, BASIS_OF_RECORD, IS_GEOREFERENCED),
+    new Rollup(NUB_KEY, YEAR),
+    new Rollup(NUB_KEY, MONTH),
+    new Rollup(DATASET_KEY, NUB_KEY),
+    new Rollup(DATASET_KEY, YEAR),
+    new Rollup(DATASET_KEY, KINGDOM, BASIS_OF_RECORD, IS_GEOREFERENCED),
+    new Rollup(COUNTRY, HOST_COUNTRY, KINGDOM, BASIS_OF_RECORD)
+  );
+}
Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilder.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilder.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilder.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2012 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.UUID;
+
+import javax.annotation.concurrent.NotThreadSafe;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
+
+/**
+ * Provides building of addresses for reading the cube.
+ * This class ensures the type safety of dimensions as they are added to the builder.
+ */
+@NotThreadSafe
+public class ReadBuilder {
+
+  private final Map<Dimension<?>, String> address = Maps.newHashMap();
+
+  /**
+   * Adds an enumerated type dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<? extends Enum<?>> dim, Enum<?> value) {
+    Preconditions.checkNotNull(value, "Dimension cannot be null");
+    address.put(dim, value.name());
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds a double typed dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<Double> dim, double value) {
+    address.put(dim, String.valueOf(value));
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds a float typed dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<Float> dim, float value) {
+    address.put(dim, String.valueOf(value));
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds an integer typed dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<Integer> dim, int value) {
+    address.put(dim, String.valueOf(value));
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds an String typed dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<String> dim, String value) {
+    Preconditions.checkNotNull(value, "Dimension cannot be null");
+    address.put(dim, value);
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Adds a UUID typed dimension to the address.
+   */
+  public ReadBuilder at(Dimension<UUID> dim, UUID value) {
+    Preconditions.checkNotNull(value, "Dimension cannot be null");
+    address.put(dim, value.toString());
+    return this;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @return The built address.
+   */
+  public Map<Dimension<?>, String> build() {
+    return address;
+  }
+}
Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Rollup.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Rollup.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/Rollup.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2012 Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
+
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
+
+/**
+ * A rollup defines an addressable count that is maintained for a set of dimensions.
+ */
+public class Rollup {
+
+  private final Set<Dimension<?>> components;
+
+  public Rollup(Dimension<?> d) {
+    this(ImmutableSet.<Dimension<?>>of(d));
+  }
+
+  public Rollup(Dimension<?> ... d) {
+    this(new ImmutableSet.Builder<Dimension<?>>().addAll(Arrays.asList(d)).build());
+  }
+
+  public Rollup(Dimension<?> d1, Dimension<?> d2) {
+    this(ImmutableSet.<Dimension<?>>of(d1, d2));
+  }
+
+  public Rollup(Set<Dimension<?>> components) {
+    this.components = ImmutableSet.copyOf(components); // defensive copy
+  }
+
+  public Set<Dimension<?>> getComponents() {
+    return components;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public String toString() {
+    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("(Rollup over ");
+    sb.append(components);
+    sb.append(")");
+    return sb.toString();
+  }
+}
Index: src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/package-info.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/package-info.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/main/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/package-info.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/**
+ * Provides the classes necessary to construct read only requests to well defined cubes.
+ * Cubes are defined with typed dimensions, and a {@link ReadBuilder} is supplied to help ensure types are respected
+ * when constructing cube lookups. A typical usage might be as follows:
+ * 
+ * <pre>
+ * {@code
+ *   new ReadBuilder()
+ *     .at(OccurrenceCube.YEAR, 2012)
+ *     .at(OccurrenceCube.KINGDOM, Kingdom.ANIMALIA)
+ *     .build();
+ * }
+ * </pre>
+ * 
+ * @since 0.1
+ */
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
\ No newline at end of file
Index: src/test/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilderTest.java
===================================================================
--- src/test/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilderTest.java	(revision 0)
+++ src/test/java/org/gbif/api/model/metrics/cube/ReadBuilderTest.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+package org.gbif.api.model.metrics.cube;
+
+import org.gbif.api.vocabulary.Kingdom;
+
+import java.util.UUID;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+
+/**
+ * Tests the type safety of the builder, and illustrates usage.
+ */
+public class ReadBuilderTest {
+
+  private static final class DoubleDimension extends Dimension<Double> {
+
+    public DoubleDimension() {
+      super("double");
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final class EnumDimension extends Dimension<Kingdom> {
+
+    public EnumDimension() {
+      super("enum");
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final class FloatDimension extends Dimension<Float> {
+
+    public FloatDimension() {
+      super("float");
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final class IntDimension extends Dimension<Integer> {
+
+    public IntDimension() {
+      super("int");
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final class StringDimension extends Dimension<String> {
+
+    public StringDimension() {
+      super("string");
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final class UUIDDimension extends Dimension<UUID> {
+
+    public UUIDDimension() {
+      super("uuid");
+    }
+  }
+
+
+  @Test
+  public void testDimensions() {
+    ReadBuilder b = new ReadBuilder();
+    UUID uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
+
+    b.at(new StringDimension(), "1");
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(1, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals("1", b.build().get(new StringDimension()));
+
+    b.at(new IntDimension(), 1);
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(2, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals("1", b.build().get(new IntDimension()));
+
+    b.at(new FloatDimension(), 1f);
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(3, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals("1.0", b.build().get(new FloatDimension()));
+
+    b.at(new DoubleDimension(), 1d);
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(4, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals("1.0", b.build().get(new DoubleDimension()));
+
+    b.at(new UUIDDimension(), uuid);
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(5, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals(uuid.toString(), b.build().get(new UUIDDimension()));
+
+    b.at(new EnumDimension(), Kingdom.ANIMALIA);
+    assertNotNull(b.build());
+    assertEquals(6, b.build().size());
+    assertEquals(Kingdom.ANIMALIA.toString(), b.build().get(new EnumDimension()));
+  }
+}