Semantic Interoperability of Geographic Information



4. Where do we go from here
After having identified some of the challenges of semantic interoperability specially re-lated to GI we can now look at some of the approaches that are being taken to solve such prob-lems. Again, these are non-exhaustive but only indicative of some directions that are being taken.

Shared vocabularies and ontological mappings: Shared vocabularies form the basis of common ontological commitment and can be found in the knowledge tools of user do-mains/communities. Such domain ontologies can be used to align more specific applica-tion and task ontologies. Domain ontologies, in turn, are expected to be aligned to upper level ontologies. However from the abstract considerations about the distributed nature of knowledge as well as from observation of actual (human) ontology negotiation proc-esses it seems clear that globally agreed-upon conceptualizations are difficult to obtain. Hence there is an increased focus on ontological mappings based on a process of merging and aggregation.

Grounding in cognitive linguistics and measurement theory: The ontological negotia-tion process in humans discussed can be argued to be best understood from cognitive lin-guistics and principles there in such as embodied learning from image schemas [11]. Such schemas provide precognitive basis for formation of human concepts and therefore allow grounding of concepts. Similarly, measurement theory [12] is also important in grounding of GI concepts world which are often based on measurements.

Semantic Reference Systems: The term grounding used above extends the metaphor of referencing things to some point on the ground. Semantic Reference Systems [13] is a similar idea of extending the notion of Spatial Reference Systems that is commonly used in maps and GIS, to the non spatial component of GI that needs semantic referencing.


Figure 4 Reference systems for interpreting geospatial information [14]

All interoperability problems are part of the greater system integration problem and one can only hope that in future technology would provide greater automation towards such integra-tion. This would allow the true extent of GI usage in human society from navigation services to emergency management.

5. References
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  • Wegner, P.: Interoperability. ACM Computing Surveys, 28(1):285-287, 1996.
  • Harvey, F., et al.: Semantic Interoperability: A Central Issue for Sharing Geographic In-formation. Annals of Regional Science, 1999. 33 (2) pp. 213-232.
  • Ogden, C.K. and I.A. Richards,: The Meaning of Meaning. 1946: Harcourt, Brace & World.
  • Brox, C. and W. Kuhn.: Demand of Financial Service Providers for GI Products and Electronic Marketplaces. GSDI-7, Bangalore, India. www.gsdi7.org.in, 2004
  • Doerr, M. et al.: Towards a Core Ontology for Information Integration. Journal of Digital information, 2003. 4(1).
  • Gruber, T.R.: Toward Principles for the Design of Ontologies Used for Knowledge Shar-ing. International Journal of Human and Computer Studies 43(5/6): 907-928, 1993
  • Cruz, I. F. et al.: Handling Semantic Heterogeneities Using Declarative Agreements. In ACM GIS 2002, pages 168–174, 2002.
  • Kiyoki Y, et al.: A fundamental Framework for realizing semantic Interoperablity in a Multidatabase Environment. Integrated Computer Aided Engineering, 2(1) 3- 20, 1995
  • Gärdenfors, P.: How to Make the Semantic Web More Semantic. in Formal Ontology in Information Systems, Proceedings of the Third International Conference (FOIS 2004), A. Varzi and L. Vieu, Editors. 2004, IOS Press, 114: pp. 17-34.
  • Johnson, M.: The Body in the Mind: The Bodily Basis of Meaning, Imagination, and Reason. 1987: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Stevens, S.S.: On the Theory of Measurement. Science, 1946.
  • Kuhn, W.: Semantic Reference Systems. International Journal of Geographic Information Science (Guest Editorial), 2003. 17(5): pp. 405-409.
  • Kuhn, W.: Geospatial Semantics: Why, of What, and How? In Journal of Journal on Data Semantics III, (submitted)
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