Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Ontology Query Languages for
Ontology-Based Databases
A Survey
Stéphane Jean
LISI/ENSMA and University of Poitiers, France
Yamine Aït Ameur
LISI/ENSMA and University of Poitiers, France
Guy Pierra
LISI/ENSMA and University of Poitiers, France
ABSTRACT
Current databases and their associated languages allow a user to exploit data according to their logi-
cal model. Usually, there is a gap between this logical model and the actual concepts represented. As a
consequence, exploiting, exchanging and integrating data stored in databases are difficult. To overcome
these problems, several approaches have proposed to extend current databases with ontologies. We
called Ontology-Based Databases (OBDB) such databases. However, current database languages such
as SQL have not been designed to exploit ontologies. Thus, a new generation of languages we called
ontology query languages has emerged. The goal of this chapter is to provide an up to date survey on
ontology query languages. We survey languages coming from the Semantic Web community as well as
those coming from the database community.
INTRODUCTION
structure. Usually, there is a gap between this logi-
cal model and the actual business concepts used by
decision makers. As a consequence, users of data
warehouses have to use existing documentation (e.g,
data dictionaries) - if any and if not out of date - to
discover the meaning of tables and columns. This
makes using and querying a data warehouse prob-
lematic for all users that have not designed it.
Data warehouses are designed to aggregate data
and allow decision makers to obtain accurate,
complete and up to date information. In current
data warehouses, queries are issued to the logical
model of data, making direct use of the table and
column information that describes the persistence
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