Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
In ISO standardization, development of ontology approach is intended to
provide fundament for General Feature Model (GFM) as general, modular
models that can be joined by ontologies. These standardization approach
will also influence standardization of geographical names.
3- Semantics and semantic web
Semantics as the study of meanings is establishing relationship between
real world and data. It is important in the field of geographic information
because the meaning of data is essential for their consistent integration in
model. Semantics is connecting phenomena (features/objects) and signs
(on the maps and visualizations) using the concepts, and concepts are
defining knowledge base or ontology. Ontologies constitute knowledge
base of the semantic, and can be used to integrate heterogeneous data.
Because of that ontology is a fundamental for semantic interoperability.
Sharing the data among different applications is possible only if they
are developed for that purpose. Semantic Web is defining common
format of data in different sources and how the data are related to
real world objects.
W3C standardized Semantic Web as web of data
(W3C-Semantic Web 2009). The Semantic Web is using the Web Onto-
logy Language (OWL) to implement ontologies on the Web (W3C-OWL
2009).
The Semantic Web consists of a Web of data and information that can be
processed by computers (W3C Semantic Web 2009). It can use keywords
in queries search in the large information structure. Semantic web lan-
guages are developed on the foundation of extensible markup language
(XML). World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is supporting Semantic
Web languages: Resource Description Framework (RDF), RDF Schema
(RDF-S), Web Ontology Language (OWL), Rule Interchange Format
(RIF) and RDF Schema (RDF-S). The Web Ontology Language (OWL) is
giving opportunity to use more ontologies in one semantic Web system.
Semantic Web is data understandable and can be processed by machines,
providing more interaction between the different data sources on the Web.
