IT Management Using a Heavyweight CIM Ontology

This paper presents an approach for ontology-based IT management based on a heavyweight (formal) ontology using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). The ontology comprises a complete OWL representation of the Common Information Model (CIM) and management rules defined in the Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL). The ontology not only models the managed system types, but a runtime system dynamically updates model instances in the ontology that reflect values of managed system entities. This allows the evalution of rules that take into account both model and model instances. A reaction module uses the CIM interface of the managed system to invoke CIM methods according to rule evaluation results, thus resulting in automated management. In order to ensure the consistency of the ontology when changes are performed, belief change theory is employed

Enhancing Workflow with a Semantic Description of Scientific Intent

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Semantic-based policy engineering for autonomic systems

This paper presents some important directions in the use of ontology-based semantics in achieving the vision of Autonomic Communications. We examine the requirements of Autonomic Communication with a focus on the demanding needs of ubiquitous computing environments, with an emphasis on the requirements shared with Autonomic Computing. We observe that ontologies provide a strong mechanism for addressing the heterogeneity in user task requirements, managed resources, services and context. We then present two complimentary approaches that exploit ontology-based knowledge in support of autonomic communications: service-oriented models for policy engineering and dynamic semantic queries using content-based networks. The paper concludes with a discussion of the major research challenges such approaches raise

A process model in platform independent and neutral formal representation for design engineering automation

An engineering design process as part of product development (PD) needs to satisfy ever-changing customer demands by striking a balance between time, cost and quality. In order to achieve a faster lead-time, improved quality and reduced PD costs for increased profits, automation methods have been developed with the help of virtual engineering. There are various methods of achieving Design Engineering Automation (DEA) with Computer-Aided (CAx) tools such as CAD/CAE/CAM, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE). For example, Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools enable Geometry Automation (GA), PLM systems allow for sharing and exchange of product knowledge throughout the PD lifecycle. Traditional automation methods are specific to individual products and are hard-coded and bound by the proprietary tool format. Also, existing CAx tools and PLM systems offer bespoke islands of automation as compared to KBE. KBE as a design method incorporates complete design intent by including re-usable geometric, non-geometric product knowledge as well as engineering process knowledge for DEA including various processes such as mechanical design, analysis and manufacturing. It has been recognised, through an extensive literature review, that a research gap exists in the form of a generic and structured method of knowledge modelling, both informal and formal modelling, of mechanical design process with manufacturing knowledge (DFM/DFA) as part of model based systems engineering (MBSE) for DEA with a KBE approach. There is a lack of a structured technique for knowledge modelling, which can provide a standardised method to use platform independent and neutral formal standards for DEA with generative modelling for mechanical product design process and DFM with preserved semantics. The neutral formal representation through computer or machine understandable format provides open standard usage. This thesis provides a contribution to knowledge by addressing this gap in two-steps: • In the first step, a coherent process model, GPM-DEA is developed as part of MBSE which can be used for modelling of mechanical design with manufacturing knowledge utilising hybrid approach, based on strengths of existing modelling standards such as IDEF0, UML, SysML and addition of constructs as per author’s Metamodel. The structured process model is highly granular with complex interdependencies such as activities, object, function, rule association and includes the effect of the process model on the product at both component and geometric attributes. • In the second step, a method is provided to map the schema of the process model to equivalent platform independent and neutral formal standards using OWL/SWRL ontology for system development using Protégé tool, enabling machine interpretability with semantic clarity for DEA with generative modelling by building queries and reasoning on set of generic SWRL functions developed by the author. Model development has been performed with the aid of literature analysis and pilot use-cases. Experimental verification with test use-cases has confirmed the reasoning and querying capability on formal axioms in generating accurate results. Some of the other key strengths are that knowledgebase is generic, scalable and extensible, hence provides re-usability and wider design space exploration. The generative modelling capability allows the model to generate activities and objects based on functional requirements of the mechanical design process with DFM/DFA and rules based on logic. With the help of application programming interface, a platform specific DEA system such as a KBE tool or a CAD tool enabling GA and a web page incorporating engineering knowledge for decision support can consume relevant part of the knowledgebase

Towards a Semantic-Aware Collaborative Working Environment

Collaborative Working Environments (CWEs) enable an efficient collaboration between professionals, specially those settled in different locations of a company or stakeholders from different companies. This can be of great help for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as an effective way to share information. However, it can be difficult for SMEs to have access to a fully integrated CWE providing different tools (e.g., videoconferencing, instant messaging, etc.). Currently, they may define a CWE as a combination of heterogeneous and non-integrated tools which are not able to share information between them. An integrated CWE would provide SMEs with the necessary means to collaborate, making information exchange easier.&nbsp

An ontology-based semantic building post-occupancy evaluation framework and its application

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonCatering to sustainable development in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, many building performance evaluation (BPE) schemas have been developed to support building assessment and aim to narrow down the performance gap. Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE), viewed as a sub-process of BPE, is a systematic method to obtain feedback on building performance in use. However, building evaluation is a complex and knowledge-intensive process with scattered and fragmented knowledge, it is time-consuming and error-prone to acquire explicit knowledge. Benefiting from the advantages of Semantic Web technology in knowledge conceptualization, ontology, as the core of the Semantic Web, has been widely taken as an effective method for knowledge management, information representation and extraction, and logical inference in the AEC industry, especially in the BPE field. However, most of the existing ontologies in the AEC industry are lightweight ontologies that mainly focus on building a structured system to represent the specific domain knowledge or information, without developing formal axioms and constraints to provide higher expressivity. Moreover, the research focus of ontology in building assessment is mainly on energy-related fields, and there is not a comprehensive POE ontology yet, especially with the focus on building occupant satisfaction, which is the starting point of this research. This research develops an ontology-based post-occupancy evaluation framework dedicated to building performance assessment, with the ultimate aim of optimizing building operation and improving building occupants' use experience quality and well-being. In the developed framework, a heavyweight ontology is developed to structure the fragmented building performance assessment knowledge in the POE domain. In POE ontology, the building occupants' needs for building performance are generalized and classified, and the corresponded building performance assessment knowledge is formalized. In addition, a set of SWRL (Semantic Web Rule Language) rules and SQWRL (Semantic Query-Enhanced Web Rule Language) query rules are developed based on the benchmarking evaluation axioms to enable automatic rule-based reasoning and query in different identified application scenarios. This ontology model enables effective POE-related knowledge retrieving and sharing, and promotes its implementation in the POE domain. To validate the developed framework, a case study is carried out facilitated by the Building Use Studies (BUS) Methodology to illustrate its feasibility and effectiveness in different application scenarios. This research concludes that the proposed ontology-based POE framework has the capability to conduct a multi-objective and multi-criteria POE assessment at the building operation stage and provide a multi-criteria optimised solution

Towards Knowledge Driven Decision Support for Personalized Home-based Self-management of Chronic Diseases

The use of ICT technologies to facilitate self-management for patients with chronic diseases attracts increasing attention in smart healthcare. Existing research has mainly focused on sensing and data processing technologies with little work on decision support mechanisms and systems. In this paper, we propose a home-based decision support system based on a wide range of assessment metrics from medical assessment, social and psychological evaluation to behaviour analysis to help self-manage rehabilitation and wellbeing in a personalized manner for different patients. This paper develops semantic models for describing patients, their conditions, medical and behavioural assessments and inference mechanisms for decision recommendations. The research is undertaken in the context of mobile user self-management for Spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients. A case scenario is used to demonstrate the application of the proposed approach, technologies and principles

Combining ontologies and rules with clinical archetypes

Al igual que otros campos que dependen en gran medida de las funcionalidades ofrecidas por las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (IT), la biomedicina y la salud necesitan cada vez más la implantación de normas y mecanismos ampliamente aceptados para el intercambio de datos, información y conocimiento. Dicha necesidad de compatibilidad e interoperabilidad va más allá de las cuestiones sintácticas y estructurales, pues la interoperabilidad semántica es también requerida. La interoperabilidad a nivel semántico es esencial para el soporte computarizado de alertas, flujos de trabajo y de la medicina basada en evidencia cuando contamos con la presencia de sistemas heterogéneos de Historia Clínica Electrónica (EHR). El modelo de arquetipos clínicos respaldado por el estándar CEN/ISO EN13606 y la fundación openEHR ofrece un mecanismo para expresar las estructuras de datos clínicos de manera compartida e interoperable. El modelo ha ido ganando aceptación en los últimos años por su capacidad para definir conceptos clínicos basados en un Modelo de Referencia común. Dicha separación a dos capas permite conservar la heterogeneidad de las implementaciones de almacenamiento a bajo nivel, presentes en los diferentes sistemas de EHR. Sin embargo, los lenguajes de arquetipos no soportan la representación de reglas clínicas ni el mapeo a ontologías formales, ambos elementos fundamentales para alcanzar la interoperabilidad semántica completa pues permiten llevar a cabo el razonamiento y la inferencia a partir del conocimiento clínico existente. Paralelamente, es reconocido el hecho de que la World Wide Web presenta requisitos análogos a los descritos anteriormente, lo cual ha fomentado el desarrollo de la Web Semántica. El progreso alcanzado en este terreno, con respecto a la representación del conocimiento y al razonamiento sobre el mismo, es combinado en esta tesis con los modelos de EHR con el objetivo de mejorar el enfoque de los arquetipos clínicos y ofrecer funcionalidades que se corresponden con nivel más alto de interoperabilidad semántica. Concretamente, la investigación que se describe a continuación presenta y evalúa un enfoque para traducir automáticamente las definiciones expresadas en el lenguaje de definición de arquetipos de openEHR (ADL) a una representación formal basada en lenguajes de ontologías. El método se implementa en la plataforma ArchOnt, que también es descrita. A continuación se estudia la integración de dichas representaciones formales con reglas clínicas, ofreciéndose un enfoque para reutilizar el razonamiento con instancias concretas de datos clínicos. Es importante ver como el acto de compartir el conocimiento clínico expresado a través de reglas es coherente con la filosofía de intercambio abierto fomentada por los arquetipos, a la vez que se extiende la reutilización a proposiciones de conocimiento declarativo como las utilizadas en las guías de práctica clínica. De esta manera, la tesis describe una técnica de mapeo de arquetipos a ontologías, para luego asociar reglas clínicas a la representación resultante. La traducción automática también permite la conexión formal de los elementos especificados en los arquetipos con conceptos clínicos equivalentes provenientes de otras fuentes como son las terminologías clínicas. Dichos enlaces fomentan la reutilización del conocimiento clínico ya representado, así como el razonamiento y la navegación a través de distintas ontologías clínicas. Otra contribución significativa de la tesis es la aplicación del enfoque mencionado en dos proyectos de investigación y desarrollo clínico, llevados a cabo en combinación con hospitales universitarios de Madrid. En la explicación se incluyen ejemplos de las aplicaciones más representativas del enfoque como es el caso del desarrollo de sistemas de alertas orientados a mejorar la seguridad del paciente. No obstante, la traducción automática de arquetipos clínicos a lenguajes de ontologías constituye una base común para la implementación de una amplia gama de actividades semánticas, razonamiento y validación, evitándose así la necesidad de aplicar distintos enfoques ad-hoc directamente sobre los arquetipos para poder satisfacer las condiciones de cada contexto

Towards formalisation of situation-specific computations in pervasive computing environments

We have categorised the characteristics and the content of pervasive computing environments (PCEs), and demonstrated why a non-dynamic approach to knowledge conceptualisation in PCEs does not fulfil the expectations we may have from them. Consequently, we have proposed a formalised computational model, the FCM, for knowledge representation and reasoning in PCEs which, secures the delivery of situation and domain specific services to their users. The proposed model is a user centric model, materialised as a software engineering solution, which uses the computations generated from the FCM, stores them within software architectural components, which in turn can be deployed using modern software technologies. The model has also been inspired by the Semantic Web (SW) vision and provision of SW technologies. Therefore, the FCM creates a semantically rich situation-specific PCE based on SWRL-enabled OWL ontologies that allows reasoning about the situation in a PCE and delivers situation specific service. The proposed FCM model has been illustrated through the example of remote patient monitoring in the healthcare domain. Numerous software applications generated from the FCM have been deployed using Integrated Development Environments and OWL-API