Experience in Using RDF in Agent-Mediated Knowledge Architectures

We report on experience with using RDF to provide a rich content language for use with FIPA agent toolkits, and on RDFS as a metadata language. We emphasise their utility for programmers working in agent applica-tions and their value in Agent-Oriented Software En-gineering. Agent applications covered include Intelli-gent Information Agents, and agents forming Virtual Organisations. We believe our experience vindicates more direct use of RDF, including use of RDF triples, in programming knowledge architectures for a variety of applications

Supporting the Construction of Workflows for Biodiversity Problem-Solving Accessing Secure, Distributed Resources

In the Biodiversity World (BDW) project we have created a flexible and extensible Web Services-based Grid environment for biodiversity researchers to solve problems in biodiversity and analyse biodiversity patterns. In this environment, heterogeneous and globally distributed biodiversity-related resources such as data sets and analytical tools are made available to be accessed and assembled by users into workflows to perform complex scientific experiments. One such experiment is bioclimatic modelling of the geographical distribution of individual species using climate variables in order to explain past and future climate-related changes in species distribution. Data sources and analytical tools required for such analysis of species distribution are widely dispersed, available on heterogeneous platforms, present data in different formats and lack inherent interoperability. The present BDW system brings all these disparate units together so that the user can combine tools with little thought as to their original availability, data formats and interoperability. The new prototype BDW system architecture not only brings together heterogeneous resources but also enables utilisation of computational resources and provides a secure access to BDW resources via a federated security model. We describe features of the new BDW system and its security model which enable user authentication from a workflow application as part of workflow execution

Organising Knowledge of a Federated Database System to Support Multiple View Generation

In this paper a knowledge base structure to support multiple view generation over a federation of loosely-coupled heterogeneous databases available over a computer network is described. In such a federation user information requirements change and evolve as their awareness of the contents of the federation improves. This means that users need different integrating views if they are to realise the full potential of the federation. To facilitate the creation of integrating views, users need to know what is available in the federation, how the available information is related semantically and which information has been used together previously. Once integrating views are created, users must be informed when their views become invalid due to changes in the participating databases. The knowledge base is structured primarily to assist users in such tasks. The knowledge stored in the knowledge base is obtained by analysing the meta-data of the databases of the federation and from their respec..

CONOISE-G: Agent-based virtual organisations for the Grid

The ability to create reliable and scalable virtual organisations (VOs) on demand in a dynamic, open and competitive environment is one of the challenges that underlie Grid computing. In response, in the CONOISE-G project, we are developing an infrastructure to support robust and resilient virtual organisation formation and operation. Specifically, CONOISE-G provides mechanisms to assure effective operation of agent-based VOs in the face of disruptive and potentially malicious entities in dynamic, open and competitive environments. In this paper, we describe the CONOISE-G system, outline its use in the context of VO formation and perturbation, and review current efforts to progress the work to deal with unreliable information sources

CONOISE-G: Agent-based virtual organisations for the Grid

The ability to create reliable and scalable virtual organisations (VOs) on demand in a dynamic, open and competitive environment is one of the challenges that underlie Grid computing. In response, in the CONOISE-G project, we are developing an infrastructure to support robust and resilient virtual organisation formation and operation. Specifically, CONOISE-G provides mechanisms to assure effective operation of agent-based VOs in the face of disruptive and potentially malicious entities in dynamic, open and competitive environments. In this paper, we describe the CONOISE-G system, outline its use in the context of VO formation and perturbation, and review current efforts to progress the work to deal with unreliable information sources

Building a biodiversity problem-solving environment

In the Biodiversity World project, our goal is to create a flexible and extensible Grid environment in which heterogeneous distributed biodiversity-related data sets and analytical tools are made available to be located and assembled by users unfamiliar with the Grid into workflows to perform complex scientific analyses. We have previously defined and described an architecture containing a number of kinds of components which conform to a common model of Grid interoperability. In this paper, we concentrate on the components and strategies which are important for the assembly of a complete working environment. We describe recent work on three main components of the environment: the workflow system, which provides both workflow design and enactment facilities based on Triana; the metadata repository, implemented using simple flexible entity-attribute-value triples; and the user interface, which consists of parts to control the workflow engine, the metadata repository and tasks as they are executed. We discuss various issues which arose during this work, some of which have not yet been fully resolved, including data set management and access, resource location and invocation, metadatabase representation, wrapping techniques for legacy resources, and user interaction with them

Development of a grid infrastructure for functional genomics

The BRIDGES project is incrementally developing and exploring database integration over six geographically distributed research sites with the framework of a Wellcome Trust biomedical research project (the Cardiovascular Functional Genomics project) to provide a sophisticated infrastructure for bioinfomaticians. Grid technologies are being used to facilitate this integration. Key issues to be investigated in BRIDGES are data integration and data federation, security, user friendliness, access to large scale computational facilities and incorporation of existing bioinformatics software solutions, both for visualisation as well as analysis of genomic data sets. This paper outlines the initial experiences in applying Grid technologies and outlines the on-going designs put forward to address these issues