Re: atlas, landscape map and subject classification scheme for semantic web technologies

Hi Deborah and Milton,

I am working in a related area, focusing on quality assurance in the
building and construction industries in Australia and New Zealand.

We currently have a (non semantic) web application which is used to define
the criteria to verify that the work being done at the building site
complies with the building code(s) and standards. The application enables 
 on site checking using mobile phones and PDAs.

Two lessons that we have learnt are:

1. If the building code(s) and standards were published as Linked Data it
would be a lot easier to link to them directly rather than duplicating
information within our own system.
2. From the projects we have undertaken so we have built up a collection
of common Inspection and Test Plans which define the criteria for
verifying common tasks. We are in the process of making this collection of
common Inspection and Test Plans available as Linked Data. There is a
related blog article  at 
http://blog.3kbo.com/2008/06/15/constructing-an-ontology/.

I am interested in knowing more about the work being done with the fire
codes, building codes and sustainable development and the possibility of
linking to these from our Inspection and Test Plans.

Deborah are you able to send a link to the prospectus or a request form
for it?

Cheers,

Richard Hancock


> Well - you can't do all of what you are talking about below at the same
time. Where exactly is it that you want to start? The middle or the
outside/overview?
> Why not the worlds most compact and connected dictionary,
> FloorplanMarkupLanguage<http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?FloorplanMarkupLanguage>
with
> a super small set of words and subject matters? Every word has multiple
slightly different variations and there is so much slang in both the
building trades and fire departments that need to learn how to talk to
each
> other, and automate reviews from both sides. This project is only to
make
> sense of those words and relationships, the rest is limited to:
>
> Simple SVG floorplans that can play on any screen, centering an area of
interest on the screen in appropriate resolution and complexity. Fixed
versions are made following the format and exchange requirements being
developed, these plans are a collaboration between owners and the local
fire
> department.
>
> A solid set of semantic relationships between building elements, fire
safety
> features, the geometry of jurisdiction boundaries, locations and rules.
We
> are only working with the fire code.
>
> Future work will extend to all building codes not just the fire code and
start to work on sustainability. Also the ability to map static
floorplans
> to dynamic building data such as fire alarms in lightweight standalone open
> SVG/Java format. NYFD and IBM have started to work on this too, our
group
> is
> for open standards in working in the same direction for the same goals.
A
> prospectus is available upon request. There's a presentation in NYC on
Feb
> 18.
>
> The purpose of this work is.... ordering subjects in or related to semantic
> web technologies. For this system to work - unconnected domains need to
be
> able to interact in a strategic manner. If this can work for  atlas,
landscape map and subject classification scheme for semantic web
technologies, in only this one small area - maybe some of the struggles
you
> talk about below can also be addressed.
>
> Deborah MacPherson
>
> On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 7:00 PM, Semantics-ProjectParadigm <
> metadataportals@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I am actually looking for something more mundane and fixed.
>> Librarians use universal coding systems to classify knowledge subjects.
What I am looking for is the Computer Science Classification or Math
Subject
>> Classification scheme (MSC) for ordering subjects in or related to
semantic
>> web technologies.
>> It is a given that specialists in a specific field of science will
order
>> and classify information and knowledge according to subject
>> classification
>> systems.
>> The two I mentioned are standards for computer science and mathematics,
although if we look at the one for math, rigid adherence to standards
is
>> not
>> a given, e.g. www.arxiv.org does not stick to the MSC because something as
>> simple as quantum algebra does not fit into any MSC category properly.
The problem I have is that our organization is preparing to build a
meta-portal for sustainable development, which actually calls for an
interdisciplinary approach to structuring knowledge, combining,
ecology,
>> biology, zoology, marine biology, geology, oceanography, meteorology,
chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, economics, sociology,
anthropology, psychology and an additional bag of earth sciences, bio
sciences, health sciences, agricultural sciences and behavioral
sciences
>> thrown into the mix.
>> The US Government figured this out recently as well when they figured that
>> a standard approach to the field of integrated coastal zone management was
>> not covering all corners.
>> So the research field of human dimensions was born (www.hd.gov). Now
comes the part where semantic web technologies can really be made
to
>> shine.
>> In absence of standardized subject classification schemes standardized
schemes become important, where ontologies and subsequent upper layers
will
>> be of vital importance.
>> I mentioned the EU Framework Program 7 PARADISO Conference ICT for a
Global
>> Sustainable Future (http://www.paradiso-fp7.eu) in an earlier email.
When I checked http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/projects/home_en.html
under
>> the FP7, FP6 and FP5 for semantic web I found some 175 projects. What I
see is fragmentation, and what I miss is an attempt to come up with
>> a scheme for knowledge modeling and classification that is more dynamic
than
>> what we have now.
>> To put it in perspective if I am e.g. looking for knowledge on
>> ecological
>> footprint indicators and vulnerability indices, I must have at my
disposal a
>> scheme which can dynamically combine subject classfication schemes for
mathematics, computer science, ecology and several other fields of
research
>> and uniquely resolve conflict issues arising from the fact that e.g.
the
>> word ecosystem means different things in computer science and ecology.
I know this may sound trivial, as semantic web technology standards and
tools supposedly take care of this problem.
>> The problem I have encountered, and which is going to be a tough one to
tackle is that mainstream peer-reviewed scientific articles, papers and
research tend to be classified using things like the Computer Science
Classification and the Math Subject Classification, but in practice an
emergent field like Human Dimensions calls for more flexibility, the
kind
>> the semantic web is supposed to deliver.
>> Since the hard core body of scientific knowledge will be a main
category
>> to
>> be covered by the semantic web in addition to less structured
>> information we
>> have a problem.
>> We can create a generalized scheme for ontologies and then reverse map
this
>> onto the all existing knowledge and particularly of interest to
researchers
>> areas of overlap (multidisciplinary research- the norm in e.g.
>> sustainable
>> development).
>> Somehow my gut feeling tells me we are going to get stuck halfway. What
I am trying to avoid is using the semantic web technology
standards
>> and tools and ending up creating the semantic web equivalent of the
sub-atomic particle zoo of elementary particle physics with hundreds of
components to make the darn thing work!
>> Milton Ponson
>> GSM: +297 747 8280
>> Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation
>> PO Box 1154, Oranjestad
>> Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
>> www.rainbowwarriors.net
>> Project Paradigm: A structured approach to bringing the tools for
sustainable development to all stakeholders worldwide
>> www.projectparadigm.info
>> NGO-Opensource: Creating ICT tools for NGOs worldwide for Project Paradigm
>> www.ngo-opensource.org
>> MetaPortal: providing online access to web sites and repositories of data
>> and information for sustainable development
>> www.metaportal.info
>> SemanticWebSoftware, part of NGO-Opensource to enable SW technologies
in
>> the Metaportal project
>> www.semanticwebsoftware.info
>> --- On *Mon, 1/12/09, Deborah MacPherson <debmacp@gmail.com>* wrote:
From: Deborah MacPherson <debmacp@gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: atlas, landscape map and subject classification scheme for
semantic web technologies
>> To: metadataportals@yahoo.com
>> Cc: "public-lod" <public-lod@w3.org>, "semantic-web"
>> <semantic-web@w3.org>
>> Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 10:14 PM
>> You could also look at UMBEL Upper Mapping Binding and Exchange Layer
http://www.umbel.org/Deborah MacPherson
>> On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Semantics-ProjectParadigm <
>> metadataportals@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> Dear listers,
>>> I am looking for an atlas, landscape map and (standard checklist) subject
>>> classification scheme for semantic web and semantic web technologies.
Are there any articles of publications visually and by subject
classification mapping the field of semantic web technologies? I am
particularly interested in any such schemes which make the
linkage
>>> to
>>> other fields of research visible (e.g. AI, library sciences, database
theory, cognitive science, linguistics, neurobiology, formal logical
and
>>> knowledge modeling etc.).
>>> Milton Ponson
>>> GSM: +297 747 8280
>>> Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation
>>> PO Box 1154, Oranjestad
>>> Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
>>> www.rainbowwarriors.net
>>> Project Paradigm: A structured approach to bringing the tools for
sustainable development to all stakeholders worldwide
>>> www.projectparadigm.info
>>> NGO-Opensource: Creating ICT tools for NGOs worldwide for Project
Paradigm
>>> www.ngo-opensource.org
>>> MetaPortal: providing online access to web sites and repositories of data
>>> and information for sustainable development
>>> www.metaportal.info
>>> SemanticWebSoftware, part of NGO-Opensource to enable SW technologies in
>>> the Metaportal project
>>> www.semanticwebsoftware.info
>> --
>> ********************************************************
>> Deborah L. MacPherson CSI CCS, AIA
>> Projects Director, Accuracy&Aesthetics
>> Specifications and Research, WDG Architecture
>> The content of this email may contain private
>> and confidential information. Do not forward,
>> copy, share, or otherwise distribute without
>> explicit written permission from all correspondents.
>> ********************************************************
>
>
> --
> ********************************************************
>
> Deborah L. MacPherson CSI CCS, AIA
> Projects Director, Accuracy&Aesthetics
> Specifications and Research, WDG Architecture
>
> The content of this email may contain private
> and confidential information. Do not forward,
> copy, share, or otherwise distribute without
> explicit written permission from all correspondents.
>
> ********************************************************
>

Received on Thursday, 15 January 2009 10:19:45 UTC