Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2005, Volume 3534/2005, 586, DOI: 10.1007/11496168_7

Semantic Mappings in Description Logics for Spatio-temporal Database Schema Integration

A. Sotnykova, C. Vangenot, N. Cullot, N. Bennacer and M-A. Aufaure

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Abstract

The interoperability problem arises in heterogeneous systems where different data sources coexist and there is a need for meaningful information sharing. One of the most representive realms of diversity of data representation is the spatio-temporal domain. Spatio-temporal data are most often described according to multiple and greatly diverse perceptions or viewpoints, using different terms and with heterogeneous levels of detail. Reconciling this heterogeneity to build a fully integrated database is known to be a complex and currently unresolved problem, and few formal approaches exist for the integration of spatio-temporal databases. The paper discusses the interoperation issue in the context of conceptual schema integration. Our proposal relies on two well-known formalisms: conceptual models and description logics. The MADS conceptual model with its multiple representation capabilities allows to fully describe semantics of the initial and integrated spatio-temporal schemas. Description logics are used to express the set of inter-schema mappings. Inference mechanisms of description logics allow us to check the compatibility of the semantic mappings and to propose different structural solutions for the integrated schema.
This work is supported, in the framework of the EPFL Centre for Global Computing, by the Swiss National Funding Agency OFES as part of the European projects KnowledgeWeb (FP6-507482) and DIP (FP6-507483). It is also supported by the MICS NCCR funded by FNRS in Switzerland, under grant number 5005-67322.

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