1

Cloud Computing, SCOPE, and Services WG’s: Status Report on

Three Use CasesBrand Niemann

Senior Enterprise ArchitectU.S. EPA

March 3, 2010http://semanticommunity.net/

2

Overview

• 1. My Objectives• 2. Analyze Cloud Computing with SCOPE

– 2.1 My Thoughts from Workshop

• 3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data (How-To Examples)– 3.1 Start with the Data and the Metadata– 3.2 Continue with Data Architecture, Modeling, and Flows– 3.3 Finish with Ontology-driven Systems Engineering

• 4. Federal Initiatives– 4.1 Cloud Computing– 4.2 SOA Community of Practice

• 5. Questions and Answers

3

1. My Objectives

• 1. Get the Cloud Computing Reference Model (CC-RM) to be part of the FEA Reference Models:– Work with the 

Federal CIOC Architecture & Infrastructure Committee, etc.

• 2. Get the CC-RM to be included in Enterprise Architecture Tools and Models so agencies and organizations can do alternative costs analyses:– Work with Troux, OMG, etc.

• 3. Integrate the CC-RM and SCOPE Models and Complete the Semantic Cloud Computing Pattern/Framework/Roadmap:– Work at Federal Cloud Computing, Network Centricity, W3C

egov, etc.

4

2. Analyze Cloud Computing with SCOPE

• NCOIC Analyses Cloud Computing with SCOPE:– Last week, the Network Centric Operations Consortium (NCOIC)

Cloud Computing Working Group (CCWG) started it's work on cloud interoperability in earnest. The first step in their process is the completion of a Systems, Capabilities, Operations, Programs and Enterprises (SCOPE) model. As an analysis tool, SCOPE is used to characterize interoperability-relevant aspects of a system or capability in terms of a set of dimensions. Organized hierarchically, these dimensions (and possible sub-dimensions) represent specific aspects of a system or its surrounding environment. This process enables a quantitative and/or qualitative interoperability assessment of the target system or capability. With the development of a cloud interoperability best practice as a goal, the NCOIC CCWG is working to identify all significant cloud computing dimensions.

Source: Cloud Musings by Kevin Jackson, February 24, 2010.

5

2.1 My Thoughts from Meeting Discussion

• Cloud Computing Attributes (tangible and can demonstrate to a non-geek):– Sufficient Bandwidth (e.g. lunchtime service)– Multiple-Process Browser (e.g. Google Chrome)– Scalable Applications (e.g. MindTouch 2009)– New Business Model (e.g. much less or free)– Works with Trusted Internet Connections (e.g. could

be a government requirement)– Survives Denial of Service Attacks (e.g. best efforts to

bring it down)– Others

6

2.1 My Thoughts from Meeting Discussion

• Supports Future Trends:– Ubiquitous Internet– Consumers Use Mobile Devices– Man-Machine Interface “Singularity”*

• Looking for the optimum combination of:– Device (iPhone, iTablet, etc.)– Network (ATT, Internet 2, etc.)– Interface (Touchscreen, etc.)– Services (iTunes App Store, etc.)

• Suggestion:– Invite DoD/DISA back to next Plenary to get update on new DoD

Desktop in the Cloud based on the above!• See Need a Defense business service? 'There's an app for that, January 7,

2010.• And

DOD issues long-awaited social media policy: Memo lays out rules for various Internet tools, February 26, 2010.

* Note: Singularity: One with it and always use it. March 5th, Innovation Nation Forum.

7

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop /

Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

• 3.1 Start with the Data

• 3.2 Continue with Data Architecture, Modeling, and Flows

• 3.3 Finish with Ontology-driven Systems Engineering

8

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop /

Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

• 3.1 Start with the Data:– Expose the data and the metadata.– Re-purpose with well-defined URLs and

structure.– Convert to RDF and publish to the Linked

Open Data Cloud (in process).

• Example: EPA Rulemaking Gateway

9

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opei/RuleGate.nsf/

10

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

http://epaerulemaking.wik.is/Rulemaking_Gateway

11

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

http://epaerulemaking.wik.is/Rulemaking_Gateway/All_Rules/2060-AP88

12

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

• Convert to RDF and publish to the Linked Open Data Cloud (in process):– Three ways:

• MindTouch Extensions (RDFa).– See MindTouch Application Architecture.

• Conversion of the MySQL database to an RDF triple-store (e.g. DBpedia).

• Use with spreadsheet tools (e,g. Cambridge Semantics and Sheetster).

13

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop /

Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data • 3.2 Continue with Data Architecture, Modeling,

and Flows:– Do a SCOPE-type assessment.– Use Visio to capture the metadata and relationships.– Convert to RDF and publish to the Linked Open Data

Cloud (in process).

• Example: EPA Climate Change Architecture Workshop, February 24, 2010.

14

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

• 3.2 Continue with Data Architecture, Modeling, and Flows:– Do a SCOPE-type assessment:

• Interviews (42 so far – potentially 120) of Subject Matter Experts and Program Leaders.

• Mapped Activities on EPA Organizational Chart.• Summarized in Visio Diagrams.• Outputs in Excel for All Objects in Diagrams.

15

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

16

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

• Pilot Open Data Registry to publish to RDF and Linked Open Data Cloud:– Open Data Registry will play a role similar to that of VeriSign, launching

a new top-level domain .data in 2011 and providing a DNS-like service for authoritative lookup of URIs from across the Semantic Web. Access to data will always be free – whether sought by consumers, enterprises or software applications.

– In mid-2010, Open Data Registry will also be launching a website dedicated to fostering and supporting an innovation commons for developing open standards for the Green Economy. Government agencies, international standards bodies and industry associations are invited to publish their standards in open data formats (e.g. RDF, OWL) building upon the Internet Product Code’s extensible schema and upper-level ontology, which will be open source licensed (GNU GPL v3).

– The innovation commons will also offer community members a large pool of open source Web 2.0 collaboration tools, software applications, online training, and resources for remixing standards metamodels, unit process models, life cycle assessment methodologies and other green accounting methods.

Note: Convergence of Semantic Naming and Identification Technologies, April 27, 2006.

17

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop /

Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data • 3.3 Finish with Ontology-driven Systems Engineering:

– SIRI points the way to the next level of semantic web apps in which the semantic web becomes more than just a "web of data," but also a "web of services" with intelligent UIs. Today, people are discovering the value of linked (open) data. That is, connecting information across the web creates new value and is more than simple aggregation. But, what SIRI demonstrates is that we can also talk about the value of linked (open) services that put this information to work for people. You are no longer merely searching or browsing, no longer just retrieving information; rather, you're solving human problems. That's using the web in a whole new way. Now, you might ask, are semantic web standards quite ready for this new breed of applications? If not, then it's probably a good time to update them so we can have "semantic APIs" to make building them easier (Mills Davis).

– The SIRI Team architected and implemented this immensely complex mash-up of, practically, all the state-of-the-art technologies associated with human-computer interaction, ontology engineering, semantics, speech recognition, service-oriented computing, cloud infrastructure, ... etc. and is easily one of the most compelling examples of the possibilities and promise that ontology-driven system engineering will bring us in the future (Peter Yim).

18

3. A Semantic Cloud Computing Desktop / Mobile Apps with Linked Open Data

See Demo, Download, and Presentation.

19

4. Federal Initiatives

• 4.1 Cloud Computing– Cloud Computing Advisory Council Meeting,

January 21, 2010:• A View From OMB – FY11 Passback:

– FY11: Agencies must demonstrate an active Cloud Computing pilot or put forth their plan to do so

– FY12: Agencies should perform an alternatives analysis for all major IT projects, and justify why those projects couldn’t transition to cloud technology.

– FY13: Agencies should perform an alternatives analysis for all mixed-lifecycle projects (those that require new and steady-state spending), and justify why those projects couldn’t transition to cloud technology.

20

4. Federal Initiatives

• 4.1 Cloud Computing– Cloud Computing Executive Steering Committee Meeting,

February 5, 2010:• Beginning strategy discussion around ways to increase usability on

http://apps.gov (e.g., placing Nebula services on Apps.gov).• Met with representatives from DOI to discuss moving their email

system to the cloud.• Standards Web Workshop currently on hold:

– Chris Kemp (NASA) and Lee Badger (NIST), Working Group Co-chairs.– Consensus around elevating the importance of Cloud Computing

standards for interoperability and portability – highlight and leverage existing standards, de-emphasize the creation of new standards.

– Andrea DiMaio (Gartner), confirmed to present at the Web Workshop on the gaps between Federal and industry priorities for Cloud standards.

• InfoPortal: http://info.apps.gov (not open yet).• CCAC Members suggested that Apps.gov be "opened up" to

vendors, allowing creative interfaces to be built by vendors to improve site usability.

21

4. Federal Initiatives

• 4.2 SOA Community of Practice– Strengthening Service Oriented Architectures (SOA)

with Semantics, John Hebeler, Division Scientist, BBN Technologies, March 16, 2010.

– DOD employs Primitives to bring enterprise architectures into the future: Using a common vocabulary could help reduce cost of developing and maintaining systems, January 27, 2010.

• SOA Symposium, April 21-22, 2010.

– Agenda for May 6, 2010, at MITRE (in process).• See http://federalsoa.wik.is

22

5. Questions and Answers