Creating Topic Maps Ontologies for Space Experiments

David DamenTMRA 2009, Leipzig, Germany

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ULISSE

• European FP7 project

• “ Improve the exploitation of results from space experiments”

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Data Providers

E-USOC

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Scientific Disciplines

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Why Topic Maps?

• Large variety in background knowledge

• More natural expression of knowledge

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Ontology Creation - Original

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Startup

Analysis

End-user

DraftingInteraction Design

Verification

Ontology Creation - Adaptations

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Startup

Analysis

End-user

DraftingInteraction Design

Verification

Ontology Creation - ULISSE

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Preparation

Analysis Draft Refinement

OntologyWorkshops

• Iteration 1• Iteration 2

Ontology Workshops

• 9 Ontology Workshops

• 27 scientists and engineers involved

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Ontology Workshops

• Day 1:– Present Topic Maps– Learn about the domain

• Day 2:– Dump domain knowledge

• Day 3:– Structure domain knowledge

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Know Your Stuff

• You are the expert

• Be prepared for tricky questions

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Sell Topic Maps

• Do not assume:

– Prior knowledge

– Willing acceptance

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Know Your Audience

• Your domain experts:– Scientists?– Software Engineers?– Electrical Engineers?– Business people?– …?

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Be a facilitator

• Use domain examples:– Make it easier to follow– Show domain understanding

• Let them talk

• Use tools they already know

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Gradually introduce Topic Maps concepts

• Do not try to push everything from the start

• Try to remember your first encounters with Topic Maps

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It’s ok to be scared or nervous

• Trust your preparations

• Trust yourself

• Be prepared to be wrong

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Domain experts are nervous too

• Probably more than you, but not at first

• How well do they know their domain?

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Results

Task Tool ResultEnumeration (identifying terms)

Microsoft Excel Word List

Categorization (grouping terms)

CMapTools Concept Map

Organization (modelling taxonomical relationships)

CMapTools Concept Map

Organization (modelling ontological relationships)

CMapTools Concept Map

Organization (transforming into Topic Maps Notation, including Scopes, Roles, Occurrences)

Microsoft PowerPoint Ontology in simplified GTM notation

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Results – Fluid ScienceEckmann number I of characteristic number Xeducational AT unary AT: of experiment Xelectric pole TT AT: "hardware" "composed-of" "electric pole" Xelectrical conductivityI of physical propertyelectrical power TT of current. AT: "experiment" "uses" "electrical power" Xelectromagnetic force TT subtype of body force Xenergy TT variable/parameter (cfr.velocity, temperature)engine TT AT: "hardware"/"facility" "composed-of" "engine" Xenvironmental temperature I of boundary condition X

equation TTAT: "mathematical model" "is-made-up-of" "equation"; AT:"mathematical model" "is-made-up-of" "boundary condition"

ESA I of space agency Xevaporation I of physical phenomenon X

experiment TTinstances are FASES, … AT: "experiment" "is-performed-in" "exp. Facility". AT: "experiment" "studies" "physical phenomenon" X

experiment output TT AT: "experiment" "produces" "experiment output" Xexperiment result TT AT: "experiment" "produces" "experiment result" Xexperiment setup TT AT: "experiment" "describes" "experiment setup" X

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Results - Physiology

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Results – General Space Experiments

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Experiment

Experiment output

produces

Experiment setup

defines

Experiment run

consists-of

Boundary/Limitation condition

imposes

educational

product

producer

project

Experiment protocol

partwhole

plans

constraintproject

protocol

setup

project

protocolTime Interval

status

acronym

report

Experiment Anomaly

encountered eventproject

Status should be a closed list. The following statuses are proposed:• selected• scheduled - under implementation• launched• active• analysis• completed

Conclusions

• Transfer Topic Maps throughout the consortium

• Using simple tools raised the involvement

• Managing the ontologies across tools is hard

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Future Work

• Ontologies as TMCL

• Incorporate the ontology creation workflow in ScienceCast

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Questions?

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