Semantics enhanced engineering and model reasoning for control application development

Development of advanced systems requires new methods to improve quality and efficiency of engineering processes, and to assist management of complex models encompassing different engineering disciplines. Methods such as model-driven development and domain-specific modeling facilitate development from this perspective but reduce interoperability and other prospects of rationalizing processes, on the other hand. An approach applying Web Ontology Language (OWL) semantics and reasoning to models is presented with examples to support industrial control application engineering. Using the methods, generalized classifications are inferred from instance models and combined with generic engineering knowledge maintained in ontologies. Reasoning allows identifying assemblies and structures outside the scope of traditional modeling to detect specific structures, flaws and error-prone designs. The semantic descriptions of models allow linking of other engineering related information to support engineering tasks during design. The results indicate that OWL semantics and reasoning can be used as a supplement enhancing typical development practices.