THE REPRESENTATION OF GEOGRAPHIC OBJECT SEMANTICS USING INCLUSION RULES

A number of attempts have been made to provide standard terms or definitions for real world entities to aid in data sharing. However, the information communities model of the OpenGIS Consortium recognizes that individual user groups will have their own set of definitions and language, and that translations between these will be necessary (OpenGIS Consortium, 1996). In order for translations to be successful, a method for capturing the semantics of database elements is required. Simple definitions have been shown to be inadequate (Mark, 1993; Kuhn, 1994). An alternative method for the representation of element semantics uses inclusion rules, and is based on psychological theory of concept attainment, and particularly on a model proposed by Klausmeier, Ghatala and Frayer (1974). The method identifies inclusion rules as being the basis for concept attainment, and combines these rules into predicates to represent element semantics. The method allows cross referencing between predicates that define element semantics, so reduces reliance on the expression style of individual participants in the data sharing activity. In addition to providing a method for representation of element semantics, the inclusion rules method allows the relationships between element semantics to be determined. This determination is necessary in order for semantic translation to occur. An example using topographic elements indicates that rules can be defined and predicates formed to represent element semantics with limited dependence on individual expression. The example then shows that predicates can be used to translate element semantics to allow data sharing between heterogeneous communities.

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