Chapter 2 – Semantic modeling

Publisher Summary The Semantic Web is based on some radical notions of information sharing. These ideas provide for an environment in which information sharing can thrive and a network effect of knowledge synergy is possible. But this style of information gathering creates a chaotic landscape rife with confusion, disagreement, and conflict. However, modeling provides an answer to this problem. Modeling is the process of organizing information for community use. Modeling supports this in three ways: it provides a framework for human communication, a means for explaining conclusions, and a structure for managing varying viewpoints. In the context of the Semantic Web, modeling is an ongoing process. At any point in time, some knowledge is well structured and understood, and these structures can be represented in the Semantic Web modeling language. At the same time, other knowledge is still in the chaotic, discordant stage, where everyone is expressing himself differently. And typically, as different people provide their own opinions about any topic under the sun, the Web simultaneously contains organized and unorganized knowledge about the very same topic. The modeling activity is the activity of distilling communal knowledge out of a chaotic mess of information. This is nicely illustrated in the Pluto example.