Modelling Distributed Knowledge Management Systems with Topic Maps

Topic Maps are a knowledge representation standard. Distributed Knowledge Management describes a knowledge-based organization as network of more or less independent units (Knowledge Node) which create and exchange knowledge. This paper describes how Topic Maps can be used to model organizational and spatial structure of DKMS and interaction scenarios between Knowledge Nodes. Deployment of a runtime system is discussed and how measurements at runtime can be used to reveal unknown Knowledge Nodes and interaction pattern inside a DKMS.