Structured Maps: modeling explicit semantics over a universe of information

The overwhelming accessibility to data, on a global scale, does not necessarily translate to widespread utility of data. We often find that we are drowning in data, with few tools to help manage relevant data for our various activities. This paper presents Structured Maps, an additional modeling construct at a level above available information sources, to provide structured and managed access to data. Structured Maps are based on Topiic Navigation Maps, defined by the SGML community to profice multi-document indices and glossaries. A Structured Map is a modeliing construct that provides a layer of typed entities and relationshiips where the entitiies can have typed references to information elements in the Information Universe. The type structure introduces semantics so that we know what sort of entities are being tracked and why various references have been made. Structured Maps can be placed over loosely structured data, e.g., document collections, with references at various levels of granularity. Structured Maps directly support new, customized, and even personaliized use of the iinformation. In this paper, we define Structured Maps and present several examples adapted from the Sequent Corporate Electronic Library (SCEL), an intranet resource currently implemented in HTML.