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5 meaning of concepts and context relevant associated information for machines, which
are key to enabling enhanced interoperability and richer information exchange. What’s needed is an approach where semantics and context contribute to a rich, conceptual
model that formally encodes logical data model semantics and context as ontologies, building upon heterogeneous logical data model foundations. This new “semantic layer”
conveys how geospatial entities should be properly interpreted and employed in a business context, thus contributing to a higher level of utility, interoperability and
automation.
The Testbed 11 CCI Thread had multiple sub-threads, in which linked data standards were used to demonstrate semantic interoperability of information model, services. This
engineering report summarizes what Semantic Web and Linked data are, outlines the value proposal of using a semantic-based approach as a solution for rapid integration of
information and services, outlines best practices defined by the communities. We also summarize the ontologies and semantic based services developed and used during the
testbed and we provide a set of recommendations for future testbeds and activities within OGC.
6 Overview of Semantic Web
6.1 Semantic Web
W3C defines the Semantic Web is a Web of data. There is a lot of data we all use every day, and its not part of the Web. For example, I can see my bank statements on the web,
and my photographs, and I can see my appointments in a calendar. But can I see my photos in a calendar to see what I was doing when I took them? Can I see bank statement
lines in a calendar? Why not?
Because we dont have a web of linked data. Because data is controlled by applications, and each application keeps data to
itself. The vision of the Semantic Web is to extend principles of the Web from documents to
data. Data should be accessed using the general Web architecture e.g., using URI-s: data should be related to one another just as documents or portions of documents are
already. This also means creation of a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. Data should be
processed automatically by tools as well as manually, including revealing possible new relationships among pieces of data.
Semantic Web technologies can be used in a variety of application areas. For example: In data integration, whereby data in various locations and various formats can be
integrated in one, seamless application;
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In resource discovery and classification to provide better, domain specific search engine capabilities;
In cataloging for describing the content and content relationships available at a particular Web site, page, or digital library;
By intelligent software agents to facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange; In content rating; in describing collections of pages that represent a single logical
“document”; For describing intellectual property rights of Web pages see, eg, the Creative
Commons, and in many others. The list of Semantic Web Case Studies and Use Cases
1
gives some further examples.
6.2 Why Semantics?
