2018
Diagrams are widely used in our day to day communication. A knowledge of the spatial patterns used in diagrams is essential to read and understand them. In the context of diagrams, spatial patterns mean accepted spatial arrangements of graphical and textual elements used to represent diagram-specific concepts. In order to assist with the automated understanding of diagrams by computer applications, this paper presents an ontology-based approach to recognise diagram-specific concepts from the spatial patterns in diagrams. Specifically, relevant spatial patterns of diagrams are encoded in an ontology, and the automated instance classification feature of the ontology reasoners is utilised to map spatial patterns to diagram-specific concepts depicted in a diagram. A prototype of this approach to support automated recognition of UML and domain concepts from class diagrams and its performance are also discussed in this paper. This paper concludes with a reflection of the strengths and limitations of the proposed approach.
@{257,
author = {Anitta Thomas and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {Ontology-Based Spatial Pattern Recognition in Diagrams},
abstract = {Diagrams are widely used in our day to day communication. A knowledge of the spatial patterns used in diagrams is essential to read and understand them. In the context of diagrams, spatial patterns mean accepted spatial arrangements of graphical and textual elements used to represent diagram-specific concepts. In order to assist with the automated understanding of diagrams by computer applications, this paper presents an ontology-based approach to recognise diagram-specific concepts from the spatial patterns in diagrams. Specifically, relevant spatial patterns of diagrams are encoded in an ontology, and the automated instance classification feature of the ontology reasoners is utilised to map spatial patterns to diagram-specific concepts depicted in a diagram. A prototype of this approach to support automated recognition of UML and domain concepts from class diagrams and its performance are also discussed in this paper. This paper concludes with a reflection of the strengths and limitations of the proposed approach.},
year = {2018},
journal = {Artificial Intelligence Applications and Innovations},
pages = {61 -72},
month = {25/05 - 27/05},
publisher = {Springer},
isbn = {978-3-319-92007-8},
url = {https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319920061},
}
Based on previous work on classification in IS research, this paper reports on an experimental investigation into the use of computational ontologies as classification artifacts, given the classification approaches identified in information systems (IS) research. The set-theoretical basis of computational ontologies ensures particular suitability for classification functions, and classification was identified as an accepted approach to develop contributions to IS research. The main contribution of the paper is a set of guidelines that IS researchers could use when adopting a classification approach and constructing an ontology as the resulting classification artifact. The guidelines were extracted by mapping an ontology construction approach to the classification approaches of IS research. Ontology construction approaches have been developed in response to the significant adoption of computational ontologies in the broad field of computing and IS since the acceptance of the W3C standards for ontology languages. These W3C standards also resulted in the development of tools such as ontology editors and reasoners. The advantages of using computational ontologies as classification artifacts thus include standardized representation, as well as the availability of associated technologies such as reasoners that could, for instance, ensure that implicit assumptions are made explicit and that the ontology is consistent and satisfiable. The research results from this experimental investigation extend the current work on classification in IS research.
@{256,
author = {Aurona Gerber},
title = {Computational Ontologies as Classification Artifacts in IS Research},
abstract = {Based on previous work on classification in IS research, this paper reports on an experimental investigation into the use of computational ontologies as classification artifacts, given the classification approaches identified in information systems (IS) research. The set-theoretical basis of computational ontologies ensures particular suitability for classification functions, and classification was identified as an accepted approach to develop contributions to IS research. The main contribution of the paper is a set of guidelines that IS researchers could use when adopting a classification approach and constructing an ontology as the resulting classification artifact. The guidelines were extracted by mapping an ontology construction approach to the classification approaches of IS research. Ontology construction approaches have been developed in response to the significant adoption of computational ontologies in the broad field of computing and IS since the acceptance of the W3C standards for ontology languages. These W3C standards also resulted in the development of tools such as ontology editors and reasoners. The advantages of using computational ontologies as classification artifacts thus include standardized representation, as well as the availability of associated technologies such as reasoners that could, for instance, ensure that implicit assumptions are made explicit and that the ontology is consistent and satisfiable. The research results from this experimental investigation extend the current work on classification in IS research.},
year = {2018},
journal = {AMCIS},
month = {16/09 - 18/09},
isbn = {978-0-9966831-6-6},
url = {https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2018/Semantics/Presentations/5/},
}
The W3C standardized Semantic Web languages enable users to capture data without a schema in a manner which is intuitive to them. The challenge is that for the data to be useful, it should be possible to query the data and to query it efficiently, which necessitates a schema. Understanding the structure of data is thus important to both users and storage implementers: the structure of the data gives insight to users in how to query the data while storage implementers can use the structure to optimize queries. In this paper we propose that data mining routines can be used to infer candidate n-ary relations with related uniqueness- and null-free constraints, which can be used to construct an informative Armstrong RDF dataset. The benefit of an informative Armstrong RDF dataset is that it provides example data based on the original data which is a fraction of the size of the original data, while capturing the constraints of the original data faithfully. A case study on a DBPedia person dataset showed that the associated informative Armstrong RDF dataset contained 0.00003% of the statements of the original DBPedia dataset.
@{188,
author = {Henriette Harmse and Katarina Britz and Aurona Gerber},
title = {Informative Armstrong RDF datasets for n-ary relations},
abstract = {The W3C standardized Semantic Web languages enable users to capture data without a schema in a manner which is intuitive to them. The challenge is that for the data to be useful, it should be possible to query the data and to query it efficiently, which necessitates a schema. Understanding the structure of data is thus important to both users and storage implementers: the structure of the data gives insight to users in how to query the data while storage implementers can use the structure to optimize queries. In this paper we propose that data mining routines can be used to infer candidate n-ary relations with related uniqueness- and null-free constraints, which can be used to construct an informative Armstrong RDF dataset. The benefit of an informative Armstrong RDF dataset is that it provides example data based on the original data which is a fraction of the size of the original data, while capturing the constraints of the original data faithfully. A case study on a DBPedia person dataset showed that the associated informative Armstrong RDF dataset contained 0.00003% of the statements of the original DBPedia dataset.},
year = {2018},
journal = {Formal Ontology in Information Systems: 10th International Conference, Cape Town, South Africa},
pages = {187-198},
month = {17/09-21/09},
publisher = {IOS Press},
}
2017
Enterprise engineering (EE) aims to address several phenomena in the evolution of an enterprise. One prominent phenomenon is the inability of the enterprise as a complex socio-technical system to adapt to rapidly-changing environments. In response to this phenomenon, many enterprise design approaches (with their own methodologies, frameworks, and modelling languages) emerged, but with little empirical evidence about their effectiveness. Furthermore, research indicates that multiple enterprise design approaches are used concurrently in industry, with each approach focusing on a sub-set of stakeholder concerns. The proliferating design approaches do not necessarily explicate their conditional use in terms of contextual prerequisites and demarcated design scope; and this also impairs their evaluation. Previous work suggested eleven design principles that would guide approach designers when they design or enhance an enterprise design approach. The design principles ensure that researchers contribute to the systematic growth of the EE knowledge base. This article provides a demonstration of the eleven principles during the development of a DEMO-based enterprise engineering approach, as well as a discussion to reflect on the usefulness of the principles
@{454,
author = {Thomas van der Meulen and Marne de Vries and Aurona Gerber},
title = {Demonstrating Approach Design Principles during the Development of a DEMO-based Enterprise Engineering Approach},
abstract = {Enterprise engineering (EE) aims to address several phenomena in the evolution of an enterprise. One prominent phenomenon is the inability of the enterprise as a complex socio-technical system to adapt to rapidly-changing environments. In response to this phenomenon, many enterprise design approaches (with their own methodologies, frameworks, and modelling languages) emerged, but with little empirical evidence about their effectiveness. Furthermore, research indicates that multiple enterprise design approaches are used concurrently in industry, with each approach focusing on a sub-set of stakeholder concerns. The proliferating design approaches do not necessarily explicate their conditional use in terms of contextual prerequisites and demarcated design scope; and this also impairs their evaluation. Previous work suggested eleven design principles that would guide approach designers when they design or enhance an enterprise design approach. The design principles ensure that researchers contribute to the systematic growth of the EE knowledge base. This article provides a demonstration of the eleven principles during the development of a DEMO-based enterprise engineering approach, as well as a discussion to reflect on the usefulness of the principles},
year = {2017},
journal = {First International Workshop on Advanced Enterprise Modelling (AEM)},
pages = {471-482},
month = {26/04-29/04},
publisher = {SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, Lda.},
address = {Porto, Portugal},
isbn = {978-989-758-249-3},
doi = {10.5220/0006382204710482},
}
Even though the word classification appears in a number of publications in high ranking information systems (IS) journals, few discussions on the fundamental aspects regarding classification could be found. Most IS scholars intuitively embrace some classification approach as a fundamental activity in their research but without considering what classification entails. This paper reports on an investigation into classification, how classification is used within science and disciplines related to IS, as well as how it is approached within IS research itself. The main contribution of the paper is a proposed taxonomy of classification approaches (ToCA) that was validated by classifying classification approaches in relevant publications in three IS journals. ToCA provides a language for scholars to describe and comment, as well as understand the impact of the diverse adoption of classification approaches within IS research.
@{453,
author = {Aurona Gerber and Richard Baskerville and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {A Taxonomy of Classification Approaches in IS Research},
abstract = {Even though the word classification appears in a number of publications in high ranking information systems (IS) journals, few discussions on the fundamental aspects regarding classification could be found. Most IS scholars intuitively embrace some classification approach as a fundamental activity in their research but without considering what classification entails. This paper reports on an investigation into classification, how classification is used within science and disciplines related to IS, as well as how it is approached within IS research itself. The main contribution of the paper is a proposed taxonomy of classification approaches (ToCA) that was validated by classifying classification approaches in relevant publications in three IS journals. ToCA provides a language for scholars to describe and comment, as well as understand the impact of the diverse adoption of classification approaches within IS research.},
year = {2017},
journal = {AMCIS},
month = {10/08-12/08},
isbn = {978-0-9966831-4-2},
url = {https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2017/PhilosophyIS},
}
Design science research (DSR) is well-known in different domains, including information systems (IS), for the construction of artefacts. One of the most challenging aspects of IS postgraduate studies (with DSR) is determining the structure of the study and its report, which should reflect all the components necessary to build a convincing argument in support of such a study’s claims or assertions. Analysing several postgraduate IS-DSR reports as examples, this paper presents a mapping between recommendable structures for research reports and the DSR process model of Vaishnavi and Kuechler, which several of our current postgraduate students have found helpful.
@article{445,
author = {Alta van der Merwe and Aurona Gerber and Hanlie Smuts},
title = {Mapping a Design Science Research Cycle to the Postgraduate Research Report},
abstract = {Design science research (DSR) is well-known in different domains, including information systems (IS), for the construction of artefacts. One of the most challenging aspects of IS postgraduate studies (with DSR) is determining the structure of the study and its report, which should reflect all the components necessary to build a convincing argument in support of such a study’s claims or assertions. Analysing several postgraduate IS-DSR reports as examples, this paper presents a mapping between recommendable structures for research reports and the DSR process model of Vaishnavi and Kuechler, which several of our current postgraduate students have found helpful.},
year = {2017},
journal = {Communications in Computer and Information Science},
volume = {730},
pages = {293-308},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Cham},
isbn = {978-3-319-69670-6},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_21},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-69670-6_21},
}
This paper reports on an investigation into the use of ontology technologies to support taxonomic functions. Support for taxonomy is imperative given several recent discussions and publications that voiced concern over the taxonomic impediment within the broader context of the life sciences. Taxonomy is defined as the scientific classification, description and grouping of biological organisms into hierarchies based on sets of shared characteristics, and documenting the principles that enforce such classification. Under taxonomic functions we identified two broad categories: the classification functions concerned with identification and naming of organisms, and secondly classification functions concerned with categorization and revision (i.e. grouping and describing, or revisiting existing groups and descriptions). Ontology technologies within the broad field of artificial intelligence include computational ontologies that are knowledge representation mechanisms using standardized representations that are based on description logics (DLs). This logic base of computational ontologies provides for the computerized capturing and manipulation of knowledge. Furthermore, the set-theoretical basis of computational ontologies ensures particular suitability towards classification, which is considered as a core function of systematics or taxonomy. Using the specific case of Afrotropical bees, this experimental research study represents the taxonomic knowledge base as an ontology, explore the use of available reasoning algorithms to draw the necessary inferences that support taxonomic functions (identification and revision) over the ontology and implement a Web-based application (the WOC). The contributions include the ontology, a reusable and standardized computable knowledge base of the taxonomy of Afrotropical bees, as well as the WOC and the evaluation thereof by experts.
@article{163,
author = {Aurona Gerber and Nishal Morar and Tommie Meyer and C. Eardley},
title = {Ontology-based support for taxonomic functions},
abstract = {This paper reports on an investigation into the use of ontology technologies to support taxonomic functions. Support for taxonomy is imperative given several recent discussions and publications that voiced concern over the taxonomic impediment within the broader context of the life sciences. Taxonomy is defined as the scientific classification, description and grouping of biological organisms into hierarchies based on sets of shared characteristics, and documenting the principles that enforce such classification. Under taxonomic functions we identified two broad categories: the classification functions concerned with identification and naming of organisms, and secondly classification functions concerned with categorization and revision (i.e. grouping and describing, or revisiting existing groups and descriptions).
Ontology technologies within the broad field of artificial intelligence include computational ontologies that are knowledge representation mechanisms using standardized representations that are based on description logics (DLs). This logic base of computational ontologies provides for the computerized capturing and manipulation of knowledge. Furthermore, the set-theoretical basis of computational ontologies ensures particular suitability towards classification, which is considered as a core function of systematics or taxonomy.
Using the specific case of Afrotropical bees, this experimental research study represents the taxonomic knowledge base as an ontology, explore the use of available reasoning algorithms to draw the necessary inferences that support taxonomic functions (identification and revision) over the ontology and implement a Web-based application (the WOC). The contributions include the ontology, a reusable and standardized computable knowledge base of the taxonomy of Afrotropical bees, as well as the WOC and the evaluation thereof by experts.},
year = {2017},
journal = {Ecological Informatics},
volume = {41},
pages = {11-23},
publisher = {Elsevier},
isbn = {1574-9541},
url = {https://ac.els-cdn.com/S1574954116301959/1-s2.0-S1574954116301959-main.pdf?_tid=487687ca-01b3-11e8-89aa-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1516873196_6a2c94e428089403763ccec46613cf0f},
}
Semantic heterogeneity hampers efforts to find, integrate, analyse and interpret ecological data. An application case-study is described, in which the objective was to automate the integration and interpretation of heterogeneous, flower-visiting ecological data. A prototype knowledgebased system is described and evaluated. The system's semantic architecture uses a combination of ontologies and a Bayesian network to represent and reason with qualitative, uncertain ecological data and knowledge. This allows the high-level context and causal knowledge of behavioural interactions between individual plants and insects, and consequent ecological interactions between plant and insect populations, to be discovered. The system automatically assembles ecological interactions into a semantically consistent interaction network (a new design of a useful, traditional domain model). We discuss the contribution of probabilistic reasoning to knowledge discovery, the limitations of knowledge discovery in the application case-study, the impact of the work and the potential to apply the system design to the study of ecological interaction networks in general.
@article{154,
author = {Willem Coetzer and Deshen Moodley},
title = {A knowledge-based system for generating interaction networks from ecological data},
abstract = {Semantic heterogeneity hampers efforts to find, integrate, analyse and interpret ecological data. An application case-study is described, in which the objective was to automate the integration and interpretation of heterogeneous, flower-visiting ecological data. A prototype knowledgebased system is described and evaluated. The system's semantic architecture uses a combination of ontologies and a Bayesian network to represent and reason with qualitative, uncertain ecological data and knowledge. This allows the high-level context and causal knowledge of behavioural interactions between individual plants and insects, and consequent ecological interactions between plant and insect populations, to be discovered. The system automatically assembles ecological interactions into a semantically consistent interaction network (a new design of a useful, traditional domain model). We discuss the contribution of probabilistic reasoning to knowledge discovery, the limitations of knowledge discovery in the application case-study, the impact of the work and the potential to apply the system design to the study of ecological interaction networks in general.},
year = {2017},
journal = {Data & Knowledge Engineering},
volume = {112},
pages = {55-78},
publisher = {Elsevier},
isbn = {0169-023X},
url = {http://pubs.cs.uct.ac.za/archive/00001220/01/coetzer-et-al-DKE-2017.pdf},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.datak.2017.09.005},
}
2016
Project management is one of the oldest management processes with reference already to project management during the building of the pyramids. However, the current form of project management with the support of different tools such as electronic management systems, is relatively new. Although there are different project types the processes, principals and successes of these types might differ. In this research we are interested in the differences and similarities between system development projects and research projects. In our investigation we used a systematic review where we used a coding schema to identify themes in the two types of projects. In comparing the two types of projects, it was found that processes and principals do compare in several themes in the number of references to the themes, but the success factors for the two types of projects are significantly different.
@{458,
author = {Dizhon Visser and Aurona Gerber},
title = {A Comparison of Project Management in System and Research Projects},
abstract = {Project management is one of the oldest management processes with reference already to project management during the building of the pyramids. However, the current form of project management with the support of different tools such as electronic management systems, is relatively new. Although there are different project types the processes, principals and successes of these types might differ. In this research we are interested in the differences and similarities between system development projects and research projects. In our investigation we used a systematic review where we used a coding schema to identify themes in the two types of projects. In comparing the two types of projects, it was found that processes and principals do compare in several themes in the number of references to the themes, but the success factors for the two types of projects are significantly different.},
year = {2016},
journal = {IST Africa},
month = {11/05-13/05},
address = {Durban, South Africa},
isbn = {978-1-905824-55-7},
}
The entertainment industry world-wide provides lucrative business opportunities, and within South Africa, this market is still underdeveloped, especially within rural communities. Within this context, the FP7 MOSAIC 2B project aimed to empower micro-entrepreneurs by providing them with a Cinema-in-a-Backpack, which is a set of equipment allowing them to screen movies in rural areas within South Africa. However, to ensure compliance, these micro-entrepreneurs had to acquire the necessary licenses, which proved to be challenging given the regulatory environment as well as the different stakeholders involved. Using a systematic literature review as well as the MOSAIC 2B project as a case study, this paper reports on an investigation on the process and procedure necessary for a micro-entrepreneur to acquire licenses in order to screen multimedia content within rural South Africa. The paper provides an overview of the regulatory landscape as well as the nature of the film industry in South Africa. The main contribution of the investigation is a process model that could be used by a microbusiness to understand the requirements and process to follow when acquiring a legal licence for the screening of multi-media content within South Africa.
@{457,
author = {Khumbo Masilela and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {Challenges and Opportunities Faced by Micro-Entrepreneurs to Legally Screen Movies in Rural South Africa},
abstract = {The entertainment industry world-wide provides lucrative business opportunities, and within South Africa, this market is still underdeveloped, especially within rural communities. Within this context, the FP7 MOSAIC 2B project aimed to empower micro-entrepreneurs by providing them with a Cinema-in-a-Backpack, which is a set of equipment allowing them to screen movies in rural areas within South Africa. However, to ensure compliance, these micro-entrepreneurs had to acquire the necessary licenses, which proved to be challenging given the regulatory environment as well as the different stakeholders involved. Using a systematic literature review as well as the MOSAIC 2B project as a case study, this paper reports on an investigation on the process and procedure necessary for a micro-entrepreneur to acquire licenses in order to screen multimedia content within rural South Africa. The paper provides an overview of the regulatory landscape as well as the nature of the film industry in South Africa. The main contribution of the investigation is a process model that could be used by a microbusiness to understand the requirements and process to follow when acquiring a legal licence for the screening of multi-media content within South Africa.},
year = {2016},
journal = {IST Africa},
month = {11/05-13/05},
address = {Durban, South Africa},
isbn = {978-1-905824-55-7},
}
The concept of psychological ownership where someone can identify something as their own is part of every person's life. Psychological ownership is important because someone that own something take responsibility for its wellbeing. Currently there is no mechanism to measure psychological ownership of equipment within the context of small entrepreneurial business in South Africa. In this MOSAIC-2B project case study cinema-in-a-backpack equipment was given to entrepreneurs to empower them to start their own successful businesses screening multi-media content in rural South Africa. This research aimed to identify whether or not individuals developed psychological ownership towards the cinema equipment and what the possible effects of having psychological ownership could be. This study resulted in the development of a measuring tool for psychological ownership in the context of small entrepreneurial businesses in South Africa. Psychological ownership can give valuable insight into how entrepreneurs run their businesses in South Africa and this study also established that individuals that perceive themselves as successful has a higher indication of psychological ownership.
@{456,
author = {Toinette Barnard and Alta van der Merwe and Aurona Gerber},
title = {Psychological Ownership: A Human Factor to Consider for the Success of Technology Entrepreneurial Activities},
abstract = {The concept of psychological ownership where someone can identify something as their own is part of every person's life. Psychological ownership is important because someone that own something take responsibility for its wellbeing. Currently there is no mechanism to measure psychological ownership of equipment within the context of small entrepreneurial business in South Africa. In this MOSAIC-2B project case study cinema-in-a-backpack equipment was given to entrepreneurs to empower them to start their own successful businesses screening multi-media content in rural South Africa. This research aimed to identify whether or not individuals developed psychological ownership towards the cinema equipment and what the possible effects of having psychological ownership could be. This study resulted in the development of a measuring tool for psychological ownership in the context of small entrepreneurial businesses in South Africa. Psychological ownership can give valuable insight into how entrepreneurs run their businesses in South Africa and this study also established that individuals that perceive themselves as successful has a higher indication of psychological ownership.},
year = {2016},
journal = {IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC)},
pages = {4646-4651},
month = {09/10-12/10},
publisher = {IEEE},
address = {Budapest, Hungary},
isbn = {978-1-5090-1898-7},
doi = {10.1109/SMC.2016.7844964},
}
This paper investigates how Data as a disruptive technology could be integrated into TOGAF. Given the recent attention of Big Data and Data Science as disruptors, this paper investigates what the impact on the enterprise could be and how Enterprise Architecture (EA) should accommodate data to enable data-driven EA. There is no model currently available that investigates how Big Data can be incorporated into data-driven EA solutions. This study specifically focuses on how the TOGAF ADM could support a data-driven enterprise. Through document analysis and a systematic literature review, a specific adaption of the TOGAF ADM is proposed that indicates the influence that Data and Big Data has on each phase within the ADM.
@{455,
author = {},
title = {Data-driven Enterprise Architecture and the TOGAF ADM Phases},
abstract = {This paper investigates how Data as a disruptive technology could be integrated into TOGAF. Given the recent attention of Big Data and Data Science as disruptors, this paper investigates what the impact on the enterprise could be and how Enterprise Architecture (EA) should accommodate data to enable data-driven EA. There is no model currently available that investigates how Big Data can be incorporated into data-driven EA solutions. This study specifically focuses on how the TOGAF ADM could support a data-driven enterprise. Through document analysis and a systematic literature review, a specific adaption of the TOGAF ADM is proposed that indicates the influence that Data and Big Data has on each phase within the ADM.},
year = {2016},
journal = {IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC)},
month = {09/10-12/10},
address = {Budapest, Hungary},
isbn = {978-1-5090-1897-0},
}
Fruit fly control and management in Africa has been the topic of several scientific investigations resulting in diverse sources of knowledge on the topic. Despite the existence of this knowledge, frequently it is not readily accessible to all targeted beneficiaries; this can be due to, for example, the remote locations of farms and the complexity of the knowledge. However, recent technological developments such as web technologies and networking allow for the engagement and participation of stakeholder groups in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and these technologies can also be applied to fruit fly knowledge. In order to facilitate this stakeholder participation in fruit fly knowledge sharing, the relevant domain knowledge needs to be available in a format that can support stakeholder engagement, preferably through the Web. Fruit fly knowledge has not been modelled in this manner and this paper reports on an investigation to model and capture the relevant domain knowledge using ontologies. The objective of this work is thus the development of the domain ontology and its evaluation using a prototype stakeholder participation system for fruit fly control and management that was capable of utilising the ontology. We describe our findings on the use of ontology technologies for representation of fruit fly knowledge, the fruit fly ontology developed, as well as a prototype Web-based system that uses the ontology as a source of knowledge.
@inbook{451,
author = {Caroline Kiptoo and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {The Ontological Modelling of Fruit Fly Control and Management Knowledge},
abstract = {Fruit fly control and management in Africa has been the topic of several scientific investigations resulting in diverse sources of knowledge on the topic. Despite the existence of this knowledge, frequently it is not readily accessible to all targeted beneficiaries; this can be due to, for example, the remote locations of farms and the complexity of the knowledge. However, recent technological developments such as web technologies and networking allow for the engagement and participation of stakeholder groups in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and these technologies can also be applied to fruit fly knowledge. In order to facilitate this stakeholder participation in fruit fly knowledge sharing, the relevant domain knowledge needs to be available in a format that can support stakeholder engagement, preferably through the Web. Fruit fly knowledge has not been modelled in this manner and this paper reports on an investigation to model and capture the relevant domain knowledge using ontologies. The objective of this work is thus the development of the domain ontology and its evaluation using a prototype stakeholder participation system for fruit fly control and management that was capable of utilising the ontology. We describe our findings on the use of ontology technologies for representation of fruit fly knowledge, the fruit fly ontology developed, as well as a prototype Web-based system that uses the ontology as a source of knowledge.},
year = {2016},
journal = {Fruit Fly Research and Development in Africa - Towards a Sustainable Management Strategy to Improve Horticulture},
pages = {235-249},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Cham},
isbn = {978-3-319-43226-7},
url = {https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-43226-7},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-43226-7_11},
}
The Web Ontology Language OWL is a prominent ontology language for specifying ontologies. Although OWL ontologies are well-used for representing and reasoning about knowledge in various domains, they are sparsely studied for visual language specification. The work in this paper, therefore, explores OWL for visual language specification by specifying the concrete syntax of selected UML class diagram notations in an ontology. The selected diagram notations are specified as spatial configurations of primitive elements and qualitative base spatial relationships of Region Connection Calculus-8 (RCC-8). Furthermore, the automated reasoning features of ontology reasoners are investigated to verify the completeness and the correctness of the specification. The verification results indicate that the given specification needs to be revised to support applications to draw the selected notations. The value of such a specification in supporting a semantic diagram interpretation application is demonstrated using the automated instance classification feature of ontology reasoners.
@article{448,
author = {Anitta Thomas and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {An Investigation into OWL for Concrete Syntax Specification using UML Notations},
abstract = {The Web Ontology Language OWL is a prominent ontology language for specifying ontologies. Although OWL ontologies are well-used for representing and reasoning about knowledge in various domains, they are sparsely studied for visual language specification. The work in this paper, therefore, explores OWL for visual language specification by specifying the concrete syntax of selected UML class diagram notations in an ontology. The selected diagram notations are specified as spatial configurations of primitive elements and qualitative base spatial relationships of Region Connection Calculus-8 (RCC-8). Furthermore, the automated reasoning features of ontology reasoners are investigated to verify the completeness and the correctness of the specification. The verification results indicate that the given specification needs to be revised to support applications to draw the selected notations. The value of such a specification in supporting a semantic diagram interpretation application is demonstrated using the automated instance classification feature of ontology reasoners.},
year = {2016},
journal = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science},
volume = {9781},
pages = {197-211},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Cham},
isbn = {978-3-319-42333-3},
url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-42333-3_15},
doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-42333-3_15},
}
This article proposes a conceptual architecture for citizen-expert knowledge exchange in biodiversity management. Expert services, such as taxonomic identification, are required in many biodiversity management activities, yet these services remain inaccessible to poor communities, such as small-scale farmers. The aim of this research was to combine ontology and crowdsourcing technologies to provide taxonomic services to such communities. The study used a design science research (DSR) approach to develop the conceptual architecture. The DSR approach generates knowledge through building and evaluation of novel artefacts. The research instantiated the architecture through the development of a platform for experts and farmers to share knowledge on fruit flies. The platform is intended to support rural fruit farmers in Kenya with control and management of fruit flies. Expert knowledge about fruit flies is captured in an ontology that is integrated into the platform. The non-expert citizen participation includes harnessing crowdsourcing technologies to assist with organism identification. An evaluation of the architecture was done through an experiment of fruit fly identification using the platform. The results showed that the crowds, supported by an ontology of expert knowledge, could identify most samples to species level and in some cases to sub-family level. The conceptual architecture may guide and enable creation of citizen-expert knowledge exchange applications, which may alleviate the taxonomic impediment, as well as allow poor citizens access to expert knowledge. Such a conceptual architecture may also enable the implementation of systems that allow non-experts to participate in sharing of knowledge, thus providing opportunity for the evolution of comprehensive biodiversity knowledge systems.
@article{447,
author = {Caroline Kiptoo and Aurona Gerber and Alta van der Merwe},
title = {Towards citizen-expert knowledge exchange for biodiversity informatics: A conceptual architecture},
abstract = {This article proposes a conceptual architecture for citizen-expert knowledge exchange in biodiversity management. Expert services, such as taxonomic identification, are required in many biodiversity management activities, yet these services remain inaccessible to poor communities, such as small-scale farmers. The aim of this research was to combine ontology and crowdsourcing technologies to provide taxonomic services to such communities. The study used a design science research (DSR) approach to develop the conceptual architecture. The DSR approach generates knowledge through building and evaluation of novel artefacts. The research instantiated the architecture through the development of a platform for experts and farmers to share knowledge on fruit flies. The platform is intended to support rural fruit farmers in Kenya with control and management of fruit flies. Expert knowledge about fruit flies is captured in an ontology that is integrated into the platform. The non-expert citizen participation includes harnessing crowdsourcing technologies to assist with organism identification. An evaluation of the architecture was done through an experiment of fruit fly identification using the platform. The results showed that the crowds, supported by an ontology of expert knowledge, could identify most samples to species level and in some cases to sub-family level. The conceptual architecture may guide and enable creation of citizen-expert knowledge exchange applications, which may alleviate the taxonomic impediment, as well as allow poor citizens access to expert knowledge. Such a conceptual architecture may also enable the implementation of systems that allow non-experts to participate in sharing of knowledge, thus providing opportunity for the evolution of comprehensive biodiversity knowledge systems.},
year = {2016},
journal = {The African Journal of Information and Communication},
volume = {2016},
pages = {33-54},
issue = {18},
url = {https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC-7e06bad44},
doi = {10539/21758},
}
