## 4 Experimental Section: An Ontology of the SEA Procedure of City Masterplans
With reference to the first point (purpose), the ontology here proposed aims to represent the SEA as a process; in particular, it must explain how this process is articulated with reference to thethree foundational concepts discussed above in Section 3 (endogeneity; inclusion and participation; social learning process). With reference to the second point (scope), the domain is here confined to the SEA of city masterplans. Once purpose and scope have been established, the following step consists of the construction of a glossary (\"_knowledge glossary_\"), comprising two tables. The first table (\"_table of concepts_\") contains a list of core and secondary concepts together with their definition in natural language, the indication of the source of the definition, and of possible synonyms. Concepts can be either _core concepts_ or _secondary concepts_, depending on whether or not they are included in the domain under investigation, that is, ultimately, on how purpose and scope have been defined in the previous step. Core concepts are deemed necessary to represent the domain; on the contrary, secondary concepts are not part of the domain; however they belong to the glossary because they need to be defined in order to describe core concepts. The second table (\"_table of relations_\") lists and defines, again in terms of natural language only, relationships between concepts pertaining to the domain. The definition of concepts and relationships was based on documentary sources only. These consisted of relevant national and regional pieces of legislation concerning both SEA and city masterplans (e.g., the already mentioned Law enacted by decree No. 2006/152; Regional Law No. 1989/45, concerning urban and regional planning in Sardinia; Deliberation of the Regional Government of Sardinia no. 24/23 of 2008, concerning both SEA and Environmental Impact Assessment; GL). The use of such sources was an attempt to ensure that definitions are agreed upon by, and shared among, domain experts. Table 1 illustrates, for instance, a part of the table of concepts. Through a series of checks at internal level of definitions and relations, the two tables were enhanced and modified recursively. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline
**Core concept** & **Definition** & **Source** \\ \hline _City Masterplan_ & Planning instrument that ensures “a balanced growth of urban settlements, consistent with regional directives and constraints”; in compliance with the provisions of the provincial plan, it regulates possible uses of areas designated for agriculture, industry or tourism developments. It also regulates restoration and renovation of buildings, so as to provide for an adequate supply of services and infrastructures for the local community. \\ \hline _Environmental Report_ & Document prepared in compliance with provisions of article 13 of Decree 152/2006. It is a part of the plan, and its preparation accompanies plan preparation and approval. The Environmental Report must identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects on the environment and on cultural heritage that might stem from the implementation of a plan, as well as the reasonable alternatives that might be adopted having regard to the plan’s objectives and the characteristics of the territory on which the plan, once approved, will be in force. \\ \hline _Interested Public_ & People, associations, organizations and groups that are affected, or may be affected, by decisions on environmental matters or that are interested in the procedures that lead to such decisions, including NGOs that promote environmental protection and satisfy legal national requirements, as well as the most representative trade unions. \\ \hline _Municipal Planning Authority_ & The public administration that prepares a plan subject to the decree; in case the plan is prepared by other than a public administration, the public administration in charge of adopting or approving the plan. \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}