an ontology-based spatio-temporal data model and query language for use in gis-type applications
In this paper, we present a Web Ontology language (OWL) -based spatio-temporal data model that introduces the 'spatio-temporal coordinate' concept and makes use of 'temporal lifting'. The ontology-based data model captures application data features. A process for application data model development that incorporates spatio-temporal dependencies is presented. Standardized spatial concepts can be utilized. Spatio-temporal querying is supported; it makes use of the full data model. These concepts have been utilized in a prototype effort. The prototype was architected as a three-tier distributed, Web-based system. The middle tier, a query-answering layer, is incorporated into a Web-based Geographic Information System, GeoServer, while maintaining GeoServer's capabilities. The user's Query Console, architected as a Java applet, presents the ontology-based application data model to the user to support query formulation. The back-end data tier is extended by Managers that work with the ontology instance data to support faster access and query answering performance.
ontology spatio-temporal data model query language gis