ALTER-NET AND SERONTO
Nic Bertrand on behalf of ALTER-Net I6 Team

OVERVIEW
• Brief introduction
• Ontology Creation Process
• Lessons Learned - What work and what could work better

ALTER-NET
• Network for Long term ecological research
• Need to integrate data from many different sources, types...
etc...
• Metadatainformation catalogue (InfoBase) (What’s being
measured, where)
• Semantic framework for data integration (SERONTO)
Socio-Ecological Research and Observation oNTOlogy

SERONTO Components
OBOE
ISO19115
Units EML
Core Ontology
Ecosystems
Domain Ontologies
Biodiversity
Imported/Mapped Core
ontology
Standards & Landscape
Ontologies Socio- InfoBase
Taxonomy
Economics
External Common domain
Core ontology Domain ontology knowledge space
ontologies

Uses of SERONTO
Short term perspective:
 Common model on how ecological and socio-ecological
observations can be structured for data management
 Agreed common representation on observations across
different domains
 Agreed common key domain concepts (common
knowledge space)
Mid-to long term perspective:
 Integrative data model for seamless data access and
querying across multiple institutions and diverse data
types (tested, mid-to long term perspective)

SERONTO CORE ONTOLOGY
There are five main aspects to consider:
1. Sampling structure (where does the \"object\" of measurement come from, and how is it selected)
2. Observation on “objects\": what parameter, when (time stamp) and how (method chains)
3. For each parameter precision, scale, units and dimensions are identified
4. Make use of available knowledge collected in the reference catalogue
5. Grouping method for connecting pieces of information which relate to each other

Ontology Creation Process

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Role Who Description
decision forum The whole community (if small) or decides on proposed ontology solutions for each
delegates of the community for which the issue and ensure the common acceptance in the
ontology is developed community
ontology working group formed by members of the community Carry out the ontology process steps 1 to 3,
who are working on a specific ontology including the creation of examples (step 5)
aspect
working group coordinator One member of the working group overview over the group process (WIKI)
responsible person for ontology issue One member of the working group overview over the specific issue, the deadlines
(WIKI)
ontology experts Experts of the community Carry out ontology process step 4 to bring all
solutions together formalized in ontologies
ontology coordinator Process experts of the community overview over whole process, deadlines; facilitates
the process and acts as a process mediator

WORKSHOPS / FACE TO FACE
Brainstorm
Conceptual Models
Load into Protege
Create examples / instances
Document Examples in Wiki
Document Issues in Wiki

DOMAIN ONTOLOGY
WORKING GROUPS
Small Groups
Work through examples
to develop domain ontology
Test Core Ontology
Raise issues
Communicate findings
with other groups

Ontology Creation Process
prolonged
work in progress under discussion voting period voting period
a1
WPS WPE DD VD PVD
Issue Decision

WIKI AS A DECISION FORUM

WIKI AS A DECISION FORUM

WIKI AS A DECISION FORUM

WIKI AS A DECISION FORUM

WIKI AS A TOOL TO REFINE DEV PROCESS

TOOL TO REFINE PROCESS

CONCLUSIONS
• It’s hard!
• Technical solutions can get in the way
• Emotions can get in the way
• Groups / Leadership change
• Strong coordination is essential
• A Clear, Open and agreed Process help
• Well managed Face to Face meetings are key
• Everybody will eventually contribute -- It takes time and effort

WHAT COULD HAVE WORKED BETTER
• Documentation of discussions
• Focus
on short-term application of ontology to demonstrate
benefits of approach
• Closure of contentious points
• Develop examples earlier
• Work with real data earlier
• Establish clearer framework for domain ontologies
• Publish

http://www5.umweltbundesamt.at/ALTERNet/index.php?title=Ont:Ontology_Creation_Portal