The document summarizes an ontology summit held on February 12, 2013. The agenda included an overview of previous information revolutions, a definition of ontology, a snapshot of the ontology development method, and a discussion of return on investment. Ontologies were presented as enabling horizontal integration of information across different domains like intelligence, fire support, and logistics. The method involves scoping the domain, creating an initial lexicon and ontology, publishing and sharing the ontology, and ongoing collaboration and revision.

1. Ontology Summit
12 February 2013
Bill Mandrick, PhD
Senior Ontologist

2. Agenda
• Background
• Previous Information Revolutions
• Ontology Defined
• Snapshot of the Method
• Return On Investment

3. Background

4. Horizontal
Integration (HI) of
Warfighter
Intelligence
…the ability to
exploit multiple data
sources as if they are
one

5. Warfighters’ Information Sharing Environment
Intelligence Fire Targeting
Support
Maneuver
&
Blue
Force
Tracking
Civil-Military
Air Operations Logistics
Operations
5

6. Authoritative References
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Joint Publication 1-02 DoD Dictionary Joint Publication 3-0 Joint Operations
Dictionary of Military and Related Terms
Joint Publication 3-13 Joint Command Joint Publication 3-24 Joint Publication 3-57 Civil-Military
and Control Counterinsurgency Operations
JP 3-10, Joint Security Operations in Joint Publication 3-16 Multinational Joint Publication 5-0 Joint Operations
Theater Operations Planning
Warfighter Lexicon
Controlled Vocabulary
Stable
Horizontally Integrated
Common Operational Picture
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/ 6

7. Ontology(ies) that enables interoperability among members of an Operations Center
and other warfighters. 7

8. Doctrinal Publications
Consistent Terminology (Data Elements, Names and Definitions)
JP 1-02
DoD Dictionary
JP 3-16 JP 3-33 JP 6-0
JP 2-0 JP 3-0 JP 4-0
Multinational JTF Comm
Intelligence Operations Logistics
Operations Headquarters Support
Area of Interest X X X
Area of Operations X X X X
Area of Responsibility X X X X
C2 Systems X X X
Civil-Military Operations X X
Key: word for word
8

9. Joint Publication 6-02
A Joint Horizontal Integration of
Information
Publication for
H.I. needs to
be developed Under Development
2013
9

11. Conclusion
• Two Types of Integration
– Organizational (Cultural)
– Technical
• Operations Centers are Organizationally
Integrated
• Joint Doctrine is the Warfighter’s Lexicon
• Lexicons and Controlled Vocabularies
supposed to advance technical integration,
but they fail
• Completely new approach is needed

12. Information Integration Revolutions
Dowding Radar System
(1940 Battle of Britain)
Coordinated (Massing)
Artillery Fires (1910-1940)
1800’s Cartographic
*DOTMLPF Revolution 12

13. Interoperable Semantics
(example: Anatomy & Physiology)
• Standardized Labels
• Anatomical Continuants
• Physiological Occurrents
• Teachable
• Inferencing
• Horizontally Integrated
• Sharing of Observations
• Accumulated Knowledge
13

14. Ontology Defined

15. Ontology Defined
Ontology is the science of representing, defining, and
relating the kinds and structures of objects, properties,
events, processes and relations in every area of reality.
An ontology is an exhaustive classification of entities in
some sphere of being, which results in the formulation of
robust and shareable descriptions of a given domain.
(e.g. Physics, Biology, Medicine, Intelligence, etc.).
www.militaryontology.com 15

16. Ontology Defined
“...partial semantic account of the
intended conceptualization of a
logical theory...”
www.militaryontology.com 16

17. top level Basic Formal Ontology (BFO)
Ontology for
Information Artifact
Biomedical Spatial Ontology
mid-level Ontology
Investigations (BSPO)
(IAO)
(OBI)
Anatomy Ontology Infectious
(FMA*, CARO) Disease
Environment
Cellular Ontology
Cell Ontology
Component (IDO*)
Ontology (EnvO)
Ontology
(CL) Phenotypic Biological
domain (FMA*, GO*)
Quality Process
level Subcellular Anatomy Ontology (SAO)
Ontology Ontology (GO*)
(PaTO)
Sequence Ontology
(SO*) Molecular
Function
Protein Ontology (GO*)
(PRO*)
Extension Strategy + Modular Organization 17

18. Levels of Ontology
Common Upper Ontology Guarantees consistency
and interoperability at
(BFO) lower levels
Organizing effect similar
to the JP’s…act as a nexus
Mid-Level Ontologies between lower and upper
levels
Developed by Domain
Low-Level Ontologies Subject Matter Experts

19. Dealing with Time
Artifact
is_a
Building
instance_of Educational
Facility
has_role at t1
Production
Facility
has_role at t2
has_role at t3
Storage
Facility

20. Dealing with Time
Agent
is_a
Person
instance_of
Warehouse
Manager Role
has_role at t1
has_role at t2
Key Leader
Role
has_role at t3
Brother Role

21. Orders of Reality
3rd Order.
Records, data, symbols,
models…
2nd Order
Participant perceptions, ideas,
thoughts, goals…
1st Order
Reality as it is.
The gaps between the orders of reality introduce risk. These gaps are not the
21
only form of risk but reducing these gaps contributes to reducing risk.

22. Ontology Types
Asserted (Reference) Ontology
created manually by its ontology developers to conform to
certain principles, the most important of which concerns the
explicit declaration of the is_a relations between its terms.
Inferred (Application) Ontology
results when multiple asserted ontologies (or portions of
asserted ontologies) are merged – which means: combined
together into a single ontology – and an automatic reasoner is
used to infer new relations on the basis of the merged
content.

23. Geospatial
Region
Asserted Ontologies
Region.water.distanceBetweenLatrinesAndWaterSource
Tribal
Village
Region
Area Of
Operations Water Source
Act
Latrine Pond
Act Of Well
Act Of Cesspool
Measurement Observation
Act Of
Analysis
Geographic
Coordinates Measurement Result
Latitude Distance Height
Military Grid
Longitude Measurement Result Measurement Result
Universal Reference System
Coordinates Coordinates
Transverse Depth
Mercator Measurement
Coordinates Result

24. Water Source Relating Asserted Ontologies
Region.water.fecalOrOralTransmittedDiseases
Latrine Pond Role
Well
Cesspool has_location
Pathogen Medicinal
Role Role
has_role
Consumable
Role
Microorganism
cause_of
part_of
Bacterium Virus
Protozoan
Event
Disease
Contamination Epidemic Event
Event Shigellosis
Cholera
Disease
Transmission Hepatitis A
Event

25. Ontologies We Have
• Agent Ontology (Person and Organization)
• Artifact Ontology (Technical, Facility…)
• Emotion Ontology
• Event Ontology (Natural, Mil Ops, IED…)
• Geospatial Feature Ontology
• Information Artifact (Name, Grid Coordinates,
Measurement, Map, Image, Report…)
• Infectious Disease Ontology
• etc…

26. Admin Page

27. Every term in the ontology
will have an authoritative
definition and unique ID

28. Every term in the ontology
will have an authoritative
definition and unique ID

29. Person Roles

30. To create ontologies which evolve consistently is very hard…
very, very hard…
but the ROI is worth it!

31. Snapshot of the Method

32. Repeatable Processes
Developed though repeated
observation, abstraction, and
documentation
32
The Repeatable Targeting Process

33. The Repeatable Process for
the...
Military Decision Making
Process (MDMP)...
as depicted in Doctrine
This is a highly refined and
documented process
All Leaders, Planners, and
Decision-Makers are well
versed in the MDMP
33

34. 34

35. Scoping the Domain
35

36. Scope the Domain
Subject Matter Expert (SME) Interaction
Identify Authoritative References
Survey Authoritative References
Define the Domain
Describe the Domain
Devise Metrics
36

37. Authoritative References
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Joint Publication 1-02 DoD Dictionary Joint Publication 3-0 Joint Operations
Dictionary of Military and Related Terms
Joint Publication 3-13 Joint Command Joint Publication 3-24 Joint Publication 3-57 Civil-Military
and Control Counterinsurgency Operations
JP 3-10, Joint Security Operations in Joint Publication 3-16 Multinational Joint Publication 5-0 Joint Operations
Theater Operations Planning
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/ 37

38. 38

39. Metrics:
20 Questions for C2 Related Domains
What is the baseline definition/description for this Where is this information found?
domain?
Where is this information stored?
What are the primary activities involved in this domain?
What organizations are involved in this domain?
What are the subordinate activities in this domain?
How are these organizations related?
Who participates in these activities?
What do these outputs contribute to?
What environment do these activities take place in?
What is the relation between agents and organizations in this domain?
What are the intended outcomes of these activities?
What are the ultimate goals for the domain?
What are the intended products of these activities?
What are the subordinate goals for the domain?
What information is consumed in these activities?
What larger enterprise/objective does this domain contribute to?
Who consumes this information?
What happens if these activities fail to produce their intended outcomes?
What information is produced by these activities?
39

40. Create Initial Lexicon
40

41. Building the Domain Lexicon
Joint Operation Planning Process: Planning activities associated with joint military operations by
combatant commanders and their subordinate joint force commanders in response to
contingencies and crises. Joint operation planning includes planning for the mobilization,
deployment, employment, sustainment, redeployment, and demobilization of joint forces. (Joint
Publication 3-0 Joint Operations)
Planning Activity Joint Military Operation Combatant Commander
Subordinate Joint Force Contingency Event Crisis Event
Commander
Mobilization Event Deployment Event Employment Event
Sustainment Event Redeployment Event Demobilization
Joint Force Planning Process Response
41

42. Definitions
Original “Definition” Improved Definition(s)
Attack Geography: IED Attack Geography:
A description of the geography surrounding the IED A Geospatial Region where some IED Incident takes
incident, such as road segment, buildings, foliage, place.
etc. Understanding the geography indicates enemy
use of landscape to channel tactical response, slow IED Attack Geography Description:
friendly movement, and prevent pursuit of enemy
forces. A Description of the physical features of some
Geospatial Region where an IED Incident takes
place.
42

43. Example 2: Method of Emplacement
Original “Definition” Improved Definition(s)
Method of Emplacement: Method of IED Emplacement:
A description of where the device was delivered, used, or A systematic procedure used in the positioning of an
employed. (original definition) Improvised Explosive Device.
Method of IED Emplacement Description:
A description of the systematic procedure used in the
positioning of an Improvised Explosive Device.
43

44. Example 3: Method of Employment
Original “Definition” Improved Definition(s)
Method of Employment: Method of IED Employment:
A description of where the device was delivered, used, or A systematic procedure used in the delivery of an
employed. (original definition) Improvised Explosive Device.
Method of IED Employment Description:
A description of the systematic procedure used in the
delivery of an Improvised Explosive Device.
44

45. 45

46. Create Initial Ontology
46

47. Military Ontology is the task of establishing and representing the salient types of entities
and relations in a given domain (Battlespace)
Ontology Review
Revisions
Process
with SME’s
SME Feedback
47

48. Publish and Share
48

49. MilPortal
Ontology Name Terms Contact
Emotion Ontology 320 Janna Hastings
Facility Ontology 349 Ron Rudnicki
Geospatial Feature Ontology 321 USGS
Human Physical Characteristic Ontology 233 I2WD
Infectious Disease Ontology 508 Lindsay Cowell
Information Artifact Ontology 485 Ron Rudnicki
Organization Ontology 289 Bill Mandrick
Social Event Ontology 215 WWHGD WG
Threat Ontology 259 Bill Mandrick

50. Return On Investment
• Prerequisite for H.I.
• Standardized Process
• DOTMLPF driven
• Perspective Neutral
• Evolutionary Process
• Modular and Extensible
• Facilitate Inter-Organizational Semantics
• Avoid Redundancies

51. Collaboration
• DoD CIO Office of Information Sharing
• NSA
• NGA
• JIEDDO
• World Wide Human Geography Data Working
Group (WWHGD-WG)
• Others…

52. Backup Slides