Ontology-based data integration
Ontology based Data Integration involves the use of ontology(s) to effectively combine data and/or information from multiple heterogeneous sources [1]. It is one of the multiple Data Integration approaches and may be classified as Local As View (LAV)[2]. The effectiveness of ontology based data integration is closely tied to the quality of ontology used in the integration process.
Background
Data from multiple sources are characterized by multiple types of heterogeneity. The Distributed Database community has categorized them into the following types of heterogeneity [3] namely
- Syntactic Heterogeneity
- Schematic or Structural Heterogeneity
- Semantic Heterogeneity
- System Heterogeneity
Ontology, as formal model of representation with explicilty defined concepts and named relationships linking them, is used to address the issue of semantic heterogeneity in data sources. In domains like bioinformatics and biomedicine, the rapid development, adoption and public availability of ontologies [1]has made it possible for the data integration community to leverage them for semantic integration of data and information.
The Role of Ontologies
Ontologies enable the unambiguous identification of entities in heterogeneous information systems and assertion of applicable named relationships that connect these entities together. Specifically, ontologies play the following roles:
Approaches using ontologies for Data Integration
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See also
- Data Integration
- Enterprise application integration
- Enterprise Information Integration
- Data mapping
- Semantic Integration
References
- ^ a b c d H. Wache, T. Vögele, U. Visser, H. Stuckenschmidt, G. Schuster, H. Neumann, S. Hübner (2001). Ontology-Based Integration of Information A Survey of Existing Approaches.
{{cite conference}}: Text "http://www.cs.vu.nl/~heiner/public/ois-2001.pdf" ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Maurizio Lenzerini (2002). Data Integration: A Theoretical Perspective. pp. 243–246.
{{cite conference}}: Text "http://www.dis.uniroma1.it/~lenzerin/homepagine/talks/TutorialPODS02.pdf" ignored (help) - ^ A.P. Sheth (1999). Changing Focus on Interoperability in Information Systems: From System, Syntax, Structure to Semantics. pp. 5–30.
{{cite book}}: Text "http://lsdis.cs.uga.edu/library/download/S98-changing.pdf" ignored (help)