Workshop
Semantics in Geospatial
Architectures: Applications
and Implementation
October 28-29, 2013
University of Wisconsin-Madison
This is a call
for position
papers (about 500 words) expressing interest to attend and/or
present at a two
day workshop focused on including semantic components in
geospatial applications
and architectures. Goals of the workshop are to identify and
describe existing
semantic geospatial systems as well as to discuss semantic needs
in future statewide
geospatial information systems and national spatial data
infrastructures (NSDIs).
As States and the Federal
government
create new geospatial information systems, a goal is to foster
the building of
semantic architectures. Geospatial domain and GIS people not
currently involved
in the semantic area are encouraged to come to the workshop to
listen or help
guide users’ needs. Also, because semantics are newer in
geospatial
applications compared to other areas, other disciplines with
semantic systems are
welcome to present to potentially serve as models.
Workshop topics
can range
from ideas for scenarios as to how semantics would benefit
future geospatial
systems to how to actually build such systems. Semantic
technology in database
systems and also the use of database systems in semantic
software are of
interest. The use of semantics can be for searching, querying,
data
integration, question answering, or other areas. Semantic
components can
encompass ontologies, repositories, mappings, semantic
mediators, reasoners,
and other semantic software, as well as linked data and
associated linked data
software. For the latter, for example, what are the pros and
cons for
representing geospatial data in RDF and using RDF systems rather
than using
relational or other database systems? How could a system
accommodate both RDF
data and databases?
Goals of the
workshop include
identifying current applications or systems that use semantic
technologies, showing
how semantics are useful in those domains and systems, and
descriptions of how
those systems are built (i.e., the architecture, what
technologies are being
used both conceptually and in software development). As a
result, commonalities
or differences in concepts and software will be identified to
recommend designs
and best practices to make semantic technology more widely used.
Also, it is
likely that unmet needs will be identified for future
architectures, regarding
both functionality and software. Types of architectures could
include portals,
Database Systems, SDIs, cloud, HPC, information systems, and
cyberinfrastructures
such as proposed for EarthCube. Again, the focus in this
workshop is on
geospatial applications and data so results will target
geospatial data. OGC
work on semantic mediation will be presented.
Attendees will
be asked to
contribute to a report write-up of the workshop regarding
existing or future use,
designs, and software development of semantics in various
geospatial
architectures, especially to verify accuracy for descriptions of
systems they
have presented. Workshop format will be presentations with
follow on
discussions and summaries. There are some partial funds
available for
participant support from the NSF SOCoP INTEROP grant on
geospatial semantics,
PI Nancy Wiegand, http://interop.socop.org.
Format for the
position paper:
·
About 500 words,
12 pt. font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins
·
Name,
affiliation, and email at the top
·
Indicate if you
can present in addition to attending. If you can present and
discuss a particular
semantic application or system, please name it.
·
Describe the
system you are presenting or other interest in attending
Due by Sept. 16,
Notification
of acceptance by Sept. 18
