Title: Management of C2 data standards with modular OWL ontologies

Authors: Kevin Gupton; Curtis Blais; Kevin Heffner

Addresses: Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin, 10,000 Burnet Rd., Austin, Texas 78758, USA. ' MOVES Institute, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943, USA. ' Pegasus Simulation, PO Box 47552, Plateau Mont-Royal PS, Montreal, Quebec, H2H 2S8, Canada

Abstract: Standard information exchange data models (IEDMs) – such as JC3IEDM, MSDL, NIEM, and C2Core – often are expressed as XML schema. This choice of model representation comes with the benefits of a widely adopted format and a well-supported XML toolset. Although XML, as a technology, has been an enabler in achieving interoperability among C4I and M&S systems, several key issues persist. Lacking formalised semantic specifications, systems utilising multiple IEDMs face difficult model mapping and translation tasks. As IEDM user-bases grow, so do maintainability and scalability challenges. Despite numerous IEDM alignment efforts, no maintainable process has emerged. This paper describes a model management methodology that endorses the use of the Web Ontology Language (OWL) for model representation and embraces Semantic Web best practices. Not only can the |mappability| between various models be expressed using OWL, but also multiple standards can be aligned to build upon each other, providing the basis for model execution.

Keywords: command and control; military C2; data interoperability; data modelling; information exchange; mapping; ontology; Web Ontology Language; OWL; semantic web; standards management; XML; data standards; model representation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIDSS.2011.043359

International Journal of Intelligent Defence Support Systems, 2011 Vol.4 No.3, pp.286 - 307

Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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