**1.4 Spatial components on database systems**

It has been seen that in the previous section that the ontology engineering has not gained enough momentum to assist spatial activities through ontology. Hence, this project work utilizes the existing potentiality of spatial extensions within the current database system to carry out the spatial activities within the ontology.

Most of the database systems support spatial operations and functions through their spatial extensions. Over the past decade, as Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) has seen a huge growth in the database technology. Likewise, the spatial components within them also seen a tremendous improvement in their functionalities. In early days, spatial data were organized in dual architectures which consist of separate administrative data for data management in a RDBMS and spatial data for a GIS system. This could easily result in data inconsistency hence all the database systems today maintain the spatial component in a single RDBMS.

In order to have a common standard among different database systems, they implement their spatial performance accordance to the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC 1998) Simple Features Specifications for SQL (OGC 1999). Since OGC Simple Feature Specifications are built within simple spatial features in 2D space, most of the spatial operations are restricted to 2D spatial data. It is also possible to store, retrieve and visualize 3D data but it does not follow OGC simple feature specifications. Some RDBMS system today also supports certain 3D spatial queries as well.

According to OGC specification any object is represented spatially following two structures – geometrical and topological. The geometrical structure is the feature providing the direct access to the coordinates of the objects. The topological structure provides the information about the spatial relationships of the objects. The database systems store the geometrical information of the objects and not their topology. They then use their spatial operations to retrieve topological relationships between these geometries (Hellerstein et al., 1995).

#### **1.5 Aims and the motivation of the project**

It is a general fact that technologies always shift for the betterment and the components of the previous technologies must be upgraded to the shifting technology. The world is experiencing a shift in technology from the database oriented Information technology to ontology oriented knowledge technology and thus each individual technology that have matured under previous technology requires to be shifted to this emerging technology. The

Spatialization of the Semantic Web 157

research takes on the Semantic Web and its underlying knowledge technology to manage them. The knowledge possess by archaeologists is used to identify the objects and map the data and documents to the respective objects. In this process the knowledge about the objects is acquired through first identifying the objects and defining their behavior at the ground. This knowledge can then be used during the management of these objects. In fact the research project is based on 4Ks processing steps: Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Visualization and Knowledge Analysis. In each of these 4Ks, the

The research site lies in Krupp belt Essen. This 200 hectares site was used for steel production in early nineteenth century but was later destroyed. The majority of the area was never rebuilt. The site was excavated in 2007 in order to document the findings. The area is being converted to a park of the main building of ThyssenKrupp so there was not much time available to document the findings properly due to ever changing structure of data and documents and their volume. It is hence not possible to use the traditional technology for their rigid nature and huge dependency on human manipulation of the data and documents. Possibility to engage machine to understand the information and processed them through the collaboration of the knowledge possess by archaeologist was realized

The research highlights the importance of non-typical semantic information within the Semantic Web framework. The research discusses the possibility of including spatial technology within the framework. A layer is proposed for spatial data pattern that utilizes the Semantic Web component to process spatial knowledge. This layer could host other data

The integration of spatial technology within the Semantic Web technologies adds up benefit to the geospatial community. Instead of depending on the information based on the data, the analysis process should be more efficient and less demanding through the application of knowledge. The approach of using knowledge that is supported by underlying spatial data

The paper is divided into four major sections with chapters discussing them. The first chapter introduces the domain of the case study and how the existing technologies are contributing on it. It mainly discusses these issues with backdrop of ArchaeoKM – an application tool developed during the research work. The next section covers the state of art and basically highlights the state of the art in underlying knowledge technologies within the Semantic Web technology and their relations to this research work. The fourth chapter points out the possibilities of spatial extension in the knowledge technologies thus proposing a separate level dedicated to geospatial integration within the Semantic Web framework. The paper concludes with the conclusion where an effort has been made to argue that there is vast implementation of spatial extension and the benefit could be realized

This chapter begins with a discussion about a general overview of the industrial archaeology. It presents the case study of the research site by discussing the nature of the

knowledge of archaeologists is used.

through an application tool – The Web platform ArchaeoKM.

patterns as well and follow the same trend of spatial integration.

to execute the analysis process was embraced by the research.

in third party domain as shown within the case study domain.

**2. The ArchaeoKM project**

tasks of shifting these components have always presented challenges as the principle foundations between the two technologies are entirely different in most of the cases.

One of the major technical components in the database oriented technologies is the spatial technology. The immense strength of spatial technology was realized long before the emergence of database or even the computers. Maps were used to analyze the problems and derive solutions spatially (Berry, 1999). With the evolution of computers, a new discipline emerged to analyze the problems spatially, which is termed as Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS technology was one of the first to use the spatial technology for the analysis of the geographic locations. Spatial analysis is used in other domains too besides GIS. Before the emergence of sophisticated database systems, GIS technologies used files to store the spatial data. Each vendors of the technology had their own algorithms for spatial operations and functions. This in turn provided lots of inconsistency in the analysis process. As the database technology matured, it started to include those spatial components into it. In this manner, the spatial technology got immersed within the database technology. As previously mentioned they followed the specifications provided by OGC to maintain a common standard and hence most of these inconsistencies were revolved. With the advancement in database systems the spatial technology also got matured and today it is not necessary to depend on a GIS to perform spatial analysis. This has clear advantages for the other domains which use spatial analysis as part of their analysis process.

When viewed from the Semantic Web point of view, the integration of spatial component will trigger the integration process of other data component adding an open layer for data type which could be argued as non-typically semantic within its framework. This data could be spatial or temporal data or even process data. Such level within the technical framework of Semantic Web will give clear advantages for the technology to grow.

The main aim of this research project is to initiate the process of setting up a layer in the Semantic Web framework for the non-typical semantic information that is not covered through the semantics. In order to illustrate its applicability, this research centers on integration of spatial component within the Semantic Web technologies. This work focuses beyond data interoperability and addresses the spatial processing through knowledge querying and inferring. In addition, the work attempts to change and to improve the ongoing data management process of archiving documents in the industrial archaeology domain through knowledge management process. This work also aims to initiate the usage knowledge for performing spatial analyses in the existing GIS tools. It tries to draw attention towards the benefit of introducing a knowledge level in the universal GIS model. This in fact supports the relevancy theory of the need to transfer the technical component in the wake of technology change.

#### **1.6 Industrial archaeology: the case study**

The research project is drawn around the case study of industrial archaeology. The discipline of industrial archaeology fits perfectly to demonstrate the effectiveness of the implementation of the research activities. In general the industrial archaeological sites are available for very short duration of time and the amount of information collected is huge and diverse making it impossible for the conventional technologies to manage them. This 156 Semantics – Advances in Theories and Mathematical Models

tasks of shifting these components have always presented challenges as the principle

One of the major technical components in the database oriented technologies is the spatial technology. The immense strength of spatial technology was realized long before the emergence of database or even the computers. Maps were used to analyze the problems and derive solutions spatially (Berry, 1999). With the evolution of computers, a new discipline emerged to analyze the problems spatially, which is termed as Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS technology was one of the first to use the spatial technology for the analysis of the geographic locations. Spatial analysis is used in other domains too besides GIS. Before the emergence of sophisticated database systems, GIS technologies used files to store the spatial data. Each vendors of the technology had their own algorithms for spatial operations and functions. This in turn provided lots of inconsistency in the analysis process. As the database technology matured, it started to include those spatial components into it. In this manner, the spatial technology got immersed within the database technology. As previously mentioned they followed the specifications provided by OGC to maintain a common standard and hence most of these inconsistencies were revolved. With the advancement in database systems the spatial technology also got matured and today it is not necessary to depend on a GIS to perform spatial analysis. This has clear advantages for

foundations between the two technologies are entirely different in most of the cases.

the other domains which use spatial analysis as part of their analysis process.

of Semantic Web will give clear advantages for the technology to grow.

technology change.

**1.6 Industrial archaeology: the case study**

When viewed from the Semantic Web point of view, the integration of spatial component will trigger the integration process of other data component adding an open layer for data type which could be argued as non-typically semantic within its framework. This data could be spatial or temporal data or even process data. Such level within the technical framework

The main aim of this research project is to initiate the process of setting up a layer in the Semantic Web framework for the non-typical semantic information that is not covered through the semantics. In order to illustrate its applicability, this research centers on integration of spatial component within the Semantic Web technologies. This work focuses beyond data interoperability and addresses the spatial processing through knowledge querying and inferring. In addition, the work attempts to change and to improve the ongoing data management process of archiving documents in the industrial archaeology domain through knowledge management process. This work also aims to initiate the usage knowledge for performing spatial analyses in the existing GIS tools. It tries to draw attention towards the benefit of introducing a knowledge level in the universal GIS model. This in fact supports the relevancy theory of the need to transfer the technical component in the wake of

The research project is drawn around the case study of industrial archaeology. The discipline of industrial archaeology fits perfectly to demonstrate the effectiveness of the implementation of the research activities. In general the industrial archaeological sites are available for very short duration of time and the amount of information collected is huge and diverse making it impossible for the conventional technologies to manage them. This research takes on the Semantic Web and its underlying knowledge technology to manage them. The knowledge possess by archaeologists is used to identify the objects and map the data and documents to the respective objects. In this process the knowledge about the objects is acquired through first identifying the objects and defining their behavior at the ground. This knowledge can then be used during the management of these objects. In fact the research project is based on 4Ks processing steps: Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Management, Knowledge Visualization and Knowledge Analysis. In each of these 4Ks, the knowledge of archaeologists is used.

The research site lies in Krupp belt Essen. This 200 hectares site was used for steel production in early nineteenth century but was later destroyed. The majority of the area was never rebuilt. The site was excavated in 2007 in order to document the findings. The area is being converted to a park of the main building of ThyssenKrupp so there was not much time available to document the findings properly due to ever changing structure of data and documents and their volume. It is hence not possible to use the traditional technology for their rigid nature and huge dependency on human manipulation of the data and documents. Possibility to engage machine to understand the information and processed them through the collaboration of the knowledge possess by archaeologist was realized through an application tool – The Web platform ArchaeoKM.

The research highlights the importance of non-typical semantic information within the Semantic Web framework. The research discusses the possibility of including spatial technology within the framework. A layer is proposed for spatial data pattern that utilizes the Semantic Web component to process spatial knowledge. This layer could host other data patterns as well and follow the same trend of spatial integration.

The integration of spatial technology within the Semantic Web technologies adds up benefit to the geospatial community. Instead of depending on the information based on the data, the analysis process should be more efficient and less demanding through the application of knowledge. The approach of using knowledge that is supported by underlying spatial data to execute the analysis process was embraced by the research.

The paper is divided into four major sections with chapters discussing them. The first chapter introduces the domain of the case study and how the existing technologies are contributing on it. It mainly discusses these issues with backdrop of ArchaeoKM – an application tool developed during the research work. The next section covers the state of art and basically highlights the state of the art in underlying knowledge technologies within the Semantic Web technology and their relations to this research work. The fourth chapter points out the possibilities of spatial extension in the knowledge technologies thus proposing a separate level dedicated to geospatial integration within the Semantic Web framework. The paper concludes with the conclusion where an effort has been made to argue that there is vast implementation of spatial extension and the benefit could be realized in third party domain as shown within the case study domain.
