Sotiris Batsakis, Euripides G.M. Petrakis

An ontology model for spatio-temporal information in OWL

For quantitative and qualitative information SOWL is based on the 4-D fluents approach enhanced

with reasoning support over qualitative Allen (e.g., “before”, “after”) relations.

RCC-8 topological (e.g., “into”) and Directional (e.g., “North of”) qualitative relations

Reasoning rules are embedded into the ontology using SWRL√ Temporal Rules apply on Allen relations between time intervals√ Spatial Rules apply on RCC-8 topologic and directional spatial relations

between locations√ Rules apply using standard OWL reasoners supporting SWRL DL-safe rules,

e.g. ,Pellet √ Example: During( x, y) Meets( y, z) Before( x, z)

Spatiotemporal reasoning is tractable Representation is decidable SOWL query language is SQL – like:

SELECT <object/class property>FROM <class>WHERE <condition> AT <time point/interval> <spatial operator>

<location>

Employee CompanyCompanyTimeSlice

stringstring

int

int

TimeSliceOf

Employs

Employee Name

Company Name

Starts

Ends

Static propertiesDynamic properties

ww

w.inte

lligence

.tuc.

gr

Employee Timeslice

TimeSliceOf

TimeInterval

TimeInterval

TimeInterval

After

LocationLocatedAtEmployee

Timeslice

TimeSliceOf

TimeIntervalstring

Location Name