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U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
Ontology Research for The National Map
Dalia VarankaDalia VarankaResearch GeographerResearch GeographerCenter of Excellence for Geospatial Information ScienceCenter of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science
Spatial Ontology Community of Practice WorkshopSpatial Ontology Community of Practice Workshop
October 17, 2008October 17, 2008
Project Description
Ontology for The National Map is a framework to more explicitly articulate detailed and shared information about U.S. topographic features A robust exchange of feature semantics enables greater
information access for a diverse public Richer data models based on ontology will increase
potential data applications
National Research Council recommends to establish a research priority to explore use of geographic feature ontologies for geographic features to enable information discovery Integrate data from a variety of formats and platforms Enable natural language queries on features
Parts of this Presentation
Background Topographic mapping and narrative Narrative as an approach to restore ontology
semantics Semantic facets of queries
Topographic mapping
Base map – an empty container Surface landscape features at local scale Navigational device Natural resource and urban development
A record of the changing American landscape
National unity and identity
These meanings serve as the semantic contexts for topographic feature ontology
Topographic maps and narratives
Topography as a type of temporal, narrative experience of the land (Lukermann 1961; Curry 2002)
American topographic landscape as the stage of our domestic experience
Routine activities, narratives, and symbols associated with places
Topographic map as the information storage device for that experience
Interact with the map via narratives and symbols
Application of the ontology to The National Map
Scope: Science and Society Science is structured by its practitioners and
broader social contexts The USGS is mission-driven to link science to
society
Common-term concepts For example: “The valley floor of the Grand
Canyon,” “The spread of invasive species,” “Sea- level rise”
Ontology Software
GazetteerGeoposition
Name
Features Attributes Relations
Vegetative Cover
Hydrography
Security
Hypsography Non-Vegetative Cover
DivisionLand Cover
Natural Built Up
Morphology
Shaded Relief
ElevationBoundary
Generation
GIS Database
Data Standards Thematic Layers
Cadastral PLSS
Boundaries
Government Units
Contours StructuresTransportation
Digital Orthoimagery
Results
Unique ID
Feature Type
Events
Landforms
Land CoverLand Cover
Geographic Domains
GIS Layers of The National Map
URBAN
AGRICULTURAL
RANGELAND
BARREN LAND
DRY SALT FLATS
TRANSITIONAL AREAS
Transitional Areas Subclass with Instance Attribute from other Classes
Taken from: Anderson and others, 1976, A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data, USGS
Unify existing stages of an ontology
Feature lists
Themes/domains
Classification
Gazetteer
Crosswalks
What we need
DB interfaces
Relations / axioms
20th-Century Topographic Mapping
A balance of mathematical, regional, and local mapping
Combined photogrammetric (air photo) and planetable (field) methods of surveying
Were focused on the 15 or 7.5 minute quadrangle, not government units
Topographic Instructions were general for regional implementation with state partner needs
Memos for verbal mediation and modifying ideas
National Databases
Transition to a single national database strengthened centralized standardization of feature lists
Field offices vied for national center status Feature lists served various functions, such
as mapping, digital computation, and data interoperability, not just regional character
Specifics communicated via metadata, not two-way discourse
Based on governmental unit
Objects: Feature and Code Lists
DLG Best Practices
Cable/Pipeline Site Util_Line
Dam Site Util_Point
Substation Util_Structure
Pipeline Regulation Station Util_Area
Feature List Standards Comparisons
Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) Digital Line Graph-Enhanced (DLG-E) Digital Line Graph-Feature (DLG-F) Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
Framework Best Practices Vector Data Model
(The National Map)
DLG-E (1988) DLG-F (1993)FGDC Framework
Data (1998)The National Map
(2004)
Cover Cover
Cover - Barren LandNon-vegetative surface cover
Cover - Built up - Structure Built up Structures
Cover - Built up - Complex
Cover - Built up - Utility
Cover - Built up - Network Transportation Transportation Transportation
Transportation-Base
Transportation-Rail
Transportation-Air
Transportation-Transit
Transportation-Roads
Transportation-Waterways
Cover - Cultivated Cropland
Cover - Vegetation Vegetative Surface Cover
Cover - Water Hydrography Hydrography Hydrography
Domains – Land Cover
DLG-E DLG-FFGDC Framework
Data The National Map
Division BoundariesGovernment Unit Boundaries Governmental Units
Division-Administrative
Division-Boundary
Division-Census
Division-Hydrologic Unit
Division-Land Parcel Cadastral
Division-Locale
Division-Maritime
Division-Political
Division-Survey System
Public Land Survey System
Public Land Survey System
Domains - Surveys
Domains – Earth Processes
DLG-E DLG-FFGDC Framework
DataBest Practices
Data Model
Ecosystem
Morphology Named Landforms Elevation Elevation
Hypsography
Geoposition Geodetic Control
Digital Orthoimagery Digital Orthoimagery
Domains - Security
Historical relation with defense mapping
New emphasis on event-based, hazard management
Ops_IncidentLine
Ops_AccessLine
Ops_SearchRescueLine
Ops_SearchRescuePoint
Ops_IncidentPoint
Ops_AccessPoint
Ops_EmergencyFacility
Ops_IncidentArea
Ops_AccessArea
Ops_SearchRescueArea
Ops_AlertArea
Ops_ResourceAssignment
Ops_DamageAssessment
Assumptions so far
The working hypothesis is that we share a common-term vocabulary within the topographic map, but statements and queries are personalized and vary;
The tendency to move feature types to data model implementation may be narrowing our discourse about topography; and
Syntactic variance of query statements reflects the narrative of topographical experience; feature lists are better than code lists.
Approach
Base the analysis of feature content and syntactic structures on various narrative forms Feature types, definitions, and domain expertise Production: surveys, instructions, memos, and
compilation Gazetteer, particularly the Geographic Names
Information System Volunteer geographic information Map reading events Content analysis of text concordances
Glossary
Definitions A stream is a body of water, with a current,
confined within a bed and stream banks.
Concept conditions …is a body of water …has a current, a source, a mouth [is] confined within a bed and stream banks
Categorization
Basic level Appear between super- and sub-classes Have an associated action that comes to mind Have the most attributes Have the most whole-part structures
For example, road (driving) and river (flows)
Other categories
Family resemblance Associated with super-classes
For example, vegetation
Degrees of membership No precise boundaries
For example, wetlands
Generator Feature generates new features
Glaciers generate cirques, till, moraine, kames
Syntax, with addition of names
Geographic Name Report Description
Bluff Creek is a stream about 10 miles long heading in [sec./twp./range] flowing generally SE to the Leaf River in [sec./twp./range] about 5 miles southeast of Bluffington.
[name] [subject] [modifier_length] [start_location] [event] [direction] [end_junction] [end_location] [proximity]
Queries
What is Bluff Creek? What is [name]
[Name] [relation] [object]
Bluff Creek is a stream.
Where is Bluff Creek? Where is [name][start-location] [event-direction] [end-location] [proximity]
Headed in [sec./twp./range] Bluff Creek flows generally SE to the Leaf River in [sec./twp./range] about 5 miles southeast of Bluffington.
Semantic similarity
Types and causes Regionalization (Hollows, Valleys, Bottoms) Borrowings (Playa, Mesa, Prairie) Geographic scale (River, Stream, Creek) Infrastructure change (Condo, Gated Community)
Implications for query analysis Synonyms Variants Spatial cognition
Semantic context to enhance query functionality
Features with indeterminate boundaries carry semantic ambiguity in definition, name, and recognition.
By relating landform features with indeterminate boundaries to elevation, a geographical or environmental context, the identification, extent, and naming of these features is defined despite linguistic or spatial perspective ambiguity.
Elevation (context) and Landform (feature)
Landform term Glossary term definition Coded criteria applied to elevation context Landform feature extraction
Features and spatial relations
Absolute location: gazetteer coordinates Topological location: Query the topology
rather than the feature as the primary subject
‘What is “near” the “lake?”
Summary: work in progress
Work in progress includes the conceptual design and ontology software development of categorization, relation, attributes.
Current research includes integrating the ontology software to USGS databases.
Contact
Dalia Varanka
Center of Excellence for Geospatial Information Science
Tel: 573-308-3897
Email: [email protected]