Abstract
Although the integration of sensor-based information into analysis and decision making has been a research topic for many years, semantic interoperability has not yet been reached. The advent of user-generated content for the geospatial domain, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), makes it even more difficult to establish semantic integration. This paper proposes a novel approach to integrating conventional sensor information and VGI, which is exploited in the context of detecting forest fires. In contrast to common logic-based semantic descriptions, we present a formal system using algebraic specifications to unambiguously describe the processing steps from natural phenomena to value-added information. A generic ontology of observations is extended and profiled for forest fire detection in order to illustrate how the sensing process, and transformations between heterogeneous sensing systems, can be represented as mathematical functions and grouped into abstract data types. We discuss the required ontological commitments and a possible generalization.
Highlights
The integration of sensor-based information into analysis and decision making has been a research topic for many years [1,2,3]
The work presented in this article is based on a previous publication [10], which we substantially extend with detailed descriptions of the use case, the ontological commitments, and ways of generalizing the proposed solution
Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), it is important to keep in mind that the User-Generated Content (UGC) sensor we propose is able to sense all types of UGC in an opportunistic or participatory manner
Summary
The integration of sensor-based information into analysis and decision making has been a research topic for many years [1,2,3] Standards such as the Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) suite of specifications, which is currently under major revision [4], help to establish syntactical and structural interoperability. This includes possibilities for integrating information produced by physical sensors and by environmental simulations [5]. The ontology of observation had been hindered by, among other factors, the naive idea of a measurement instrument being an objective reporter of the mind-independent state of the world This commonly held view neglects the fact that instruments are built and calibrated by human beings. An understanding of observations amenable to semantic modeling has been achieved and standardized, but mature applications that illustrate the use of such work for geospatial information integration are still missing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
