MyGeo-Explorer: A semantic search tool for querying geospatial information

Panchanathan, Subashini; Lawan, Abba; Rakib, Abdur

Abstract

We propose a semantic search approach for geospatial information systems to resolve the issue of semantic heterogeneity in metadata catalogues. Using the Malaysian geospatial data infrastructure service portal, MyGDI Explorer, as a comparative case study, a semantic search tool developed in this work is based on the model-view-controller (MVC) approach, which comprises three major components, an ontology component modelled using the Malaysian Geospatial Standard (MS 1759) as a domain, a java-based middleware component using Apache-Jena API and a query-based semantic search engine developed in Java EE. In this paper, we present MyGeo-Explorer, a web application coupled with a semantic search engine for exploring geospatial information and illustrate the use of the tool with some common usage scenarios. We show how ontology-based semantic search provides more relevant search results as compared to traditional keyword search and helps to deal with the problems of semantic heterogeneity inherent in keywords definition.

Citation

Panchanathan, S., Lawan, A., & Rakib, A. (2015). MyGeo-Explorer: A semantic search tool for querying geospatial information

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 30, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 10, 2015
• Journal: ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1819-6608
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 23
• Pages: 18012-18020
• Keywords: semantic search engine, ontology, geospatial information, semantic web, knowledge management
• Publisher URL: http://www.arpnjournals.com/jeas/volume_23_2015.htm
• Related Public URLs: http://www.arpnjournals.org/jeas/research_papers/rp_2015/jeas_1215_3263.pdf