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.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 30, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 10, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2017
• 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
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/803404
• 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
• Contract Date: Jun 16, 2017