Notação visual para representação de linguagens de padrões ontológicos

Abstract

Reuse has been pointed out as a promising approach for Ontology Engineering. Reuse in ontologies allows speeding up the development process and improves the quality of the resulting ontologies, since it promotes the application of good practices. The use of patterns as an approach to encourage reuse has been explored in Ontology Engineering. A pattern can be defined as a successful solution for a recurring problem. Thus, Ontology Patterns (OPs) address solutions for recurring modeling problems. Patterns can be arranged in a Pattern Language (PL), which represents the patterns and their relationships in a network and defines a process for selection and use of patterns for systematic problem solving. In this sense, Ontology Pattern Languages (OPLs) provide, in addition to the patterns, guidelines for their selection, including the sequence they can be applied, variations and possible paths to be followed, among others. In order to make easier using an OPL, the process and relationships between the patterns should be represented in a clear, unambiguous and complete way. Visual Notations can be used to provide a visual representation of the OPL. They are an important means of communication between stakeholders, since it is believed that they transmit information more effectively than text. To facilitate understanding an OPL and strengthen its use, its visual notation must be cognitively rich. This work proposes a visual notation for representing OPLs. As basis for the proposal, we used the results of a systematic mapping that investigated visual notations for Software Pattern Languages. In addition, we used results of an experimental study that evaluated the notation used to represent an OPL. Aiming to obtain a cognitively rich notation, the principles of PoN (Physics of Notation) were considered during the notation development. As proof of concept, we used the proposed visual notation to reengineer an OPL. Finally, as a preliminary evaluation of the proposal, we performed an experimental study.