Jeen Broekstra

Sesame: A Generic Architecture for Storing and Querying RDF and RDF Schema

RDF and RDF Schema are two W3C standards aimed at enriching the Web with machine-processable semantic data.We have developed Sesame, an architecture for efficient storage and expressive querying of large quantities of metadata in RDF and RDF Schema. Sesames design and implementation are independent from any specific storage device. Thus, Sesame can be deployed on top of a variety of storage devices, such as relational databases, triple stores, or object-oriented databases, without having to change the query engine or other functional modules. Sesame offers support for concurrency control, independent export of RDF and RDFS information and a query engine for RQL, a query language for RDF that offers native support for RDF Schema semantics. We present an overview of Sesame as a generic architecture, as well as its implementation and our first experiences with this implementation.

The Semantic Web: the roles of XML and RDF

XML and RDF are the current standards for establishing semantic interoperability on the Web, but XML addresses only document structure. RDF better facilitates interoperation because it provides a data model that can be extended to address sophisticated ontology representation techniques. We explain the role of ontologies in the architecture of the Semantic Web. We then briefly summarize key elements of XML and RDF, showing why using XML as a tool for semantic interoperability will be ineffective in the long run. We argue that a further representation and inference layer is needed on top of the Webs current layers, and to establish such a layer, we propose a general method for encoding ontology representation languages into RDF/RDF schema. We illustrate the extension method by applying it to Ontology Interchange Language, an ontology representation and inference language.

A comparison of RDF query languages

The purpose of this paper is to provide a rigorous comparison of six query languages for RDF. We outline and categorize features that any RDF query language should provide and compare the individual languages along these features. We describe several practical usage examples for RDF queries and conclude with a comparison of the expressiveness of the particular query languages. The use cases, sample data and queries for the respective languages are available on the web [6].

Bibster-a semantics-based bibliographic Peer-to-Peer system

This paper describes Bibster, a Peer-to-Peer system for exchanging bibliographic metadata among researchers. We show how Bibster exploits ontologies in data-representation, query formulation, query routing, and query result presentation. The Bibster system is freely available and is used by researchers across multiple organizations.

Enabling knowledge representation on the Web by extending RDF schema

Recently, a widespread interest has emerged in using ontologies on the Web. Resource Description Framework Schema (RDFS) is a basic tool that enables users to define vocabulary, structure and constraints for expressing meta data about Web resources. However, it includes no provisions for formal semantics, and its expressivity is not sufficient for full-fledged ontological modeling and reasoning. In this paper, we will show how RDFS can be extended to include a more expressive knowledge representation language. That, in turn, would enrich it with the required additional expressivity and the semantics of that language. We do this by describing the ontology language Ontology Inference Layer (OIL) as an extension of RDFS. An important advantage to our approach is that it ensures maximal sharing of meta data on the Web: even partial interpretation of an OIL ontology by less semantically aware processors will yield a correct partial interpretation of the meta data. � 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Index structures and algorithms for querying distributed RDF repositories

A technical infrastructure for storing, querying and managing RDFdata is a key element in the current semantic web development. Systems like Jena, Sesame or the ICS-FORTH RDF Suite are widelyused for building semantic web applications. Currently, none ofthese systems supports the integrated querying of distributed RDF repositories. We consider this a major shortcoming since the semanticweb is distributed by nature. In this paper we present an architecture for querying distributed RDF repositories by extending the existing Sesame system. We discuss the implications of our architectureand propose an index structure as well as algorithms forquery processing and optimization in such a distributed context.

Ontology-based information visualisation

The main contribution is to show how visual representations of information can be based on ontological classifications of that information. We first discuss the central role of ontologies on the Semantic Web. We subsequently outline our general approach to the construction of ontology-based visualisations of data. This is followed by a set of examples of ontology-based visualisations which all differ in interesting respects. We conclude with a brief discussion of related work.

Exploring large document repositories with RDF technology: the DOPE project

This thesaurus-based search system uses automatic indexing, RDF-based querying, and concept-based visualization of results to support exploration of large online document repositories. Innovative research institutes rely on the availability of complete and accurate information about new research and development. Information providers such as Elsevier make it their business to provide the required information in a cost-effective way. The semantic Web will likely contribute significantly to this effort because it facilitates access to an unprecedented quantity of data. The DOPE project (Drug Ontology Project for Elsevier) explores ways to provide access to multiple life-science information sources through a single interface.

SWAP: ontology-based knowledge management with peer-to-peer technology

[BBT02] suggest a distributed approach to Knowledge Management which better fits the true situation in organizations and the processes people are used to. From a technological point of view peer-to-peer (P2P) solutions are particularly well suited, because they make it possible for different participants (organizations, individuals, or departments) to maintain their own knowledge structure while exchanging information. However, today’s P2P solutions are extremely limited (they mostly rely on keyword search) and not appropriate for the high requirements of a KMSs.

Towards distributed processing of RDF path queries

A technical infrastructure for storing, querying and managing RDF data is a key element in the current semantic web development. Systems like Jena, Sesame or the ICS-FORTH RDF Suite are widely used for building semantic web applications. Currently, none of these systems support the integrated querying of distributed RDF repositories. We consider this a major shortcoming since the semantic web is distributed by nature. In this paper we present an architecture for querying distributed RDF repositories by extending the existing Sesame system. We discuss the implications of our architecture and propose an index structure as well as algorithms for query processing and optimisation in such a distributed context.