Semantic Annotation for Process Models: - Department of Computer ...

2.2. MODELING BASIS 15
meta-model of the modeling language. Thus, we conclude that model semantics are
interpreted according to the system’s context and the modeling language applied in the
solution.
2.2.3 Ontology-driven and domain-specific
Modeling at the conceptual level trends to be seemingly independent of the computer
world in the development of modeling methodologies. Researchers turn to philosophy
and linguistics to try to find the inherent principles in the concepts of real world domains.
And the boundary between the conceptual modeling and knowledge modeling
becomes gradually fuzzy.
For example, Ontology-Driven Conceptual Modeling draws fundamental notions
from formal ontology and establishes a minimal top-level ontology to drive conceptual
modeling [47]. Thesaurus Conceptual Model uses the Knowledge/Data Model
(KDM) [137] that incorporates an object-oriented view of data, together with knowledge
regarding its usage [68]. Ontologies are used for the development of conceptual
schemas of information systems by pruning irrelevant concepts in the ontologies [18].
On the other hand, domain model framework and meta-model make reuse and
flexibility of models possible. A software system can never be finished, new and changed
domain concepts will always be appearing, forcing continuous rebuilding, testing and redeployment
of systems [8]. The main idea of the approach proposed in [8] is the removal
of domain concepts from concrete software and database models, into standardized
vocabularies and libraries of domain concept models. Re-engineering software and
database is done using a generic reference object model (ROM) system architecture
in [8]. Reference models are used in [160] to combine "formal driven" and "content
driven" approaches in a new way to develop information systems. The formal driven
approach aims to develop and implementing a technical correct running system. The
goal of the content driven approach is developing and implementing an organizational
correct running system. Goals of content and technology are concerned in reference
models, which are regarded as "blue prints" for business engineering and can be used
to model and optimize business processes. Domain-specific methods implemented with
metaCASE technology [67] use meta-modeling languages to develop a domain metamodel
mapped to combinations of components in order to generate a product.
All these approaches address the process of modeling, and the ideas can be analogically
applied on the results of modeling — models. In an ontology-based semantic
annotation method, the utility of an ontology and domain knowledge is applied after
modeling. The additional semantic treatment is still necessary for the exchange
or reuse of models across different organizations, because a modeling process usually
is not centralized and local ontologies and local domain/reference models applied in
the modeling are still various from different organizations. In this work, consensual
ontologies and domain reference models are therefore needed to be determined in an
annotation phase based on the requirements on interoperability and applications.