CERIF-CW

Common European Research Information Format – Semantic Web

The CERIF- SW project brings together expertise of research institution in developing distributed information system of heterogeneous data sources, database harmonization, providing data access to research data, developing Knowledge Management and Semantic Web solutions, metadata creation and use to develop a set of tools for building next generation of research information systems, and to integrate using new technologies a set of European Research Information Systems for advanced research information retrieval capabilities

The objective is to be achieved along five main lines of actions

• Developing of a distributed knowledge management system, built over the existing web standards, like RDF, RDFS, DAML + OIL, which will provide advanced information retrieval access to research data of European institutions
• Developing software tools and methodology to embrace full-lifecycle of KM system development, from semantic layer to physical, including conceptual, intensional, logical layer
• Enhancing the “value-add”, “customization” and information dissemination possibilities of current research information systems
• Developing software tools for interontology mapping, semantic and schematic conflict descriptions for integration already existing information systems, based on different formats, schemas, vocabularies, languages

Objectives:

The project objectives are:

1. To develop set of tools and methodology to pave the way of implementing Research Information Systems on Semantic Web technology, to make processes of research data dissemination, target delivery, retrieval more efficient for both information consumers as well research institutions.
2. To integrate developed tools into KM for research data platform, which will be tested in a pilot site for information retrieval and research evaluation, in order to evaluate benefits of deploying CERIF-KM technologies
3. To provide input for existing standardization efforts both in research data (CERIF), as well data and knowledge presentation (DAML + OIL, RDF, RDFS) to harmonize research information systems.
4. To coordinate efforts of research institutions in the developing Semantic Web compatible Research Information systems and integrating their data for benefits research institutions and industry
5. To develop set of tools for assess of completeness and actuality of research information from a distributed networks

Work description

A first objective is will to be to establish and validate Knowledge Model for research data, based on Common European Research Information format. That model should be implemented on Semantic Web technologies (DAML + OIL) to enable knowledge exchange and agent information discovery. In the CERIF knowledge model developing expertise and results of European research institution in developing CERIF-based CRIS should taken into account.

The second objective is to develop tools for publishing data of research institutions into RDF databases and semantic web markups (RDF) on the web, to make process of migration from conventional to Semantic Web easy for research institutions. Also tools for manual markups of data by researchers should be choosed and enhanced for better matching to researchers’ needs

The third objective is to develop infrastructure for knowledge acquisition from institutions databases and sites by agents and centralized systems, targeted disseminating of information to information consumers, and information retrieval. One of the major challenges addressed in the project is to develop technologies which can deal with possible schematic and semantic conflicts between information systems in information retrieval and information presentation operations

The forth objective is to develop knowledge management for research data based on Semantic Web technologies and using data annotated and published by research institutions in formats and tools, developed in previous stages. The project participants’ experience shows that even advanced Digital Library technologies for information retrieval is not efficient for research information, especially taking into account diversity of formats, vocabularies in European countries. Knowledge management technologies should be developed for research data. Especially they are required for assessing of research information by evaluators and European policy-makes.

The fifth major objective will be a development of tools, methods and guidelines for embracing full-live cycle of Semantic Web solutions. In developing new and integration developed information systems with Semantic Web solutions models from Semantic to Physical layer should be supported with possible definition of mappings between different layer elements. The most already developed tools can work on only one or two layers and can not develop or use models of different layers and define relation between them to assist to information system developers and maintaners

Milestones

The first milestone at month 6 is developing, testing in Research information systems the ontology and knowledge model for CERIF. The model should be checked for consistency, matching to need of information consumers and standard for European countries for research information.

The second milestones at month 15 is installing and testing distributed SW bases solutions in research sites of the project participants. Information stored in databases should be published in Semantic Web markups according to developed CERIF ontology and markup schema. Information should be collected by agents on one tested mediator site and provided to information consumers. The final stage of the second milestone is operational system

The third milestones at month 24 is attracting new participants of information publishing, consumers of information in research and industry, evaluation, system improvements and dissemination of results