TOWARD A UNIFIED ENGLISH-LIKE REPRESENTATION OF SEMANTIC MODELS, DATA, AND GRAPH PATTERNS FOR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

Abstract

The Semantic Application Design Language (SADL) combines advances in standardized declarative modeling languages based on formal logic with advances in domain-specific language (DSL) development environments to create a controlled-English language that translates directly into the Web Ontology Language (OWL), the SPARQL graph query language, and a compatible if/then rule language. Models in the SADL language can be authored, tested, and maintained in an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE). This environment offers semantic highlighting, statement completion, expression templates, hyperlinking of concepts to their definition, model validation, automatic error correction, and other advanced authoring features to enhance the ease and productivity of the modeling environment. In addition, the SADL language offers the ability to build in validation tests and test suites that can be used for regression testing. Through common Eclipse functionality, the models can be easily placed under source code control, versioned, and managed throughout the life of the model. Differences between versions can be compared side-by-side. Finally, the SADL-IDE offers an explanation capability that is useful in understanding what was inferred by the reasoner/rule engine and why those conclusions were reached. Perhaps more importantly, explanation is available of why an expected inference failed to occur. The objective of the language and the IDE is to enable domain experts to play a more active and productive role in capturing their knowledge and making it available as computable artifacts useful for automation where appropriate and for decision support systems in applications that benefit from a collaborative human-computer approach. SADL is built entirely on open source code and most of SADL is itself released to open source. This paper explores the concepts behind the language and provides details and examples of the authoring and model lifecycle support facilities.