Abstract
A prominent high-level ontology is that proposed by Mario Bunge. While it has been extensively used for research in IS analysis and conceptual modelling, it has not been employed in the more formal settings of semantic web research. We claim that its specification in natural language is the key inhibitor to its wider use. Consequently, this paper offers a description of this ontology in open, standardized knowledge representation formats. The ontology is described both in UML and OWL in order to address needs of both semantic web and conceptual modelling communities.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Guarino, N.: Formal ontology and information systems. In: Guarino, N.(eds) Formal Ontology in Information Systems, pp. 3–15. IOS Press, Amsterdam (1998)
Fensel, D., Hendler, J., Lieberman, H., Wahlster, W. (eds.): Spinning the Semantic Web—Bringing the World Wide Web to its Full Potential. MIT Press, Cambridge (2003)
Kim, H.: Predicting how ontologies for the semantic web will evolve. Commun. ACM 45, 48–54 (2002)
Uschold, M., Gruninger, M.: Ontologies: principles, methods and applications. Knowl. Eng. Rev. 11, 93–155 (1996)
Noy, N.F., Hafner, C.D.: The state of the art in ontology design: a survey and comparative review. AI Mag. 18, 53–74 (1997)
Smith, B., Welty, C.: Ontology: Towards a new synthesis. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Formal Ontology and Information Systems, FOIS’01, October 17–19, Qgunquit, Maine (2001) iii–ix
Gruber, T.R.: A translation approach to portable ontology specification. Knowl. Acquis. 5, 199–220 (1993)
Pinto, H.S., Martins, J.P.: Ontologies: how can they be built? Knowl. Inf. Syst. 6, 441–464 (2004)
Gruninger, M., Lee, J.: Ontology applications and design. Commun. ACM 45, 39–41 (2002)
Holsaple, C.W., Joshi, K.: A collaborative approach to ontology design. Commun. ACM 45, 42–47 (2002)
Fox, M., Grüninger, M.: Ontologies for enterprise integration. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Cooperative Information Systems, pp. 82–89 (1994)
Niles, I., Pease, A.: Towards a standard upper ontology. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Formal Ontologies in Information Systems FOIS, Ogunquit, Maine, pp. 2–9 (2001)
Guha, R., Lenat, D.B.: Enabling agents to work together. Commmun. ACM 37, 127–142 (1994)
Lenat, D.B., Guha, R.V., Pittman, K., Pratt, D., Shepherd, M.: CYC: toward programs with common sense. Commun. ACM 33, 30–49 (1990)
Lenat, D.B.: CYC: A large-scale investment in knowledge infrastructure. Commun. ACM 38, 33–38 (1995)
Bechhofer, S., van Harmelen, F., Hendler, J., Horrocks, I., McGuiness, D.L., Patel-Schneider, P.F., Stein, L.A.: OWL Web Ontology Language—W3C Recommendation 10 February 2004. http://www.w3.org/TR/owl-ref
Baader, F., Calvanese, D., McGuiness, D., Nardi, D., Patel-Schneider, P. (eds.): The Description Logic Handbook. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2003)
Horrocks, I., Patel-Schneider, P.F.: Reducing owl entailment to description logic satisfiability. J. Web Semant. 1, 345–357 (2004)
Horrocks, I., Patel-Schneider, P.F., van Harmelen, F.: From \({\mathcal{SHIQ}}\) and RDF to OWL: the making of a web ontology language. J. Web Semant. 1, 7–26 (2003)
Horrocks, I., Sattler, U.: A tableau decision procedure for \({\mathcal{SHOIQ}}\). J. Autom. Reason. 39, 249–276 (2007)
Bera, P., Wand, Y.: Analyzing OWL using a philosophy-based ontology. In: Proceedings of the 2004 Conference on Formal Ontologies in Information Systems FOIS, Torino (2004)
Bera, P., Krasnoperova, A., Wand, Y.: Improving real-world semantics in OWL. Working paper, The Sauder School of Business at UBC (2005)
Dussart, A., Aubert, B.A., Patry, M.: An evaluation of inter-organizational workflow modeling formalisms. J. Database Manage. 15, 74–104 (2004)
Fettke, P., Loos, P.: Ontological evaluation of reference models using the Bunge-Wand-Weber model. In: Proceedings of the 2003 Americas Conference on Information Systems, August 4–6, Tampa (2003)
Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Integrated process modelling: an ontological analysis. Inf. Syst. 25, 73–87 (2000)
Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Ontological analysis of integrated process models: testing hypotheses. Aust. J. Inf. Syst. 9, 30–38 (2001)
Green, P., Rosemann, M., Indulska, M.: Ontological evaluation of enterprise systems interoperability using ebXML. IEEE Trans. Data Knowl. Eng. 17, 713–725 (2005)
Evermann, J., Wand, Y.: Towards ontologically based semantics for UML constructs. In: Kunii, H., Jajodia, S., Solvberg, A. (eds.) Proceedings of ER, pp. 354–367 (2001)
Evermann, J., Wand, Y.: An ontological examination of object interaction in conceptual modeling. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Information Technologies and Systems WITS’01, New Orleans, December 15–16, pp. 91–96 (2001)
Evermann, J.: The association construct in conceptual modelling - an analysis using the Bunge ontological model. In: Pastor, O., e Cunha, J.F.(eds) Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering, CAiSE 2005, Porto, pp. 33–47. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)
Evermann, J., Wand, Y.: Towards formalizing domain modeling semantics in language syntax. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 31, 21–37 (2005)
Opdahl, A., Henderson-Sellers, B.: Evaluating and improving OO modelling languages using the BWW-model. In: Proceedings of the Information Systems Foundation Workshop (1999). www.comp.mq.edu.au/isf99/Opdahl.htm
Opdahl, A., Henderson-Sellers, B., Barbier, F.: An ontological evaluation of the OML metamodel. In: Falkenberg, E., Lyytinen, K.(eds) Information System Concepts: An Integrated Discipline Emerging, IFIP/Kluwer, Netherlands (1999)
Opdahl, A.L., Henderson-Sellers, B.: Grounding the OML metamodel in ontology. J. Syst. Softw. 57, 119–143 (2001)
Opdahl, A., Henderson-Sellers, B.: Ontological evaluation of the UML using the Bunge-Wand-Weber model. Softw. Syst. Modeling 1, 43–67 (2002)
Wand, Y., Weber, R.: An ontological evaluation of systems analysis and design methods. In: Falkenberg, E., Lingreen, P.(eds) Information System Concepts: An In-Depth Analysis, North-Holland, Elsevier Science Publishers BV (1989)
Wand, Y., Weber, R.: On the ontological expressiveness of information systems analysis and design grammars. J. Inf. Syst. 3(4), 217–237 (1993)
Wand, Y., Storey, V.C., Weber, R.: An ontological analysis of the relationship construct in conceptual modeling. ACM Trans. Database Syst. 24, 494–528 (1999)
Guizzardi, G., Herre, H., Wagner, G.: On the general ontological foundations of conceptual modeling. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER-2002), Tampere, Springer, Heidelberg (2002)
Guizzardi, G., Wagner, G., van Sinderen, M.: A formal theory of conceptual modeling universals. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Philosophy and Informatics (WSPI), Cologne (2004)
Heller, B., Herre, H.: Ontological categories in GOL. Axiomathes 14, 57–76 (2004)
Herre, H., Heller, B., Burek, P., Hoehndorf, R., Loebe, F., Michalek, H.: General formal ontology (GFO): a foundational ontology integrating objects and processes. Part 1: Basic principles (version 1.0). Technical report, University of Leipzig, Research Group Ontologies in Medicine (Onto-Med) (2006)
Masolo, C., Borgo, S., Gangemi, A., Guariono, N., Oltramari, A.: Ontology library, WonderWeb deliverable D18. Technical report, University of Trento Laboratory for Applied Ontology (2003)
Green, P.: Use of information systems analysis and design (ISAD) grammars in combination in upper CASE tools—an ontological evaluation. In: Proceedings of the 2nd CAiSE/IFIP8.1 International Workshop on the Evaluation of Modeling Methods in Systems Analysis and Design (EMMSAD’97), pp. 1–12. Barcelon (1997)
Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Applying ontologies to business and systems modelling techniques and perspectives: Lessons learned. J. Database Manage. 15, 105–117 (2004)
Herrera, S.I., Pallioto, D., Tkachuk, G., Luna, P.A.: Ontological modelling of information systems from Bunge’s contributions. In: Proceedings of the PHISE workshop, Porto, pp. 571–582 (2005)
Opdahl, A.L., Henderson-Sellers, B.: A template for defining enterprise modelling constructs. J. Database Manage. 15, 39–73 (2004)
Rosemann, M., Green, P.: Developing a meta-model for the Bunge-Wand-Weber ontological constructs. Inf. Syst. 27, 75–91 (2002)
Soffer, P., Golany, B., Dori, D., Wand, Y.: Modeling off-the-shelf information systems requirements: an ontological approach. Requir. Eng. 6, 663–679 (2001)
Soffer, P., Wand, Y.: Goal-driven analysis of process model validity. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering, CAiSE 2004, Riga, Latvia, pp. 521–535 (2004)
Wand, Y., Weber, R.: Mario Bunge’s ontology as a formal foundation for information systems concepts. In: Weingartner, P., Dorn, G., (eds.) Studies on Mario Bunge’s Treatise. Rodopi, Atlanta (1990)
Wand, Y., Wang, R.: Anchoring data quality dimensions in ontological foundations. Commun. ACM 39, 86–95 (1995)
Wand, Y., Monarchi, D., Parsons, J., Woo, C.: Theoretical foundations for conceptual modelling in information systems development. Decision Support Syst. 15, 285–304 (1995)
Weber, R.: Ontological Foundations of Information Systems. Coopers and Lybrand, Melbourne (1997)
Angeles, P.: Dictionary of Philosophy. Harper Perennial, New York (1981)
Bunge, M.A.: Ontology I: The Furniture of the World. Volume 3 of Treatise On Basic Philosophy. D. Reidel, Dordrecht (1977)
Bunge, M.A.: Ontology II: A World of Systems. Volume 4 of Treatise On Basic Philosophy. D. Reidel, Dordrecht (1979)
Bodart, F., Patel, A., Sim, M., Weber, R.: Should optional properties be used in conceptual modelling? A theory and three empirical tests. Inf. Syst. Res. 12, 384–405 (2001)
Cockcroft, S., Rowles, S.: Ontological evaluation of health models: Some early findings. In: Proceedings of the 7th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, 10–13 July, Adelaide, pp. 611–625. (2003)
Evermann, J., Wand, Y.: Ontology based object-oriented domain modelling: fundamental concepts. Requir. Eng. 10(2), 146–160 (2005)
Evermann, J., Wand, Y.: Ontological modelling rules for UML: an empirical assessment. J. Comput. Inf. Syst. 46 (2006)
Gemino, A.: Empirical Comparisons of Systems Analysis Modeling Techniques. Ph.D. thesis, University of British Columbia, Canada (1999)
Gemino, A., Wand, Y.: Complexity and clarity in conceptual modelling: Comparison of mandatory and optional properties. Data Knowl. Eng. 55, 301–326 (2005)
Weber, R., Zhang, Y.: An analytical evaluation of NIAM’s grammar for conceptual schema diagrams. Inf. Syst. J. 6, 147–170 (1996)
Davies, I., Green, P., Milton, S., Rosemann, M.: Using meta models for the comparison of ontologies. In: Proceedings of the EMMSAD Workshop, Velden (2003)
Uschold, M., King, M., Moralee, S., Zorgios, Y.: The enterprise ontology (1997). http://www.aiai.ed.uk/project/pub/documents/1998/98-ker-ent-ontology.ps.
Gomez-Perez, A., Fernandez-Lopez, M., Corcho, O. (eds.): Ontological Engineering. Springer, London (2004)
Staab, S., Studer, R. (eds.): Handbook on Ontologies. Springer, Berlin (2004)
Su, X., Ilebrekke, L.: A comparative study of ontology languages and tools. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Advances in Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), Toronto (2002)
Su, X., Ilebrekke, L.: Using a semiotic framework for a comparative study of ontology languages and tools. In: Information Modeling Methods and Methodologies. IDEA Group Publishing (2004)
Recker, J., Mendling, J.: On the translation between BPMN and BPEL: conceptual mismatch between process modelling languages. In: Proceedings of the EMMSAD Workshop, Luxembourg, pp. 521–532 (2006)
Object Management Group: Ontology Definition Meta-Model. Final adopted specification, Document ptc/06-10-11 (2006)
Guizzardi, G., Wagner, G., Guarino, N., van Sinderen, M.: An ontologically well-founded profile for UML conceptual models. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Advances in Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), Latvia. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)
Heller, B., Herre, H.: Formal ontology and principles of GOL. Technical report, University of Leipzig, Research Group Ontologies in Medicine (Onto-Med) (2003)
Duric, D.: MDA-based ontology infrastructure. Int. J. Comput. Sci. Inf. syst. 1, 91–116 (2004)
Berardi, D., Calvanese, D., De Giacomo, G.: Reasoning on UML class diagrams. Artif. Intell. 168, 70–118 (2005)
Warmer, J., Kleppe, A.: The Object Constraint Language: Precise Modelling with UML. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1999)
Cranefield, S., Purvis, M.: UML as an ontology modelling language. In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Intelligent Information Integration, 16th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, pp. 46–53. (1999)
Gadamer, H.G.: Philosophical Hermeneutics. University of California Press, California (1976)
Ricoeur, P.: Interpretation Theory: Discourse and the Surplus of Meaning. Texas Christian University Press, Fort Worth (1976)
Boland, R.: Phenomenology: A preferred approach to research in information systems. In: Mumford, E., Hirschheim, R., Fitzgerald, G., Wood-Harper, T.(eds) Research Methods in Information Systems., Elsevier, Amsterdam (1985)
Chalmers, M.: Hermeneutics, information, and representation. Eur. J. Inf. Syst. 13, 210–220 (2004)
Myers, M.: Dialectical hermeneutics: a theoretical framework for the implementation of information systems. Inf. Syst. J. 5, 51–70 (1995)
Prasad, A.: The contest over meaning: hermeneutics as an interpretive methodology for understanding texts. Organ. Res. Methods 5, 12–33 (2002)
Object Management Group: Unified Modeling Language: Superstructure. (2005) Document formal/05-07-04
Henderson-Sellers, B., Barbier, F.: Black and white diamonds. In: Proceedings of the 1999 Conference on the Unified Modelling Language UML 99, pp. 550–565 (1999)
Flynn, D., Knight, D., Laender, A.: Multiple relationships: An analysis of their semantics and their modelling. In: Falkenberg, E.D., Hesse, W., Olive, A.(eds) Information System Concepts: Towards a Consolidation of Views. IFIP/Chapman and Hall, London (1995)
Jones, T.H., Song, I.Y.: Binary equivalents of ternary relationships in entity-relationship modeling: a logical decomposition approach. J. Database Manage. 11, 12–19 (2000)
Genova, G., Llorens, J., Martinez, P.: The meaning of multiplicity of n-ary associations in UML. Softw. Syst. Model. 1, 86–97 (2002)
Demuth, B.: The Dresden OCL toolkit and its role in information systems development. In: 13th International Conference on Information Systems Development: Methods and Tools, Theory and Practice Conference, Advances in Theory, Practice, and Education (ISD’94). Vilnius, Lithuania (2004)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Prof. Heinrich Hussmann.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Evermann, J. A UML and OWL description of Bunge’s upper-level ontology model. Softw Syst Model 8, 235–249 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-008-0082-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-008-0082-3