Conceptual Modelling

The Woman in White: Conceptions of Femininity and Masculinity

by Dario Abram

Typeless Information Modelling to Avoid Category Bias in Archaeological Descriptions

by Cesar Gonzalez-Perez

In "Thinking beyond the Tool", edited by A. Chrysanthi, P. Murrieta Flores and C. Papadopoulos.

Aiding Academics to move from knowledge management to knowledge creation: Conceptualisation of a Personal Academic Environment

by Diogo Casanova

Casanova, D., Costa, N., & Moreira, A. (2012). Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in Higher Education: a proposal for developing a quality framework. In K. W. Marek T., Kantola J. (Ed.), Science, Technology, Higher Education and Society in the Conceptual Age. London, New York: Taylor & Francis. (IN PRESS)

In this paper we aim to explore the potentiality of a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) as an aid to an academic... more In this paper we aim to explore the potentiality of a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) as an aid to an academic staff in the context of their daily work. Personal Learning Environments may be the key to the possibility of personalizing a learning atmosphere within campus walls giving more autonomous possibilities to learners and to academics. Taking into consideration the advanced of technologies and the integration and interoperability of academic, administrative and learning technologies, we intend to conceptualize and simulate a
personal environment that will help academics to organize their daily activities. We have entitled this model a Personal Academic Environment (PAE). A PAE is a webtop application that allows users to customize their work area with all the academic information that is important even if from the outside of the confines of the university.

Strategic Planning and Models of Reality

by Kristofer Carlson

Aggregation in ontologies: Practical implementations in OWL

by Csaba Veres

Conceptual Modeling in Specialized Knowledge Resources

by Antonio San Martín

Faber, Pamela, and Antonio San Martín. 2010. Conceptual Modeling in Specialized Knowledge Resources. Information Technologies and Knowledge 4 (2): 110-121.

Conceptual modeling is the activity of formally describing aspects of the physical and social world around us for... more Conceptual modeling is the activity of formally describing aspects of the physical and social world around us for purposes of understanding and communication. The conceptual modeler thus has to determine what aspects of the real world to include, and exclude, from the model, and at what level of detail to model each
aspect [Kotiadis and Robinson, 2008]. The way that this is done depends on the needs of the potential users or stakeholders, the domain to be modeled, and the objectives to be achieved. A principled set of conceptual modeling techniques are thus a vital necessity in the elaboration of resources that facilitate knowledge acquisition and understanding.

In this respect, the design and creation of terminological databases for a specialized knowledge domain is extremely complex since, ideally, the data should be interconnected in a semantic network by means of an explicit set of semantic relations. Nevertheless, despite the acknowledged importance of conceptual organization in terminological resources [Puuronen, 1995], [Meyer et al., 1997], [Pozzi, 1999], [Pilke, 2001], conceptual organization does not appear to have an important role in their design. It is a fact that astonishingly few specialized knowledge resources available on Internet contain information regarding the location of concepts in larger knowledge configurations [Faber et al., 2006].

Such knowledge resources do not take into account the dynamic nature of categorization, concept storage and retrieval, and cognitive processing [Louwerse and Jeuniaux, 2010], [Aziz-Zadeh and Damasio, 2008], [Patterson et al., 2007], [Gallese and Lakoff, 2005]. Recent theories of cognition reflect the assumption that cognition is typically grounded in multiple ways, e.g. simulations, situated action, and even bodily states. This means that a specialized knowledge resource that facilitates knowledge acquisition should thus provide conceptual contexts or
situations in which a concept is conceived as part of a process or event. Since knowledge acquisition and understanding requires simulation, this signifies that horizontal relations defining goal, purpose, affordance, and result of the manipulation and use of an object are just as important, if not more so, than vertical generic-specific and part-whole relations.

Within the context of recent theories of cognition, this paper examines the frame-based conceptual modeling principles underlying EcoLexicon, a multilingual knowledge base of environmental concepts (http://ecolexicon.ugr.es/) [Faber et al., 2005, 2006, 2007]

Sensory load incurs conceptual processing costs

by Nicolas Vermeulen

Persistence and mobility of 2,4-D in unsaturated soil zone under winter wheat crop in sub-tropical region of India

by Manika Gupta

The present study was undertaken to determine the persistence and mobility of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D)... more The present study was undertaken to determine the persistence and mobility of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in unsaturated soil zone under real field conditions for the wheat crop in Roorkee, India. Three experimental plots were chosen in the agricultural field itself to represent the real field conditions in the study area and the potential movement and persistence of herbicide 2,4-D was investigated under three different irrigation treatments. The presence of herbicide along with soil water content was determined in soil at different depths at a temporal scale. The movement of the herbicide was also simulated numerically by solving the coupled soil water content movement and mass transport equations using HYDRUS-1D. The measured soil water content trends and the 2,4-D concentration profiles showed a good agreement with the numerically simulated results. The maximum effect of the herbicide was primarily retained up to 15 cm of the soil profile. The current existing dosage of 0.5 kg ha−1 of pesticide was found to be safe to avoid soil contamination as no residue of 2,4-D was traced at the end of the wheat crop season in any of the plots. Higher concentrations of 2,4-D were also simulated numerically and the simulated results showed that the safe dosage of pesticide application would depend on irrigation treatments.

Essential information structure diagrams and database schema design

by Peretz Shoval

Author: Peretz Shoval
Journal: Information Systems (1985), Vol. 10 (4), 417-423.

An information structure diagram (ISD) provides a detailed and exact description of the conceptual schema. It descibes... more An information structure diagram (ISD) provides a detailed and exact description of the conceptual schema. It descibes the semantics of the universe of discourse, such as the various object types, their associations and constraints. The ISD subsequently functionsas an input to the design of the database schema, which is expressed in terms relations, attributes, key fields and relationships. One limitation of a detailed ISD, such as produced by the Binary-Relationship conceptualization model, is that in real situations it may become too complicated and difficult to understand, thus preventing users and designebrs of the system from "seeing the whole picture" of the information structure.
We address this problem by introducing the concepts of "essential-ISD", which is a concise, abstact and easy to read ISD, containing the most important elements of the conceptual schema. Later on that essential-ISD is used to produce a "skeleton" of the database schema, which outlines the normalized relations and their associations.

Linking Conceptual and Simulation Models of the Cooum River: Collaborative Development of a GIS-Based DSS for Environmental Management

by Martin Bunch

Bunch, M. J., & Dudycha, D. J. (2004). Linking Conceptual and Simulation Models of the Cooum River: collaborative development if a GIS-based DSS for Environmental Management. Computer, Environment and Urban Systems, 28(3), 247-264.

The Cooum River is an extremely polluted stream that flows through Chennai, India. Past attempts to rehabilitate the... more The Cooum River is an extremely polluted stream that flows through Chennai, India. Past attempts to rehabilitate the river have focussed on physical interventions such as dredging. However, the problem continues to worsen. This research has borrowed techniques from adaptive management and soft systems methodology to apply an ecosystem approach to the problem. This involved participatory development of conceptual models of relevant systems that informed construction of a GIS-based DSS and environmental model. This paper addresses the link between conceptual models and the DSS. The process of problem identification, system conceptualization, development of the GIS database and DSS, and its use for exploratory scenario analysis was found to stimulate learning about the situation and promoted novel solutions to the problem.

Keywords: Conceptual model; GIS; Decision support system; Soft systems methodology; Adaptive management; Urban environmental management; Environmental model

A cognitive model of fiction writing.

by Anthony Bloor

Phd thesis, 1997

The research for this thesis was concerned with the design of computational tools to assist higher education students... more The research for this thesis was concerned with the design of computational tools to assist higher education students on writing courses. The research found that underlying the design of software tools is the concept of a model. Models of the writing process are found not only in software design but in teaching and in educational research. The thesis looks at the models in current use including linguistic and psychological varieties. It then turns to semiology and literary theory to present a model of fiction writing, with suggestions on how the model can be used to design software tools.

First experiences in implementing a spatial metadata repository

by sophie cockcroft

Insitu: Sketching Architectural Designs in Context

by Patrick Paczkowski

To be published Dec 1, 2011.

Architecture is design in a spatial context. Current methods for representing context involve designing in a... more Architecture is design in a spatial context. Current methods for representing context involve designing in a heavyweight computer-aided design (CAD) system, using a full model of existing buildings and landscape, or sketching on a panoramic view. We present a new approach to representing context in a lightweight conceptual design system.

Ontological evaluation of health models: Some early findings

by sophie cockcroft

The Design and Implementation of a Repository for the Management of Spatial Data Integrity Constraints

by sophie cockcroft

GeoInformatica 8(1) 49-69 2004

A taxomomy of spatial data integrity constraints

by sophie cockcroft

GeoInformatica 1(4) 327-343

Spatial data quality has become an issue of increasing concern to researchers and practitioners in the field of... more Spatial data quality has become an issue of increasing concern to researchers and practitioners in the field of Spatial Information Systems (SIS). Clearly the results of any spatial analysis are only as good as the data on which it is based. There are a number of significant areas for data quality research in SIS. These include topological consistency; consistency between spatial and attribute data; and consistency between spatial objects representation and their true representation on the ground. The last category may be subdivided into spatial accuracy and attribute accuracy. One approach to improving data quality is the imposition of constraints upon data entered into the database. This paper presents a taxonomy of integrity constraints as they apply to spatial database systems. Taking a cross disciplinary approach it aims to clarify some of the terms used in the database and SIS fields for data integrity management. An overview of spatial data quality concerns is given and each type of constraint is assessed regarding its approach to addressing these concerns. Some indication of an implementation method is also given for each.

Conceptual Modelling for Requirements of Government to Citizen Service Provision

by ANAS ALSOUD

Government to citizen (G2C) service provision is demanded to fit for purpose for users. A process of finding services... more Government to citizen (G2C) service provision is demanded to fit for purpose for users. A process of finding services from a G2C system involves understanding of the user's request, selecting the relevant services, and deciding amongst the candidate ervices to meet the user's needs. Some current approaches, such as benchmarking methods, are capable of measuring the service quality in the quantitative manner. However, G2C services also have intangible features which can be measured qualitatively. In this paper, a method is described to model the requirements of G2C services and their provision. To facilitate a service provision process, a set of criteria is identified and used to ensure the quality of the resultant services. An ontology model developed represents requirements of service provision in a web service environment that involves service consumers, service providers, and service advisor. Interactions between these stakeholders are defined by norms which generate workflows for executing the functions in the techniques. An
experiment using DEA is carried out in this paper based on quantitative criteria to validate the method and its techniques, i.e. articulates, derives and pre-selects. The pre-selected services as the candidates are further evaluated with the contribution of the qualitative features of the services by using analytical hierarchical process (AHP) to decide for winning services.

Cadence and the Empirical Modelling conceptual framework: a new perspective on modelling state-as-experienced

by Meurig Beynon

(co-authored with Nicolas Pope)

The aspiration in Empirical Modelling (EM) is to build artefacts for sense-making ("construals") that... more The aspiration in Empirical Modelling (EM) is to build artefacts for sense-making ("construals") that exhibit interactive characteristics similar to those observed in the situation to which they refer. The relation between an artefact and its referent is established through constructing a close correspondence between dependencies, observables and instances of agent action. Specifically, different kinds of agent interaction with the referent have counterparts in the model that are recognisably congruent in that they disclose similar dependencies between observables. The full elaboration of this notion lies beyond the scope of this paper - it has been a central theme of the EM project as documented at []. A crucial aspect of the approach is the emphasis that is placed upon the experiential nature of the correspondence between an artefact and its referent. This represents a radical departure from the conventional functional and operational manner in which a computer program is interpreted. It means that the interpretation of an artefact is open and fluid. For instance, it is subject to evolve over time (e.g. "facility in recognising dependencies can be learned"), can be dependent on the observer (e.g. "relationships can only be discerned if the observer isn't colour-blind"), and on the specific situation within which interaction and observation is being conducted (e.g. "whether changes to observables can be identified may depend on the level of lighting").

To date, the typical approach to EM has been to exploit modelling with definitive scripts (MWDS) as supported by the EDEN interpreter. This approach has limitations with practical and conceptual consequences. The Cadence environment, as developed by the second author, offers an alternative framework - as yet less thoroughly explored - for supporting EM. This report discusses the impact that Cadence has had in exposing problematic ways in which MWDS has biased the conception and practice of EM, and the extent to which developing Cadence can help to redress this bias.

Role-Based Modelling of Interactions In Database Applications

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. CAiSE 2006: pp. 63-77

Modern information systems interact with a wide variety of users ranging from people with specific roles in business... more Modern information systems interact with a wide variety of users ranging from people with specific roles in business processes to end-users who access information in various ways and in different environments. Therefore, an application has to adhere to a well defined security policy on one hand and be highly adaptable to context on the other. We have extended the OM data model, with its rich support for role modelling, with concepts for modelling interactions between users and applications. In this paper, we show how the resulting interaction model can be used for role-based access control, as well as for modelling interactions in context-aware applications.

Tools for Modeling and Generating Safe Interface Interactions In Web Applications

by Michael Grossniklaus

Proc. ICWE 2010: pp. 482-485

Modern Web applications that embed sophisticated user interfaces and business logic have rendered the original... more Modern Web applications that embed sophisticated user interfaces and business logic have rendered the original interaction paradigm of the Web obsolete. In previous work, we have advocated a paradigm shift from static content pages that are browsed by hyperlinks to a state-based model where back and forward navigation is replaced by a full-fledged interactive application paradigm, featuring undo and redo capabilities, with support for exception management policies and transactional properties. In this demonstration, we present an editor and code generator designed to build applications based on our approach.