Conceptual modeling using domain ontologies: improving the domain-specific quality of conceptual schemas

Abstract

In this paper an additional step is taken towards ontology-based conceptual modeling by using ontologies that specify conceptualizations of material domains. Using domain ontologies instead of top-level ontologies for ontology-based conceptual modeling, enables the reuse of domain-specific knowledge. The application of domain ontologies to conceptual schema development instead of conceptual modeling language evaluation, ensures the domain-specific quality of the schemas, i.e. the satisfaction of domain-specific axioms in schemas that intend to represent particular situations within the domain of interest. This approach to ontology-based conceptual modeling is implemented by extending existing conceptual modeling languages with domain-specific language profiles that are defined by domain ontologies. The approach is illustrated for enterprise modeling using UML and the Resource Event Agent (REA) enterprise ontology. The usefulness of the approach for the quality assurance of conceptual schemas is demonstrated by evaluating the domain-specific quality of a sample of UML class diagrams intended as enterprise models.