Advancing regulation retrieval with profiling, controlled vocabularies and networked services

An approach to advanced ‘information retrieval’ (IR) of regulations-one based on analyzed engineering information-seeking behavior, and profiling of users and content-is presented. A development methodology and a conceptual and technical solution for regulation retrieval enabling sharing of services, content and users were developed. Iterative Survey-Test (ST) prototyping was used in a test-bed project for networked regulation retrieval with semantic services, federated indexing, structural parsing and searching, supported by controlled vocabularies, and distributed user-profiling, thus enabling end-users to create, modify and transfer profiles between portals with a common WSDL. The solution is important for providers and users of regulations.