Semantic Web, RDF, and Portals

In existing literature, Semantic Web portals (SWPs) are sometimes known as semantic portals or semantically enhanced portals. It is the next generation Web portal which publishes contents and information readable both by machines and humans. A SWP has all the generic functionalities of a Web portal but is developed using semantic Web technologies. However, it has several enhanced capabilities such as semantics- based search, browse, navigation, automation processes, extraction, and integration of information (Lausen, Stollberg, Hernandez, Ding, Han & Fensel, 2004; Perry & Stiles, 2004). To date the only available resources on SWPs are isolated published Web resources and research or working papers. There is a need to pool these resources together in a coherent way so as to provide the readers a comprehensive idea of what SWPs are, and how they could be built, and these will be supported by some appropriate examples. Additionally, this article will provide useful Web links for more extensive as well as intensive reading on the subject.