A Generic Multilevel Approach for Designing
Domain Ontologies Based on XML Schemas
3rd Annual European DDI Users Group Meeting
(EDDI 2011)
06.12.2011
Thomas Bosch
M.Sc. (TUM)
postgraduate student
http://boschthomas.blogspot.com
GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences

map
XML Schema Metamodel XML Schema Metamodel
Ontology
instanceOf ⊑
External Ontologies
map
XML Schemas Generated Ontologies (OWL) Domain Ontologies (OWL)
[XSLT]
instanceOf instanceOf instanceOf
map
XML Document Instances Generated Ontologies (RDF) Domain Ontologies (RDF)
[XSLT]
2

map
XML Schema Metamodel XML Schema Metamodel
Ontology
instanceOf ⊑
External Ontologies
map
XML Schemas Generated Ontologies (OWL) Domain Ontologies (OWL)
[XSLT]
instanceOf instanceOf instanceOf
map
XML Document Instances Generated Ontologies (RDF) Domain Ontologies (RDF)
[XSLT]
3

Variable: Age
4

XML
Variable
Variable: Age
VariableName
"Age"
5

XML Schema XML
element Variable
type name
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
6

XML Schema XML
element Variable
type name
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
7

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology Element DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
⊑
Variable-Element… Variable
type name
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
8

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type name
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
9

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type name_Element_String
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
10

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type name_Element_String
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
11

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type name_Element_String
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
12

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type_Element_Type name_Element_String
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
13

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
Variable-Element… Variable
type_Element_Type name_Element_String
complexType "VariableType" "Variable"
name complexContent
"VariableType" extension
sequence
element VariableName
element
name "Age"
ref
"VariableName" "VariableName"
14

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
complexContent
extension
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
15

ComplexType "VariableType"
DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
⊑ name_ComplexType_String
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
complexContent
extension
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
16

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
complexContent
extension
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
17

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
extension
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
18

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
extension
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
19

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
20

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
sequence
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
21

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
22

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
element element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
23

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
24

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… element VariableName
ref name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
25

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… element VariableName
ref_Element_Element name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
26

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… element VariableName
ref_Element_Element name
"Age"
"VariableName" "VariableName"
27

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
name
"Age"
"VariableName"
28

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
name
"Age"
"VariableName"
29

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence… Element
contains_Sequence_Element ⊑
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
name
"Age"
"VariableName"
30

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence… Element
contains_Sequence_Element ⊑
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
name
"Age"
"VariableName"
31

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence… Element
contains_Sequence_Element ⊑
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
name_Element_String
"VariableName" "Age"
32

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
"Age"
33

DDI 3.1 - XML Schema | Ontology DDI 3.1 - XML | RDF
type_Element_Type
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
34

map
XML Schema Metamodel XML Schema Metamodel
Ontology
instanceOf ⊑
External Ontologies
map
XML Schemas Generated Ontologies (OWL) Domain Ontologies (OWL)
[XSLT]
instanceOf instanceOf instanceOf
map
XML Document Instances Generated Ontologies (RDF) Domain Ontologies (RDF)
[XSLT]
35

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
"Age" hasQuestionText
"Age?"
36

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
"Age" hasQuestionText
"Age?"
37

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
38

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
contains_ComplexContent_Extension
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
39

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
contains_Extension_Sequence
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
40

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
contains_Sequence_Element
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
41

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
ref_Element_Element
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
42

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element…
f ref_Element_Element g
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
43

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
value_Element_String
String-Type… "Age"
44

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension…
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
g value_Element_String h
h
String-Type… "Age"
45

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension… a hasVariableName h
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
g value_Element_String h
h
String-Type… "Age"
46

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c
ComplexContent…
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension… a hasVariableName h
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence… --> Variable-Age hasVariabeName "Age"
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
g value_Element_String h
h
String-Type… "Age"
47

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c Variable ( a )
ComplexContent… Variable
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension… a hasVariableName h
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
g value_Element_String h
h
String-Type… "Age"
48

DDI 3.1 Ontology DDI 3.1 RDF
b a type_Element_Type b a
VariableType-Type… Variable-Element… Variable-Age
b contains_ComplexType_ComplexContent c
c Variable ( a )
ComplexContent… Variable
--> Variable ( Variable-Age )
c contains_ComplexContent_Extension d
d
Extension… a hasVariableName h
d contains_Extension_Sequence e
e
Sequence…
e contains_Sequence_Element f
f g
VariableName-Element-Reference… VariableName-Element… VariableName-Element… ( g )
f ref_Element_Element g
g value_Element_String h
h
String-Type… "Age"
49

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
"Age" hasQuestionText
"Age?"
50

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
Age hasQuestionText
Age?
51

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
Age hasQuestionText
Age?
52

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
Age hasQuestionText
Age?
53

DDI Ontology
Variable
Question
Variable-Age
resultsInVariable
hasVariableName Question-Age
Age hasQuestionText
Age?
54

map
XML Schema Metamodel XML Schema Metamodel
Ontology
instanceOf
External Ontologies
⊑
map
XML Schemas Generated Ontologies (OWL) Domain Ontologies (OWL)
[XSLT]
instanceOf instanceOf instanceOf
map
XML Document Instances Generated Ontologies (RDF) Domain Ontologies (RDF)
[XSLT]
55