Integrating HAD Organizational Data Assets using Semantic Web Technologies

Abstract

To create value based on information and knowledge, organizations need to recognize that they are composed of various types of data assets. In this context, data integration has been proven to be a challenge due to the heterogeneity of the information systems involved. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) was one of most successful solutions developed to provide business-to-business integration. However, XML ``lacks semantics{''}. Thus problems arise when it is necessary to manipulate and integrate different XML data sources. Consequently, today's organizations are again shifting from a syntactic interoperability level to a semantic one. This paper presents a Semantic data Integration Middleware (SIM) which, when based on a single query, integrates data residing in different data sources. The middleware uses an ontology-based multi-source data extractor/wrapper approach to transform data into semantic knowledge.