A mismatch description language for conceptual schema mapping and its cartographic representation

Abstract

Geospatial data offered by distributed services are often modeled with different conceptual schemas although they cover the same thematic area. To ensure interoperability of geospatial data, the existing heterogeneous conceptual schemas can be mapped to a common conceptual schema. However, the underlying formalized schema mappings are difficult to create, difficult to re-use and often contain mismatches of abstraction level, of scope difference, domain semantics and value semantics of the mapped entities. We have developed a novel approach to document and communicate such mismatches in the form of a Mismatch Description Language (MDL). This MDL can be transformed into various textual and cartographic representations to support users in communicating and understanding mismatches, and to assess the reusability of a mapping. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.