Computer Science (COMP) 492

Overview

Computer Science 492 focuses on XML (Extensible Markup Language), XML metadata models with RDF (Resource Description Framework), web ontology language (OWL), and their applications in the semantic web, in short, data models and semantic web. RDF is a structure for describing and interchanging metadata on the web. Facing fast increasing amount of information available in electronic formats, people need ways of dealing with and managing the volume of data stored and exchanged. Using metadata can help this. XML’s extensibility and interoperability make it an ideal format for metadata that is part of a scheme of sharing data between multiple sources. Further, ontology languages allow users to write explicit, formal conceptualizations of domain models that extend representation of RDF Schema. As concept and implementation of semantic web and web services move closer to industry from academic research area, having knowledge of XML, metadata, web ontology, and their programming with mainstream languages, such as Java, will be a huge advantage. XML, XML metadata, and web ontology are going to play their essential roles in the emergent web-based cooperative information management, information retrieval, knowledge management, and related web service technologies. The course assumes that students are already familiar with Java programming (at least introduction level), data structure, and/or the concept of database management systems. The course emphasizes learning by doing based on available development environment and concrete application requirement specification. This course can be used as an elective course for students in the B.Sc. (Computer Information Systems), BA (Information Systems) and B.Sc. (Computer Information Systems-Post Diploma).

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• understand the concept structure of the semantic web technology and how this technology revolutionizes the World Wide Web and its uses.
• analyze and describe structured web document in XML and XML-based syntax.
• understand the concepts of metadata, semantics of knowledge and resource, and ontology.
• use resource description framework (RDF), RDF schema, and web ontology language (OWL).
• create and analyze the semantic models for web resources, knowledge, application and data models with ontologies based on RDF, RDF schema, and OWL.
• describe predicate logic semantics and inference with OWL.
• understand and apply the concept of ontology engineering.
• analyze applications to which semantic web and ontology can be applied.
• understand Java API of the semantic web platform.
• program semantic web applications with Java API.
• implement inference engines and expert systems.
• process natural language using DCG.
• describe some techniques of machine learning.

Outline

Unit 1: Basic Concepts of XML Documents

Unit 1 introduces XML syntax, validity, and stylesheets.

Unit 2: Writing/Reading XML with Java

Unit 2 provides insight into concepts of writing XML with Java, parsing XML SAX, XMLReader interface, and SAX filters.

Unit 3: Advanced JDOM

Unit 3 focuses on DOM, DOM tree, DOM parsers, JDOM, and the JDOM model with Java.

Unit 4: XML Meta Data and RDF Model

Unit 4 covers meta data and RDF model, RDF syntax, reification, containers, and collections.

Unit 5: RDF/XML Schema and Vocabulary

Unit 5 focuses on RDF schema, creating RDF vocabulary, and tool for editing RDF schema.

Unit 6: RDF with Java

Unit 6 introduces an Java RDF API and provides insight into programming on the RDF models and querying RDF/RDQL.

Unit 7: Web Ontology and Semantic Web

Unit 7 focuses on ontology and web ontology language (OWL), and uses all learned about XML, RDF, and OWL to present approaches to build ontologies with tools. The unit provides insight into Java API for ontology and introduces ontology reasoners.

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMP 492, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent), with average grade of at least 50 percent on all assignments and a grade at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

TME 1	TME 2	TME 3	Final Exam	Total
20%	20%	20%	40%	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.