SEMANTICS-2024 Tutorial: Semantic Treehouse as Vocabulary Hub
Semantics in Data Spaces: Semantic Treehouse as Vocabulary Hub
From September 17-19, 2024, SEMANTICS 2024 will be held in Amsterdam. At this conference, we will have the opportunity to present a tutorial on Semantics in Data Spaces. Our session will focus on Semantic Treehouse as a vocabulary hub. This tutorial offers a practical perspective on semantics in data spaces and presents the open challenges in an interactive manner. It includes an introduction to data spaces and the role of a vocabulary hub in data spaces, based on the current knowledge from the Data Spaces Support Centre.
For more information, to register, and to view the planned agenda for the tutorial, please see below or visit the following link: Register here.
Abstract
Data sharing accelerates innovations within and across sectors, leading to the development of new solutions. For a growing number of companies, this turns data into a strategic asset over which they want to maintain control. The European strategy for data aims to create common European data spaces to ensure Europe’s global competitiveness and data sovereignty. Data spaces are distributed systems designed to facilitate secure and trustworthy data exchanges between participants, emphasizing trust and data sovereignty. One of the crucial aspect in making this happen is semantics, which enables consistent and unambiguous data sharing between participants of a data space. Achieving semantic interoperability is a continuous balancing act between maintaining strict uniformity for consistent and easily understandable data, and accommodating the diverse requirements of different data space participants.
This tutorial offers practical insights into shaping semantics within data spaces, with TNO’s Semantic Treehouse as so-called vocabulary hub as an important means. The tutorial highlights the challenges and presents solutions for achieving semantic interoperability in the context of data spaces.
Structure and Duration of the Tutorial
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 20' | Introduction to data spaces |
| 20' | Semantics in data spaces and the role of a Vocabulary Hub |
| 20' | Use case introduction: SETU-based use case, highlighting various perspectives |
| 20' | Demo: overview of Semantic Treehouse as a Vocabulary Hub
|
| 10' | Open challenges: overview of upcoming challenges for the interactive discussion |
| Break | |
| 50' | Interactive session: do it yourself!
|
| 30' | Future challenges:
|
| 10' | Wrap-up |
Importance
Shared data models or semantic standards are relevant means for achieving semantic interoperability in data spaces. These models and standards enable data providers and data consumers to speak the same language when exchanging information. However, just like in the real world, each participant in a data space operates with a different perspective, making the development and governance of these models a standardization process within the data space.
In data spaces, there is technical component that facilitates this standardization process, helping communities agree on, define, and improve these shared semantic standards. According to the IDS RAM 41, such a tool is called a vocabulary hub. This service stores, maintains, and publishes semantic standards while enabling collaborative management of these standards. TNO’s implementation of a vocabulary hub is called Semantic Treehouse. In this tutorial, we show how Semantic Treehouse can be used in creating these models, and how it contributes to achieve semantic interoperability in data spaces.
Audience: expected outcomes and prerequisite knowledge level
We expect participants to have an understanding of the importance and use of semantic models and standards. Knowledge on data spaces is not required. The outcome of this tutorial is for the audience to gain an understanding of data spaces, particularly how semantic models and standards are developed and used within data spaces, to learn about the tools that facilitate semantic interoperability in data spaces and to discuss the open challenges.
Contact information
Jelte Bootsma - jelte.bootsma@tno.nl
Jelte is a consultant in the Data Ecosystems department of TNO. Jelte focuses on data exchange between different technologies and systems. He is involved in several industry standardization initiatives, developing semantic standards for interoperability, especially in the high-tech manufacturing sector. Additionally, his work at the Data Spaces Support Centre involves creating semantic interoperable "data spaces" that allow companies to share data with customers or suppliers while maintaining control over their own data.
Linda Oosterheert - linda.oosterheert@tno.nl
Linda is a consultant in the Data Science department of TNO. Linda develops semantic standards and advises organizations on how to become interoperable. Her specific area of interest is how organizations can further develop and manage their semantic standards, when there is a lot of dynamics and where a combination of expert knowledge and data is required. Typical clients that Linda serves are industry or standardization organizations. She works in various domains, with a focus on the labor market in recent years with projects such as Vaardig met Vaardigheden, Data Space for Skills and SETU.
Cornelis Bouter - cornelis.bouter@tno.nl
Cornelis Bouter is scientist on semantic interoperability in the Dutch applied research organisation TNO. His work focuses on applying semantic technology in a range of domains, such as energy, logistics, agriculture, and health. In particular, he is co-author of SAREF and SAREF4ENER. He gained his BSc and MSc on artificial intelligence from Utrecht University.