ter Huurne, R; Olde Scholtenhuis, L and Dorée, A (2022) Engaged ontology development to bridge fragmented digital realities. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
Fragmented knowledge bases in construction are the result of varying views on how to capture and represent knowledge. For asset management of utility infrastructure, knowledge is often either stored implicitly or in heterogeneously structured data models. Consequently, it becomes difficult to connect and implement the different data models coming from numerous individual asset owners. To unify these various knowledge representations of utility infrastructure data, we adopt the computer science concept of the 'ontology'. By using a design science-inspired research approach, we demonstrate the development of an ontology with the intent to cope better with the fragmentation in the utility infrastructure sector. We further demonstrate that the co-development of an ontology with domain professionals may emerge into a shared conceptualisation of the domain. Based on this process, we claim that engaged ontology development can play an important role in bridging the fragmentation between digital realities, in turn making digital modelling concepts such as digital twins more likely to become adopted by the utility construction sector. Future work is required to assess the impact of the ontology once applied on a larger scale.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; digital twin; fragmentation; knowledge representation; ontology; utility infrastructure |
| Index terms: | utility infrastructure, knowledge base, science, fragmentation, owner, asset management, digital-modelling, ontology, data model, construction sector, digital twin |
| Subjects: | digital design, education and knowledge transfer, information systems, industry analysis, asset management, sociology, specialized education, digital engineering, business, construction type, data science |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Education, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here