Several required OWL features for indigenous knowledge management systems

Abstract

This paper describes the features required of OWL (Web Ontology Language) to realise and enhance Indigenous Knowledge (IK) digital repositories. Several needs for Indigenous Knowledge management systems (IKMSs) are articulated, based on extensive stakeholder input, and analysed on the suitability of semantic web technologies in addressing them. Based on their potential for impact and maturity, several possible applications are recommended for further investigation and inclusion into current or new IKMSs, including: ontology based querying and browsing; a natural language independent ontology for multilingual data access; support for collaborative knowledge generation; and the formalisation of IK for scientific discovery. For each of these possible applications, the required OWL features are discussed, which include representation of vagueness, mereotopology, modularisation, and extended support for internationalisation and annotation.