Ontology Based Data Integration with ISO 15926

In the domain of Computer-Aided Process Engineering (CAPE), several approaches exist for the exchange and integration of plant data from different software tools. In the past, we have realized a prototype for data integration based on OntoCAPE [4], a formal heavyweight ontology for the CAPE domain. However, OntoCAPE was never intended as a means to exchange detailed plant data between tools. The international standard ISO 15926[1] addresses such data exchange in a flexible way. In this presentation, we give first results of a current project in which our proven integration approach is applied to ISO 15926.

In the past, several software applications have been developed by our group to demonstrate OntoCAPE’s potential and wide range of use [6]. In particular, a software prototype for the integration and reconciliation of – potentially inconsistent – data from distributed CAPE tools has been created in cooperation with partners from the chemical and software industries. To integrate a certain CAPE tool with the prototype, it must support a common data format, either directly or by means of a converter. However, this proprietary exchange format – an XML schema [2] – is tailored to the requirements of the industrial partner involved.

A current project in cooperation with BASF SE, Bayer Technology Services GmbH, and Evonik Industries AG focuses on data exchange with the international standard ISO 15926. Several software vendors are expected to support data import and export in their tools in a foreseeable future, which will hopefully solve the data exchange problem in an acceptable way. However, data integration is still an open issue. Thus, we examine the adaptation of our approach for data integration to the more widespread ISO 15926 instead of the restricted XML schema as before. From an application-oriented point of view, this would allow to integrate data from arbitrary tools that support ISO 15926.

In contrast to an XML schema, ISO 15926 allows for semantic annotations which can be exploited for data integration. However, the semantic community [5] has reported on several deficiencies of the underlying ontology of ISO 15926. We examine in how far concepts from OntoCAPE can be integrated with ISO 15926 in order to simplify data integration. Our approach will be evaluated and compared with other integration approaches [3]. In the presentation, also a practical example for data integration between different tools is given. References

[1]    ISO 15926-1, 2004. Industrial automation systems and integration – Integration of life-cycle data for process plants including oil and gas production facilities – Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles.

[2]    F. Anhäuser, H. Richert, and H. Temmen. PlantXML – integrierter Planungsprozess mit flexiblen Bausteinen. Automatisierungstechnische Praxis, 46(10):62–72, 2004.

[3]    B. Bayer, R. Schneider, and W. Marquardt. Integration of data models for process design–first steps and experiences. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 24(2-7):599–605, 2000.

[4]    W. Marquardt, J. Morbach, A. Wiesner, and A. Yang. OntoCAPE: a re-usable ontology for chemical process engineering. Springer Verlag, 2010.

[5]    B. Smith. Against idiosyncrasy in ontology development. In Proceeding of the 2006 conference on Formal Ontology in Information Systems: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference (FOIS 2006), pages 15–26. IOS Press, 2006.

[6]    A. Wiesner, M. Wiedau, J. Morbach, W. Marquardt, H. Temmen, and J. Redmer. Ontology-based integration and management of distributed design data. In WCCE8, Montreal, Canada, August 23-27, 2009.