Analyzing and Comparing Ontologies with Meta-Models

Abstract

High-level ontologies provide a model of reality and are of increasing popularity for the evaluation of modeling methods. Most of the common modeling methods have been studied using ontologies such as the BWW representation model and Chisholm’s ontology. However, at this stage only limited guidance is provided for the selection and evaluation of the appropriate ontology. The aim of this chapter is to propose meta-models for analyzing, comparing, and engineering ontologies. It discusses a methodology using extracts of meta-models for two well-known ontologies that had been used previously in Systems Analysis and Design research. The approach provides a theoretical analysis technique for evaluating these ontologies according to their equivalence, depth of structure, and comprehensiveness of scope.