Engineering Conceptual Data Models from Domain Ontologies: A Critical Evaluation

Abstract

This article studies the differences and similarities between domain ontologies and conceptual data models and the role that ontologies can play in establishing conceptual data models during the process of developing information systems. A mapping algorithm has been proposed and embedded in a special purpose transformation engine to generate a conceptual data model from a given domain ontology. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been adopted to critically evaluate this new approach. In addition, this article focuses on evaluating the quality of the generated conceptual data model elements using Bunge-Wand-Weber and OntoClean ontologies. The results of this evaluation indicate that the generated conceptual data model provides a high degree of accuracy in identifying the substantial domain entities, along with their relationships being derived from the consensual semantics of domain knowledge. The results are encouraging and support the potential role that this approach can take part in the process of information system development.