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mappings are very complex and thus the unfolding of the virtual approach would give rise to complex queries over the data sources. This comes at the cost of main- taining a potentially very large MKG. For example, RDFox is a powerful system for Materialized Knowledge Graph. RDFox is a high-performance in-memory knowledge graph and semantic reasoner, optimised for speed and efficiency. Designed from the ground up with reasoning in mind, it outperforms other graph databases while also providing benefits and insights that cannot be achieved by alternatives.
The top part of Figure 1 are various kinds of possible user interfaces for accessing the information in the data sources through the VKG. Indeed, Semantic Integration, through an explicit and non-ambiguous representation of the semantics of the data as KGs, promotes:
• interoperability among different scientific data platforms;
• knowledge discovery and data mining practices by exposing a conceptually sound view over a multiplicity of distinct and possibly non-interoperable data sources;
• the enrichment of the information originally present in the data sources, through the application of reasoning techniques that combine domain knowledge and data assertions.
Highlights of 2021
In 2021, the Semantic Integration research program has made significant improvements in the Knowledge Graph reasoning systems Ontop and RDFox in terms of new features and optimisation, and has introduced the Ontopic Studio, a novel designer for creating Virtual Knowledge Graph systems. We have continued our work on reasoning techniques in query answering, KG construction and curation. We have built a SIRIUS OBDA subsurface pilot and have successfully deployed in a few novel use cases, e.g., South Tyrol OpenDataHub, Dow Jones, and Festo. Finally, we have disseminated our work at major events such as KGC 2021 and SWAT4HCLS 2022.
Dag Hovland
Guohui Xiao
Team
Semantic Integration research program collaborates with the Oxford University and two SMEs Oxford Semantic Technologies and Ontopic. At Oxford University, the Knowledge Representation and Reasoning Group conducts research in knowledge representation formalisms, ontology languages, the design, implementation and optimisation of reasoning systems, and applications in areas such as e-Science and the Semantic Web. Oxford Semantic Technologies (OST)
is an early-stage spin-out from the University of Oxford backed by leading investors including Samsung Ventures and Oxford Science Enterprises. OST enables leading organisations to turn their data into knowledge through our graph database and reasoning engine, RDFox. ONTOPIC s.r.l. is a young innovative SME, which was founded in April 2019, as the first spin-off of the Free University of Bozen- Bolzano. Ontopic provides consultancy services and develops software solutions for data and information integration. The key expertise of Ontopic is techniques and technologies for data access, management, and integration based on Virtual Knowledge Graphs (VKGs).
Team members (from SIRIUS)
Guohui Xiao
Dag Hovland Stefano Germano
SIRIUS ANNUAL REPORT 2021
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