EMU FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course Code:             CmpE 583

Course Title:              Web Semantics: Theory and Practice

Course Credit:           (3,0) 3

Semester:                   2007-2008 Fall Semester

Instructor:                  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atilla ELÇİ

Office no:        CmpE Building 208 (please check office hours)

Office Tel:      630 2843

Skype ID:       atillaelci

E-mail:            Atilla.Elci at EMU.edu.tr

Website:         http://cmpe.emu.edu.tr/aelci/

Course Mailing List: Cmpe583Fall2007@yahoogroups.com
Course Group Site:    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cmpe583Fall2007

OBJECTIVE

    Implementation of integrated e-systems such as e-government requires existence of resource descriptions networked globally at least in the area of interest. Such network of descriptions, which may be termed as 'ontology', alleviates resource description in a way recoverable by automated agents. In turn, Web content may be developed with reference to standards and an identified set of ontology. Such content would then take part in defining as precisely as possible semantics of Web content. Starting with XML, current research in this new area of study is focused on resource description framework (RDF) and ontology languages which are being standardized mainly through intense international effort in W3 Consortium. The area of study has become immensely important in enterprise information systems, Web-based application, media and publication in general. Graduates of our programs would like introduced to recent standards, practices, research, and developments in this fast evolving field.
    This course will essentially dwell on Web resource description schemes. It will cover URI scheme; XML and processing; resource description framework (RDF): model, syntax, schema and languages; ontology concept, Web-based ontologies, integration and interoperability, semantics and abstract syntax of OWL, DAML; and introduction to rule systems. These make up bulk of the Semantic Web Stack. Also surveyed are the current applications of these concepts in Web services and other semantic web-based systems; best practice case studies; W3 Consortium, current activities and future directions.

    This course will recap current state of activity in web semantics by various international research and standardization bodies: standards, processing and development in URI, XML, RDF, OWL and DAML, RSS, semantic grid and agents. Main objective is to establish a solid base for breaking into research areas in the field.

    Participant of the course will be required to carry out practical work in terms of assignments and a small project.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Outline

Week

Topics

Reference+

1

Course introduction; survey of interest area
 Semantic Web: terminology, parties, history; Components.

Intro, Terminology

2

Semantic Web: principles and practice. URI naming; XML technologies.

Principles

3

XML processing (self study module)

XML

4

RDF: model, syntax, semantics

RDF Intro

5

RDF: Vocabulary Description Language

RDF Schema

6

RDF: data access: query language; standards and case studies

RDF Cases

7

Web ontology: OWL intro; Web-based ontologies;

 Web Ontology

8

Integration and interoperability; OWL & DAML

 Integration

9

OWL: syntax and semantics, flavors

OWL

10

OWL practice

Presentation

11

Rules and rule markup

RuleML

12

Web services; Web syndication: RSS and Atom/Echo

WS

13

Semantic Web: best-practice case studies
Student case study presentation

Practices

14

Innovative applications; future directions
 Student case study presentation

Future

Bonus

Semantic grid and agents
 Student case study presentation

SGrid

Bonus

Presentation of thesis by graduating MSc./PhD. students.

tba
 

Tentative. Expect changes.

 + 

 

TEXTBOOK / REFERENCES

Following is the textbook. It's not available at the EMU Bookstore:

* Liyang Yu: Introduction to the Semantic Web and Semantic Web Services, Chapman & Hall/CRC (Taylor & Francis Group) 2007, 341 pp, ISBN: 978-1-58488-933-5.

 Example codes are available at the Author's Site.

 Deniz Plaza has offered 55 YTL for collective ordering; tell me ASAP if you'd like to order. You may also order through online bookstores individually:  Publisher's Book Web Site, and at Amazon ($65 + shipment).

 

Similar content is also covered by the following book which were used as text in the previous offerings of this course:

* Lee W. Lacy: OWL: Representing Information Using the Web Ontology Language, Trafford Publishing, 300 pages (paperback); ISBN 1-4120-3448-5; US$39.95. Order online at the Publisher's Book Website and at Amazon USA / www.amazon.co.uk.

* Similar content is also covered by the following but targeting SWS development:

H. Peter Alesso and Craig F. Smith: Developing Semantic Web Services, A K Peters, 2005. ISBN: 1-56881-212-4.

 

A recent book on research in semantic web is the following excellent but very expensive one:

* John Davies (Editor), Rudi Studer (Editor), Paul Warren (Editor): Semantic Web Technologies: Trends and Research in Ontology-based Systems, John Wiley & Sons (July 11, 2006). ISBN: 0470025964 (Hardcover). Book website at Wiley and at Amazon.

I advise those who are seriously involved in the field to get their copy soonest.

 

Online and electronic references are also amply available:

Reference Books

Following will be recommended as supplementary material.

Author(s)

Title

Publ. Year

ISBN

Website, various

World Wide Web Consortium (www.w3.org)

(to be expanded)

2004

-

Journal, various

Web Semantics: Science, Services and Agents on the World Wide Web, by Elsevier B.V.:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15708268

(to be expanded)

2004

ISSN: 1570-8268

Proceedings
(These conferences are repeated yearly. Check to obtain the proceedings of the most recent ones as well.)

Various volumes in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS). The following are available in the EMU Library):

- 2870 / 2003: Semantic Web
    (Eds: Fensel, D., Sycara, K., Mylopoulos, J.)

- 2876 / 2003: Rules & Rule Markup
    (Eds.: Schroeder, M., Wagner, G.)

- 2901 / 2003: Principles and Practice
    (Eds.: Bry, F., Henze, N., Maluszynski, J.)

 

2003

 

2003

 

2003

 

 

3-540-20362-1

 

3-540-20361-3

 

3-540-20582-9

 

 

Many related books are available also as e-book in the ACM Books; access is free to ACM student members. ACM membership is $18/year for EMU students. Check the note on ACM membership. There are many free-to-members ACM e-Books and ACM e-Courses on Semantic Web, Web/Internet programming and others. Check TOP TEN courses of the last month. The books by Daconta et al and Fensel et al cover the most of the subject matter of this course.

Similarly, you may have access to relevant e-books sources such as EBRARY & SAFARI through EMU Library online databases.

You can try Wikibooks or Google Books, too, for free e-books on the subject.

 

Search /books/ tab at www.amazon.com for "semantic Web" and you'll see many; the three books by Daconta et al, Tim Berners-Lee et al (new edition of Fensel et al), and Bhavani Thuraisingham et al are available in ACM Books.

 

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AIDS

Subject specific presentations are included with each chapter where appropriate. Others of general nature will be referenced on this page.

 

CASE STUDY

Each student will carry out a case study of a semantic Web application, report and present it. The TOR is here: Guide; keep checking for updates. A Semantic Web Day Open House (25 Jan. 2008) is scheduled for Case Study Presentations.

Projects and their presentation for previous year are accessable; please refer to Semantic Web Day Open House events site. Previous offering of this course may include additional material for your info.

Refs on development of semantic web application software may be useful for your selection of a suitable platform.

 

EXAMINATION AND GRADING

Grading Policy

Assessment tools and their percentages that may give an idea about their relative importance to the end-of-semester grade.

Assessment Tool

Quantity

Percentage

Assessment Tool

Quantity

Percentage

Assessment Tool

Quantity

Percentage

Homework

4-5

not graded

Project (see Case Study)

 

 

Oral Presentation

1

part of case study

Quiz

5-7

not graded

Case Study

1

20

Final Exam

1

40

Midterm Exam

2

40

Lab/Studio Work

-

-

Attendance

-

 5 points Bonus

Term Paper

1

part of case study

Class Participation

-

-

 

 

 

Sample exams may be obtained through previous offering of this course.

MT#1: Solutions

MT#2: TOR

Final: TOR

Grades

IMPORTANT NOTES

Office Hours:             14:40 – 15:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Attendance:                Required.

Missing Exams:         Students missing an exam should provide a substantiated excuse within three days.

                                    One make-up exam may be administered at the end of the semester following the final exam period.

IMPORTANT LINKS

GENERAL LINKS

MAILING LISTS

CONFERENCE LINKS

SIMILAR COURSES

BOOKS

MAGAZINES & JOURNALS

Please report any broken link.

Atilla Elçi

Last update: Jan. 23, 2008.