call for papers, previous message From: alberts@cs.utwente.nl (Mert Alberts) Subject: CFP: AID94 Workshop: Semantic Basis for Sharing of Knowledge and Data in Design Date: 22 Mar 1994 12:44:39 -0600 WORKSHOP ON SEMANTIC BASIS FOR SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE AND DATA IN DESIGN **************************************** to be held prior to the THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DESIGN Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland 15-18 August 1994 ======================================================================= Summary -------- Design processes in general involve multiple participants from several disciplines and with different goals. As a consequence, a large number of different views on the required design product can be distinguished. Apart from syntactical differences due to the particular representational schemes employed for describing the design product, each of these views will bring along its own interpretation of the design object at hand. The problem of combining different representations, in terms of syntax and computational semantics, has already been extensively investigated in the domain of software engineering. Typical examples of established software engineering techniques for this purpose are parsing, filtering, and compiling. Less emphasis has been put on coping with different meanings or possible interpretations of the information (data and knowledge) represented. This distinction can be summarised as that between the computational aspects of information and the description of the concepts that this information refers to, respectively. Within AI, there seems to be a growing awareness of the importance of dealing with differences in the conceptual bases underlying the representation of information. For instance, several research groups are currently working on the development of so-called sharable ontologies: taxonomies of concepts, the `meaning' of which the users of the information have agreed upon. Most people seem to agree that communication about a problem requires some form of understanding of each others conceptualisation of that problem. However, there seems to be less agreement concerning the means for establishing this understanding. ======================================================================= Goals and Scope of the Workshop ------------------------------- In the workshop, we would like to inventory existing ontologies and conceptual models for design in the context of sharability. Typical questions would be: what are important sources for a shared conceptual basis (e.g. design standards, social conventions, and legacy systems), and: how do we guarantee that conceptualisations can be shared between different design agents. The goal of the workshop is to improve the semantic basis required for the development of software systems that allow for communication and sharing among engineering knowledge and data bases used by different members of a design team. Expected outcomes include an inventory of existing approaches to and recommendations for obtaining such a semantic basis. ======================================================================= Workshop Format --------------- The workshop will run over half a day prior to the main AI in Design conference. Accepted papers will be distributed prior to the workshop with a set of discussion topics. A selection will be made among the accepted papers, the authors of which will be asked to present a (very) concise summary of their views, concentrating on the discussion topics. These presentations are intended as ``stepping stones'' for extensive discussion, rather than at given a detailed account of the specific approach taken. ======================================================================= Guidelines for Submissions -------------------------- Research-summary or position papers (in ascii or postscript, 8 pages max.) should be submitted by email to Mert Alberts, alberts@cs.utwente.nl, no later than the 2nd June 1994. Submitted papers must clearly state the suggested approach to the problem of interfacing different conceptual models of a design product, and focus around one of the following topics: - conceptual models of design - ontologies for design knowledge - combining different ontologies - multiple views on design products - sharable representations of design objects and design knowledge ======================================================================= Number of Participants ---------------------- There will be 20-25 participants. Admission, as determined by a selected panel, will be based upon the expediency of the submitted position papers and limited to attendees of the AI in Design conference. Each participant will be charged a fee of SFr 75 to cover costs of workshop notes, administration and refreshments. ======================================================================= Organisation -------------------- Organising Committee: Mert Alberts University of Twente The Netherlands e-mail: alberts@cs.utwente.nl Tom Gruber Stanford University USA e-mail: Gruber@KSL.Stanford.edu Mary-Lou Maher University of Sydney Australia e-mail: mary@archsci.arch.su.EDU.AU International Advisory Committee: Bernd Bachmann, DFKI, Germany James Bowen, National University at Cork, Ireland Cherif Branki, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK Susan Finger, Carnegy Mellon University, USA Mike Rosenman, University of Sydney, Australia Duvvuru Sriram, MIT, USA Chris Tong, Rutgers University, USA Nel Wognum, University of Twente, The Netherlands -- L.K. Alberts Tel: +31 53 89 4291 University of Twente Department of Computer Science Fax: +31 53 339605 P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands E-mail: alberts@cs.utwente.nl