Semantic models for the geological mapping process

The geologic mapping process requires the organization of data according to the general knowledge about the objects in the map, namely the geologic units, and to the objectives of a graphic representation of such objects in a map, following some established model of geotectonic evolution. Semantics can greatly help such a process in providing a terminological base to name and classify the objects of the map and supporting the application of reasoning mechanisms for the derivation of novel properties and relations about the objects of the map. The OntoGeonous initiative has built a terminological base of geological knowledge in a machine-readable format, following the Semantic Web tenets and the Linked Data paradigm, with the construction of an appropriate data base schema that can be then filled with the objects of the map. The paper will present the conceptual model of the geologic system and how the elements of the cartographic database are classified from general definitions. Also, the paper addresses the setup of web-based services that respond to queries concerning the properties of the map elements that are not explicitly asserted in the underlying data base, but are inferred through a reasoning process.