The Basic Formal Ontology as a Reference Framework for Modeling the Evolution of Administrative Units

Abstract

In information systems, ontologies promise advantages such as enhanced interoperability, knowledge sharing, and integration of data sources. In this article, we show that the upper ontology Basic Formal Ontology can facilitate the modeling of an evolution of administrative units. This is demonstrated by creating a spatiotemporal ontology for the administrative units of Switzerland. The ontology tackles the problem that the geometric data is typically captured by taking snapshots at regular intervals while the thematic data is continually updated. The ontology presented merges time‐stamped geometries with a formally described history of administrative units, allowing for complex spatiotemporal queries neither standard approach would support. The resulting populated knowledge base was evaluated against a set of spatiotemporal test queries. The evaluation showed that this knowledge base supports a wide range of queries on the evolution of the administrative units of Switzerland between 1960 and 2010.

Evaluating Topological Queries in Linked Data Using DBpedia and GeoNames in Switzerland and Scotland

“…Administrative divisions are not as stable as perhaps might be assumed (Gantner et al ). The Historicized Municipality Register records a total of 3,409 changes to municipalities in Switzerland between 1960 and 2013 – including changes that did not affect borders such as a change of name (http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html).…”

Discovering Order in Chaos: Using a Heuristic Ontology to Derive Spatio-Temporal Sequences for Cadastral Data

“…For example, example, Gantner (2011) and Gantner et al (2013) define a spatiotemporal ontology for administrative units and Hyvönen et al (2011) for historical places. There has also been work on methods for the design of spatiotemporal ontologies (although the focus is often on spatial rather than temporal aspects, or the combination of the two) (e.g., Marceau et al, 2001;Kavouras, 2003;Bennacer et al, 2004;Carstensen, 2007).…”

Population patterns in World’s administrative units

“…These examples also illustrate the fact that territorial organization within countries undergoes constant evolution. Even in the absence of large administrative and political reforms, administrative units are constantly being created, destroyed, merged or split [ 4 ]. The high degree of diversity and complexity of the internal territorial administration of countries and territories worldwide relies partly on the population distribution over them [ 5 ].…”