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Text Mining-based Ontology Extraction Process

This initiative developed an innovative Toolkit for Agent-based Knowledge Extraction (TAKE™). The TAKE™ technology applies a hybrid approach that combines ontology engineering methods with cutting-edge knowledge discovery techniques to extract, analyze, and map ontologies from distributed and disparate knowledge and data sources. These maps can then be used for the analysis and redesign of complex, multi-agent systems.

The TAKE™ technology provides innovative solutions that address the problems associated with rapidly designing, developing, and deploying large scale knowledge based applications. KBSI's overall approach in the initiative conceptualized and validated a framework and a methodology for sustainable knowledge management that encompasses the entire knowledge life cycle: capture/discovery, representation, analysis, validation, storage, retrieval, (in-context) delivery, and evolution over extended periods of time.

In the early phase of the initiative, KBSI established a novel TAKE™ ontology reuse and application method, designed innovative ontology analysis and ontology extraction algorithms, and designed the TAKE™ architecture. These innovations include the novel application of information fusion techniques for aggregated ontology similarity assessment and mapping the application of advanced knowledge discovery techniques for automated ontology extraction and mapping from multi-source text data. A demonstration of a prototype TAKE™ software tool was also demonstrated on a focused, high payoff Navy transition application scenario.

Phase II Development

In Phase II, KBSI expanded the ontology reuse and application methods and enhanced the TAKE™ architecture. The initiative established technology that enables the rapid and cost effective analysis, redesign, integration and/or re-engineering of complex systems. In meeting these objectives, the initiative developed novel algorithms for multiple ontology similarity analyses and mapping that use topology, terminology, and semantic overlap comparison techniques. In addition, the technology applies innovative information fusion techniques for aggregated ontology similarity assessment and mapping and advanced knowledge discovery techniques for automated ontology extraction and mapping from multi-source text data.

The principal benefit of the Phase II initiative was the TAKE™ technology's support for the rapid and cost effective analysis, redesign, integration and/or re-engineering of complex systems.  The TAKE™ initiative realized a robust, theoretically well founded method that allows for effective and rapid reuse and application of ontology knowledge along with significant reductions in the time and effort needed for extracting knowledge from distributed data and knowledge sources. The technology provides for the cost effective, dynamic maintenance and evolution of ontology knowledge bases through the exploitation of information contained in emerging text data sources, significantly reducing the life cycle costs of large, complex, multi-agency systems. The TAKE™ technology provides the ability to explore a significantly larger number of system design alternatives at constant cost and time.

The final results of the initiative included innovative methods for TAKE™ ontology similarity analysis and knowledge extraction and a robust TAKE™ architecture. This architecture is both scalable and re-configurable, enabling rapid and cost effective knowledge based systems analysis, redesign, and re-engineering.

Phase III Development

The TAKE™ technology facilitates the rapid and affordable reengineering of large, complex software systems and applications.  TAKE™ provides a framework and a methodology for sustainable knowledge management that encompasses the entire knowledge life cycle: capture/discovery, representation, analysis, validation, storage, retrieval, (in-context) delivery, and evolution over extended periods of time. 

As part of the TAKE™ initiative, KBSI is providing enabling methods and tools for support of Navy shipyard production planning activities.  A second key transition opportunity is providing enabling methods and tools for affordable deployment of the Navy Common Parts Catalog (CPC). In Phase III of the initiative, KBSI is providing the requirements definition, design, research, advanced development, modeling, test, and training/mentoring for, ultimately, integrating the TAKE™ technology in Navy shipyards. The scope of this effort includes demonstrating the application of TAKE™ ontology-based technology capabilities to shipbuilding production planning challenges and the migration of the shipyard part catalog in accordance with Navy standards. 

KBSI is first establishing the TAKE™ technology enhancement requirements for the application of TAKE™ semantic mapping to producing an initial shipbuilding production process and plan description lexicon and meta-ontology, to the development of modeling and semantic mapping methods, and to address the shipyard CPC legacy part migration. These requirements will be validated at Tier 1 and Tier 2 shipyards and ship design software vendors who support interfaces to the Tier 2 CPC system. The next step will be to research method and algorithm extensions to support the defined requirements, and then design and develop the TAKE™ architecture, algorithms, methods, and user interface enhancements in collaboration with the Tier 1 and Tier 2 community-of-interest. The phase will conclude with a demonstration of the enhanced TAKE™ technology in representative Tier 1 and Tier 2 shipyards.

The enhancements developed in Phase III of this initiative will demonstrate how TAKE™ technology can be leveraged to help the U.S. shipbuilding enterprise better achieve its goals of decreasing costs and increasing productivity.