Life Science Journal, 2013;10(x) http://www.lifesciencesite.com http://www.americanscience.org editor@americanscience.org 2926 Spatial web search with Semantic Web Technology Huda Abdalslam Banour (1), Prof. Iraky Khalifa (1) , Dr. Mohamed Haggag (2) Prof of computer science Department (1). Asoc. prof of computer science Department (2) (1, 2) Faculty of Computers and Information, Helwan University , Cairo, Egypt mmmh13282@yahoo.com, Dr_Iraky@hotmail.com, m-h-haggag@yahoo.com Abstract: Growth in web technology has seen the emergence of the Semantic Web which has been envisioned to provide solutions to users of web resources, especially in the area of data and service discovery. Many GIS (Geographic Information Systems) exist which facilitate sharing of data over the web in distributed environments. However search and retrieval of data and services is difficult due to the vocabulary used in different SDI which lead to semantic heterogeneity problems when only simple keyword-based search is employed [1]. [Huda Abdalslam, Banour, Iraky Hussein Khalifaand, Mohamed Hassan Haggag. Spatial web search with Semantic Web Technology. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):2926-2933]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 356 Key words: GIS, Semantic Web, Ontology, Semantic Annotation, Ontology Visualization. 1. Introduction In early warning information systems, GI (Geographic Information) play a pivotal role in effective planning and decision making. The information is made available by data, maps and satellite images allowing users to discover them, however not much meaning is attached to them. It is left up to the user to make meaning of what is made available on the maps such that they may really never discover the functionality and usage of such information [2]. The search and retrieval of useful spatial data and services remains a challenge to the user community due to the diversity in meaning of data and web services [3]. It is not easy for a user to find the right information with the right functionality for his/her specific purpose [4]. Catalogues exist that provide searchable repositories of information and services but mechanisms to support discovery and retrieval are insufficient [5]. Interoperability of platforms for discovery and accessing data/services have been upheld and supported by the OGC through established protocols and interface specifications thereby offering support for the important task of discovery and retrieval of information that meets the user’s needs. Retrieval methods that are currently in use are typically limited to keyword search or sub- string matching only. The search methods only account for the syntax of the search terms without taking into account the underlying conceptualizations. Using these methods, the information required is poorly defined in the search and results often do not satisfy the user’s needs. As a result users may often miss critical information when searching for spatial data. The search mechanism so far is achieved through static key word matching without full exploration of underlying semantics, such as hierarchical relationships among spatial data entities [6]. When using key word searching, where retrieval is based on syntax matching. More has to be done to allow machines to be able to interpret meaning of terms used thus achieving semantic interoperability. This has resulted in the emergence of the semantic web. The Semantic Web is an extension of the current World Wide Web (www), but it is based on the idea of exchanging information with explicit, formal and machine-accessible descriptions of meaning [7] using such languages as eXitensible Markup Language (XML). In this case, documents and services are provided with well-defined meaning (semantics) and laid down in formal descriptions. Full implementation of the Semantic Web requires ontologies in which widespread availability of semantic annotations for existing and new documents on the Web have been made. Ontologies play a pivotal role in making web content understandable and available for machine processing through the encoding of the meaning of concepts in a particular domain by detailing the relationship between the concepts [8]. Before publishing a resource in the web, it has to be annotated with a descriptive data to make it accessible. Users are able to find the resource using search engines and evaluate if the discovered resource satisfies their current information needs. There is need to move from the conventional methods that leave users questing for better search mechanisms that return results meeting the user’s needs. The user will not need to scan through the results to weed out those that are not relevant. In order to curb the users’ frustrations, semantic web technologies can be explored and their potential