Semantic Web: Implications for Modeling and Simulation System Interoperability

One of the newest initiatives in the evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) is the specification of standards and technologies to create the Semantic Web. Whereas most of today’s WWW is targeted primarily at human readers, the Semantic Web will support human readers while providing enriched data descriptions to enable software agents to perform automated reasoning, creating a Web of knowledge. In the Modeling and Simulation (M&S) domain, these emerging technologies offer opportunities to dramatically improve composability of functional capabilities and interoperability of systems, including interoperability between M&S and operational C4I systems. In parallel with ongoing WWW developments, the M&S community in recent years has initiated efforts to determine how the enormous investment in Internet and Web technologies can be exploited for military M&S purposes. The Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF) project is providing the technical basis for transformational interoperability via Extensible Markup Language (XML) data and messaging interchange, profiles, and recommended practices for Web-based M&S. Broad technical interoperability is enabled by open standards, XML-based markup languages, Internet technologies, and cross-platform Web services supporting diverse distributed modeling and simulation applications. A Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) XMSF Profiles Study Group is actively defining formal technical specifications for application of interoperable Web-based technologies enabling composable and reusable M&S elements, and facilitating enterprise integration. Profiles are expected to consist of applicable Web technologies and protocol standards, applicable data and metadata standards, standard and reusable ontologies, and recommendations and guidelines for implementation. This paper provides an introduction to primary aspects of the Semantic Web and discusses application of emerging Semantic Web concepts, tools, and standards to current and future M&S initiatives, including efforts of the SISO XMSF Profiles Study Group.