(59ai) A Comprehensive Decision Making and Networking Facility for the Biorefining Community

The Biorefining is a dynamic field with ever growing number of computer models developed, heterogeneous data acquired and generally new knowledge generated in large volumes, all to serve functions at different scales and for different purposes [1]. Sharing and reusing of these resources, especially models and data, inherently saves developing time and supports solving ever more complex problems and addressing ever more complex functions [2]. This, in turn, necessitates efficient networking tool to allow for publishing, discovery, but also inferring new knowledge and integration of resources, dominantly datasets and computer models [4].

This paper introduces a semantic networking facility developed to enable an efficient reuse and sharing of knowledge and resources in the domain of biorefining. Built around model and data integration platform, this networking facility expands to allow for knowledge and other resources in the domain of biorefining to be accessible by humans, but also by agents and services. Interactive on- and off-line forms are also enabled. Hence, the whole facility is organized as a collaborative semantic platform, aiming to facilitate collaboration and to bring biorefining community together by sharing knowledge and resources. The operation of the proposed facility is fully coordinated by a biorefining domain ontology [3], but also by Semantic Media Wiki extension (Figure 1) [5].

The biorefining community tools, named as RENESENG tools, include model and data integration, supply chain support, as well as biorefining conversion technology and feedstock classification and characterization tools. For this, separate repositories are introduced containing semantically annotated biorefining models and datasets, supply chain elements, conversion technologies and biodegradable feedstocks. The biorefining ontology, the InterCAPE ontology (Figure 2), and purposely developed semantic matching engine are the core of the RENESENG tool enabling i) review of available conversion technologies, ii) review of biodegradable feedstocks including residues and wastes, iii) formation of complex biorefining models, and iv) formation supply chains. The semantic annotation also allows for the use of well-established Web Ontology Language Semantic Mark-Up for Services (OWL-S) framework for matching and hence an intelligent recovery of reposited knowledge in the domain of biorefining.

Wiki collection Wikipedia is powered by an open software Media Wiki engine with Semantic Media Wiki (SMW) extension which enables a semantic annotation with explicit, machine-readable information, based on which the wiki contents can be browsed, searched, and reused. Annotation of pages in SMW is realized using properties and types. Properties are used to express binary relationships between one semantic entity (as represented by a wiki page) and some other such entity or data value (reference). A semantic wiki is then set up and integrated with both the InterCAPE ontology and semantic networking facility where experts of the domain can use this dedicated online space to publish the output of their work in the form of scientific articles, case studies or other forms, participate in discussions and contribute in or benefit from the advancement of the biorefining field.

The operation of this collaborative facility has been verified by more than 100 academic and industrial participants in addition to numerous tests of repositories containing more than 12000 feedstock, conversion technology, biorefining models and datasets.

References

[1] Bussemaker, M., et al., Ontology Modelling for Lignocellulosic Biomass: Composition and Conversion. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering: 28th European Symposium on Computer A, 2018.

[2] Koo, L., N. Trokanas, and F. Cecelja, A semantic framework for enabling model integration for biorefining. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2017. 100: p. 219-231.

[3] Raafat, T., et al., An Ontological Approach Towards Enabling Processing Technologies Participation in Industrial Symbiosis. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2013. 59(1): p. 33-46.

[4] Cecelja, F., et al., Integration of CAPE Models and Data for the Domain of Biorefining: InterCAPEmodel Ontology Design. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 2019. - accepted for publication.

[5] Trokanas, N., F. Cecelja, and T. Raafat, Semantic Input/Output Matching for Waste Processing in Industrial Symbiosis. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2014. 66(1): p. 259 - 268.

[6] Trokanas, N., F. Cecelja, and T. Raafat, Semantic Approach for Pre-assessment of Environmental Indicators in Industrial Symbiosis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015. 96(1): p. 349-361.