OntoMODEL: Ontological Mathematical Modeling Knowledge Management

In this paper we describe OntoMODEL, an ontological mathematical model management tool that facilitates systematic, standardizable methods for model storage, use and solving. While the declarative knowledge in mathematical models has been captured using ontologies, the procedural knowledge required for solving these models has been handled by commercially available scientific computing software such as Mathematica and an execution engine written in Java. The interactions involved are well established and the approach is intuitive, therefore not requiring model user familiarity with any particular programming language or modeling software. Apart from this key benefit, the fact that OntoMODEL lends itself to more advanced applications such as model based fault diagnosis, model predictive control, process optimization, knowledge based decision making and process flowsheet simulation makes it an indispensable tool in the intelligent automation of process operations. This paper also discusses the shortcomings of existing approaches that OntoMODEL addresses and also details its framework and use.