Common Logical Data Model: Basis for Global ITS Innovation
all-encompassing model that can be mapped
to all implementations.
the key terms related to our data elements.
This includes not only the terms directly
identified in the names of our data elements
(i.e., latitude) but also the other key terms
within its definition. For example, the
definition of “latitude” in SAE J2735 begins,
“The geographic latitude of an object…” In
this case, we need to define “object” as well
as “latitude.” Further, when combined with
information from SAE J2945/1, we discover
that the type of object of interest within the
BSM is a “vehicle.” Thus, we also need to
unambiguously define what a “vehicle” is.
C ONCEPTUAL D ATA M ODEL
Before the logical data model is developed,
the community needs to reach consensus on
a vocabulary for the domain as documented
through a formal structure such as the Web
Ontology Language (OWL). 38 The goal of this
effort is to formalize the definition of terms
and to clearly and unambiguously identify
relationships between terms.
One of the benefits of an OWL ontology is
that it defines terminology in a format that
can be processed by computers and thereby
enable the semantic web. In other words, by
formally defining relationships among
human terminology in this format, computer
systems can more easily process the
semantics contained within written text.
This is one of the enabling technologies that
can enable artificial intelligence through the
use of deep learning.
According to the rules of ISO 704, the formal
definition of each term should be based on a
formal concept model that defines how this
term relates to other terms. This can be
shown using the Object Management
Group’s (OMG’s) Ontology Definition
Metamodel (ODM), a standard that defines
how to describe OWL ontologies using a
profile of UML class diagrams as depicted in
Figure 6. 39
Applying this process to our previous
example, we need to formally define all of
38 OWL 2 Web Ontology Language Document Overview, W3C, 11 December 2012. https://www.w3.org/TR/owl2-overview/
39 Ontology Definition Model, Object Management Group, September 2014. https://www.omg.org/spec/ODM
IIC Journal of Innovation
- 38 -