Model Management (Dr. C. Quix)

Model management aims at developing technologies and mechanisms to support the integration, merging, evolution, and matching of complex data models. This support is required for the management of complex, integrated, distributed, heterogeneous information systems. Basic concepts in model management are models, mappings and operators. Models (e.g. an XML Schema, a schema of a relational database, or an ontology in OWL) describe the structure of data. Mappings represent relationships between elements from different models. Operators are operations on models and mappings (e.g. merging & matching of models, composition of mapping).

The management of metadata is of particular importance for model management. Metadata is data about data and is becoming more and more important as distributed and heterogeneous information systems need to be integrated. Using a metadata-based approach in the design and implementation of an integrated information system increases the flexibility and adaptability of the system, as information about the structure of data models and their dependencies are not hidden in the source code of the system. Instead, this information is captured in semantically rich metadata models, which enable the (re)use of the information in various contexts. Furthermore, a semantically rich representation of data models supports the definition of model management operators.

The following topics are addressed in more detailed in this research group:

	Meta Database Systems: The ConceptBase system is a deductive, object-oriented meta database system. It is based on the conceptual modelling language O-Telos. The system is available free-of-charge for non-commercial purposes.
	Formal Representation of Models and Mappings
	Schema Matching
	Quality-oriented Data Integration
	Semantic Web

Software

Meta Database System ConceptBase

We are currently developing GeRoMeSuite, an application for the management of complex models that will be able to match, transform, and merge models of different models. It is based on the Generic Role Based Metamodel GeRoMe and consists of library to represent models in a generic way,  a set of atomic model management operators, and a framework to compose these atomic operators to more complex operators.

Further Information

Further Information can be found on the homepage of the working group Model Management.

Publications

• C. Quix, D. Kensche, X. Li:
  GeRoMeSuite: Ein System für generisches Model Management
  Datenbank-Spektrum, Nr. 24, pp. 4-11, dpunkt.verlag, 2008
  Abstract & BibTeX 
• P. Kranen, D. Kensche, S. Kim, N. Zimmermann, E. Müller, C. Quix, X. Li, T. Gries, T. Seidl, M. Jarke, S. Leonhardt:
  Mobile Mining and Information Management in HealthNet Scenarios
  In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Mobile Data Management (MDM 2008), Beijing, China, IEEE Computer Society, pp. 215-216, 2008
  Abstract & BibTeX  PDF file 
• D. Kensche, C. Quix, M.A. Chatti, M. Jarke:
  GeRoMe: A Generic Role Based Metamodel for Model Management
  Journal on Data Semantics, Vol. VIII, LNCS 4380, pp. 82-117, Springer-Verlag, 2007
  Abstract & BibTeX  PDF file 
  Annotation: Extended and revised version of this paper. 
• D. Kensche, C. Quix:
  Transformation of Models in(to) a Generic Metamodel
  Datenbanksysteme in Business, Technologie und Web (BTW 2007), Workshop Proceedings, pp. 4-15, 2007
  Abstract  PDF file 
• C. Quix, D. Kensche, X. Li:
  Generic Schema Merging
  In J. Krogstie, A.L. Opdahl, and G. Sindre (Eds.): In Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), Trondheim, Norway, Springer-Verlag, LNCS 4495, pp. 127–141, 2007
  Abstract  PDF file 
• D. Kensche, C. Quix, X. Li, Y. Li:
  GeRoMeSuite: A System for Holistic Generic Model Management
  In Proceedings of 33rd International Conference on Very Large Data Bases (VLDB'07), pp. 1322 - 1325, Vienna, 2007
  Abstract  PDF file 
• D. Kensche, C. Quix, Y. Li, M. Jarke:
  Generic Schema Mappings
  In Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER 2007), Auckland, New Zealand, LNCS 4801, Springer, pp. 132-148, 2007. Springer Verlag.
  Abstract  PDF file 
• S. Geisler, A. Brauers, C. Quix, A. Schmeink:
  An Ontology-Based System for Clinical Trial Data Management
  Annual Symposium of the IEEE/EMBS Benelux Chapter 2007, Heeze, the Netherlands, pp. 53-55
  Abstract  PDF file 
• A. Aleksandrowicz, D. Kensche, S. Kim, P. Kranen, E. Müller, C. Quix:
  Mobile and Wearable P2P Information Management in HealthNet Applications
  Annual Symposium of the IEEE/EMBS Benelux Chapter 2007, Heeze, the Netherlands
  Abstract  PDF file 
• C. Quix, D. Kensche, X. Li:
  Matching of Ontologies with XML Schema Using a Generic Metamodel
  In Proceedings of the 6th Intl. Conf. on Ontologies, DataBases, and Applications of Semantics (ODBASE), Vilamoura, Portugal, pp. 1081-1098, 2007. Springer.
  Abstract  PDF file 
• C. Quix, L. Ragia, L. Cai, T. Gan:
  Matching Schemas for Geographical Information Systems Using Semantic Information
  Proc. of Workshop on Semantic-Based Geographical Information Systems (SeBGIS), OTM Confederated International Workshops, Montpellier, France, LNCS 4278, Springer-Verlag, pp. 1566-1575, 2006
  Abstract & BibTeX  PDF file 
• M. A. Chatti, R. Klamma, C. Quix, D. Kensche:
  LM-DTM: An Environment for XML-Based, LIP/PAPI-Compliant Deployment, Transformation and Matching of Learner Models
  P. Goodyear, D.G. Sampson, D.J.-T. Yang, Kinshuk, T. Okamoto, R. Hartley, and N.-S. Chen (eds.): In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT 2005), July 5-8, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, pp. 567 - 569
  PDF file 
• D. Kensche, C. Quix, M. A. Chatti, M. Jarke:
  GeRoMe: A Generic Role Based Metamodel for Model Management
  In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Ontologies, DataBases, and Applications of Semantics (ODBASE), Agia Napa, Cyprus, 2005
  Abstract & BibTeX  PDF file 
  Annotation: An extended and revised edition of this paper has been published in the Journal on Data Semantics VIII. 
• C. Quix, D. Kensche, M. A. Chatti:
  Rollenbasierte Metamodellierung zur Datenintegration
  Datenbank Spektrum 15 (2005), dpunkt.verlag, S. 5-11
  Abstract & BibTeX  PDF file 
• M.A. Jeusfeld, C. Quix:
  Meta-Modelling with ConceptBase
  Workshop on Meta-Modelling and Corresponding Tools, Essen, Germany, 2005
  Abstract  PDF file 
• C. Quix:
  Quality-oriented and Metadata-driven Integration in Information Grids
  2nd IST Workshop on Metadata Management in Grid and P2P Systems (MMGPS) - Models, Services, Architectures, London, UK, Dec. 2004
  Abstract  PDF file 
• P. Bernstein, S. Melnik, M. Petropoulos, C. Quix:
  Industrial-Strength Schema Matching
  SIGMOD Record, Vol. 33, No. 4, December 2004
  Abstract  PDF file 
• C. Quix:
  Repository Support for Data Warehouse Evolution
  ICFAI Journal of Systems Management, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 57-72, August 2003
  Abstract 
  Annotation: Reprint of a paper published at DMDW'99  
• C. Quix:
  Metadatenverwaltung zur qualitätsorientierten Informationslogistik in Data-Warehouse-Systemen
  Dissertation, RWTH Aachen, 2003
  Abstract  PDF file