Semantic Grid
Encyclopedia
The Semantic Grid refers to an approach to Grid computing
in which information, computing resources and services are described using the semantic data model. In this model the data and metadata are expressed through facts (small sentences). Therefore it becomes directly understandable for humans. This makes it easier for resources to be discovered and joined up automatically, which helps bring resources together to create Virtual Organizations
(VOs). The descriptions constitute metadata
and are typically represented using the technologies of the Semantic Web
, such as the Resource Description Framework
(RDF).
By analogy with the Semantic Web, the Semantic Grid can be defined as
"an extension of the current Grid in which information and services are given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation."
This notion of the Semantic Grid was first articulated in the context of e-Science
, observing that such an approach is necessary to achieve a high degree of easy-to-use and seamless automation enabling flexible collaborations and computations on a global scale.
The use of Semantic Web and other knowledge technologies in Grid applications is sometimes described as the Knowledge Grid.
Semantic Grid extends this by also applying these technologies within the Grid middleware
.
Some Semantic Grid activities are coordinated through the Semantic Grid Research Group of the Global Grid Forum.
Grid computing
Grid computing is a term referring to the combination of computer resources from multiple administrative domains to reach a common goal. The grid can be thought of as a distributed system with non-interactive workloads that involve a large number of files...
in which information, computing resources and services are described using the semantic data model. In this model the data and metadata are expressed through facts (small sentences). Therefore it becomes directly understandable for humans. This makes it easier for resources to be discovered and joined up automatically, which helps bring resources together to create Virtual Organizations
Virtual Organization (Grid computing)
In grid computing, a Virtual Organization refers to a dynamic set of individuals or institutions defined around a set of resource-sharing rules and conditions...
(VOs). The descriptions constitute metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
and are typically represented using the technologies of the Semantic Web
Semantic Web
The Semantic Web is a collaborative movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium that promotes common formats for data on the World Wide Web. By encouraging the inclusion of semantic content in web pages, the Semantic Web aims at converting the current web of unstructured documents into a "web of...
, such as the Resource Description Framework
Resource Description Framework
The Resource Description Framework is a family of World Wide Web Consortium specifications originally designed as a metadata data model...
(RDF).
By analogy with the Semantic Web, the Semantic Grid can be defined as
"an extension of the current Grid in which information and services are given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation."
This notion of the Semantic Grid was first articulated in the context of e-Science
E-Science
E-Science is computationally intensive science that is carried out in highly distributed network environments, or science that uses immense data sets that require grid computing; the term sometimes includes technologies that enable distributed collaboration, such as the Access Grid...
, observing that such an approach is necessary to achieve a high degree of easy-to-use and seamless automation enabling flexible collaborations and computations on a global scale.
The use of Semantic Web and other knowledge technologies in Grid applications is sometimes described as the Knowledge Grid.
Semantic Grid extends this by also applying these technologies within the Grid middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
.
Some Semantic Grid activities are coordinated through the Semantic Grid Research Group of the Global Grid Forum.
Application Areas
- Life Science IdentifiersLSIDLife Science Identifiers are a way to name and locate pieces of information on the web. Essentially, an LSID is a unique identifier for some data, and the LSID protocol specifies a standard way to locate the data...
- Business Intelligence 2.0Business Intelligence 2.0Business Intelligence 2.0 is a term that refers to new tools and software for business intelligence, beginning in the mid-2000s, that enable, among other things, dynamic querying of real-time corporate data by employees, and a more web- and browser-based approached to such data, as opposed to the...
(BI 2.0) - e-Tourism
External links
- http://www.semanticgrid.org - Semantic Grid website
- ONTOGRID: EU-funded research project for enabling semantic grid applications
- http://www.dagstuhl.de/05271/ - Semantic Grid Dagstuhl Seminar
- Semantic Grid oriented to eTourism