Development of a method for ontology-driven knowledge engineering and its application to the greywater reclamation system

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The objective of the proposed research program is to study use of ontology for supporting the development of semantic web applications and to develop a novel method for ontology-driven knowledge engineering. The method will provide guidance for knowledge and software engineers in developing web-based knowledge-based systems. As a case study, the method will be applied to the development of an intelligent monitoring system for the water reclamation system. The proposed research program will enhance understanding of how the use of an ontology can be effective for supporting development of a web-based knowledge-based system. The methods and systems developed would contribute to building information technology infrastructure necessary for supporting automation of industrial process systems in the energy and environment sectors, which is important for enhancing productivity of the Canadian industries. The application focus on the domain of greywater reclamation is timely nowadays when more than 50% of the world's population will soon be facing water shortages. Greywater reclamation is the process of treating soiled water from sources such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, so that the treated water can be used for irrigation, toilet flushing etc. Many cities in Canada are facing increasing sewage loads, to the extent that the sewage infrastructure is reaching maximum capacity and city growth is severely limited. The decision support system for monitoring of the greywater reclamation system will help operators better monitor the reclamation system, identify operational problems in a timely manner, and avoid downtime and costly maintenance. As a result, operation of the greywater reclamation system will be more stable and cost-effective, and higher quality reclaimed water will be produced. This would help reduce both fresh water consumption and loads on city sewer systems, enabling growth and expansion of Canadian cities. This has significant socio-economic and environmental benefits for Canadians.