Ontological representation of the subject area in the tasks of defense planning

Abstract

The paper examines the application of the ontological approach to the information modeling of the subject area of expert assessment of capabilities in defense planning tasks. Capability identification and assessment models are basic in countries which are NATO members. At the same time, the growth of the dynamics of all processes which is reflected in a sharp increase in the amount of information required for processing is a characteristic feature of the defense management at the present stage. Methodological complexity of the capacity assessment procedure is stipulated by the lack of rules and approaches to balancing quantitative and qualitative characteristics of capabilities provided by policy documents. It complicates the creation of automated decision-making support tools. This study offers an approach to providing analytical support for expert decision-making based on ontological information models which adequately reflect inherent hierarchical and network structures of elements and take into account their mutual influence in a multifactorial environment. Subject area or «the world» in which decision-making processes take place is usually a large system of taxonomies. To create a taxonomy of data in the subject area of capability assessment, some main basic quanta (conceptual units) of the subject area and basic ontologies were determined. Data analysis on the model example «Intelligence» was carried out as well. The frame approach to the description of generalized generic concepts is offered, and the frame model of a group of abilities on a model example is constructed. A scheme of practical implementation of the obtained decisions based on maintenance of interaction between the ontological model and the relational model of a database is offered.