The role of ontologies in the verification and validation of knowledge-based systems

Abstract

In this paper, the author gives some preliminary examination of the ways in which an ontologyᎏan explicit specification of the conceptualization of the domainᎏcan support the verification and validation of a knowledge-based system. The discussion is focused on a simple, well-known, example relating to the identification of animals. Key elements of the support provided by the ontology relate to attempting to give coherence to the domain conceptualization; making the role of experts in verification and validation more structured and less at the mercy of interpretation; constraining the number of test cases required to give good coverage of the possible cases; and structuring the testing to give better assurance of its efficacy, and a possible basis for greater automation of the testing process. Finally, the author makes some concluding remarks.