Introduction to Description Logics

Lectures: 24 h

Recommended for:

Graduate Students. (Fördjupningskurs C4-C3)

The course last ran:
1995/96.

Goals:
Description logics (or terminological logics or concept languages) are computationally attractive limited subsets of first-order logic.

They are used for representing concepts and individuals in a given world and then drawing logical inferences from the given information.

The inferences center around, but are not limited to, classification. There are a number of implemented description logic systems which are used for building a variety of applications including software management systems, planning systems, telephone configuration systems and natural language understanding. Description logic systems are particularly suitable for applications where classification is a useful inference. At the conclusion of this course you will have:

• a good understanding of the principles of description logics
• used a number of different description logic systems, and compared their differences
• an understanding of the central algorithms used in description logic systems, in particular subsumption and classification
• looked briefly at some areas of current development in description logics.

Prerequisites:
basic course in logic (e.g. Logic for ida-ites, Logik grundkurs (TDDA15)).

Organization:
lectures + seminars (prepared by the participants) + labs.

Contents:

• Introduction to the field, what description logics are, KL-ONE
• Representing knowledge in description logics
• The algorithms: classification, subsumption, other inferencing
• Completeness, Correctness, Complexity
• Revision and update of knowledge bases
• Systems: KRIS, LOOM, CLASSIC, CRACK, FaCTS
• Applications using description logics
• Connection to databases
• Integrating different kinds of reasoning with description logics

Literature:
Articles.

Teachers:
Patrick Lambrix.

Examiner:
Patrick Lambrix.

Schedule:
February 99.

Examination:
seminars, lab assignments, experience report.

Credit:
4 credits.

Page responsible: Director of Graduate Studies