Comparison Criteria for Ontological Multi-Level Modeling

Ontological multi-level modeling refers to describing domain objects at multiple levels of abstraction. Using traditional semantic data modeling, multi-level modeling can be achieved by representing objects in different abstraction hierarchies, classification, aggregation and generalization. Multiple representation, however, leads to accidental complexity, complicating modeling and extension. Several modeling techniques, like power types, deep instantiation, materialization and m-objects may be employed to reduce unnecessary complexity in modeling objects at multiple levels. This paper compares the use of power types, deep instantiation, materialization and m-objects for multi-level modeling using four comparison criteria: (1) compactness (avoiding accidental complexity), (2) extensibility (ease of introducing new abstraction levels), (3) query flexibility (number and kind of pre-defined entry points for querying), and (4) multiple relationship-abstraction (such as between relationship type and relationship occurrence).