A method for creating semantic thesauri of requirements using the SKOS ontology

Abstract

Problems related to requirements specification, such as ambiguity and incompleteness, are still recurrent within information system development processes. Reusing requirements is one of the mechanisms that can help reduce these setbacks. In this sense, this paper aims to propose a method for creating and publishing reuse-oriented semantic thesauri of requirements, using the Semantic Web’s technologies and standards, and following the principles of Linked Data. The central ontology used for a formal description of these thesauri is the Simple Knowledge Organization System. This ontological model provides a set of thesaurus-creating axioms and properties, allowing accurate and reliable documentation of the definition, hierarchy, and other interrelationships among a system’s requirements, in a knowledge graph. We present a prototypical Web service that functions as a repository for reuse and demonstrates the method in practice. We also describe a study about the feasibility of the proposal, which was carried out with professionals and included a group discussion and later, the completion of individual evaluation questionnaires. The study’s results were mostly favorable, and some suggestions for improvement were appointed. The participants considered the proposal relevant to Requirements Engineering and with potential for expansion, since the guidelines presented allow the creation of new kinds of inference and navigability over the stored requirements.

Keywords:
SKOS ontology; RDF; Requirements; Reuse; Semantic thesauri