WestminsterResearch http://www.westminster.ac.uk/westminsterresearch Semantic Selection of Internet Sources through SWRL Enabled OWL Ontologies Almarri, H. This is an electronic version of a PhD thesis awarded by the University of Westminster. © Miss Hamda Almarri, 2017. The WestminsterResearch online digital archive at the University of Westminster aims to make the research output of the University available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the authors and/or copyright owners. Whilst further distribution of specific materials from within this archive is forbidden, you may freely distribute the URL of WestminsterResearch: ((http://westminsterresearch.wmin.ac.uk/). In case of abuse or copyright appearing without permission e-mail [email protected] Semantic Selection of Internet Sources through SWRL Enabled OWL Ontologies Hamda Mohammad O. S. Binghubash Almarri University of Westminster June 2017 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Westminster for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ABSTRACT This research examines the problem of Information Overload (IO) and give an overview of various attempts to resolve it. Furthermore, argue that instead of fighting IO, it is advisable to start learning how to live with it. It is unlikely that in modern information age, where users are producer and consumer of information, the amount of data and information generated would decrease. Furthermore, when managing IO, users are confined to the algorithms and policies of commercial Search Engines and Recommender Systems (RSs), which create results that also add to IO. this research calls to initiate a change in thinking: this by giving greater power to users when addressing the relevance and accuracy of internet searches, which helps in IO. However powerful search engines are, they do not process enough semantics in the moment when search queries are formulated. This research proposes a semantic selection of internet sources, through SWRL enabled OWL ontologies. the research focuses on SWT and its Stack because they (a) secure the semantic interpretation of the environments where internet searches take place and (b) guarantee reasoning that results in the selection of suitable internet sources in a particular moment of internet searches. Therefore, it is important to model the behaviour of users through OWL concepts and reason upon them in order to address IO when searching the internet. Thus, user behaviour is itemized through user preferences, perceptions and expectations from internet searches. The proposed approach in this research is a Software Engineering (SE) solution which provides computations based on the semantics of the environment stored in the ontological model. i First and foremost, praises and thanks to Allah almighty, for His showers of blessings and lightning of my way through my research work to complete this research successfully "I am so grateful for having the drive to succeed…” This PhD is dedicated to my deceased mother and to my farther…. For all the comfort, caring and honest concern from the first day to her last breath; When I felt that I reached my limits and she said "I understand"; To my mom who listened to all my complaints with patience; I would like to thank her for believing in me and not giving up. To my mom and my sister Asma, with whom I shared the happiest moments of my life in London. I’m regretful that I did not finish my studies sooner to draw a smile on your face, mom… ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I’d like to sincerely thank almighty Allah for all his grants that he bestowed upon me. To my dear deceased mother and my father, I would like to extend my sincere thankfulness, for their great role in my life, their continued encouragement and numerous sacrifices for me to achieve my goals and for how far I’ve come. To my dad who believed in me even when I gave up…. Thank you for all the love and support I do not know how to put into words my gratitude for all valuable time, patience, and support my mother and sisters dedicated during the period of my studies. I cannot imagine how it could have been without my family when I think of all the obstacles I went through to complete my studies. I’m deeply grateful for the continuous support from every single member of my family. I am also extremely appreciative, for the love and generosity my sisters have showed me, and all the happy memories I had with them in the past four years. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU MY DEAR SISTERS Special thanks to my sister Ayesha for spending eight months with me in London to help and support me when her only son needed her the most. Khalifa, YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE. I owe you 100 wishes. I appreciate all the advice I received from my sister Fatma. She answered all my questions patiently every time I needed an opinion. Her comments helped me to re- think and reshape my ideas in many aspects of my studies. I would like to thank my sister Moza, who offered her help and concern on every matter or problem I faced during my stay in London. Who accompanied me to my first conference in my PhD journey. Thank you very much…It was an unforgettable time … To my sister Asma, who spent four years with me in London, accompanied me to conferences in Berlin and Brazil, saved me a lot of time to focus on my research and never gave up on me every time I struggled during my studies. Many thanks for my dear brothers Obaid and Essa for their support and for being truly brothers when I needed them... To my family for making it possible with gratitude and appreciation… I am so blessed to have a truly warm and loving family…. I love you all and I wish I will have a chance to return as much as I can of all the support I received during my studies… Sincerely, Hamda iii I would like to thank my government who sponsored me and gave me a great chance to learn from experienced people. I wish I can give back as much as I can. My dear friend Eiman, you are great, we have laughed and cried many times together… I wish you all the best, my dear friend…. I would also like to thank my previous director of studies, Dr Radmila Juric, who supervised me before her retirement. I enjoyed all the time I spent working with you. You were a great support and you made things possible. I learned a lot from you. Thank you for giving me the chance to show my abilities... I wish you a healthy life… Special thanks to Dr. Alexander Bolotov, who took charge and supervised me for the remaining period of my studies. I can’t express how grateful I am for your understanding and advice… I also wish to thank Dr. Reza, my friend and colleague who became my internal examiner. Thank you for all the advice. Dr Taj Keshavarz and Dr Andrzej Tarczynski thank you for helping me solve many small and big problems at the university… Finally, I would like to thank my friend Awajimam for her help during the period of my write up. iv AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I declare that the work in this dissertation was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and that it has not been submitted for any other academic award. Except where indicated by specific reference in the text, the work is the candidate’s own work. Work done in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, others, is indicated as such. Any views expressed in the dissertation are those of the author. SIGNED: ..Hamda Binghubash Almarri.............. DATE:...21st June 2017........ v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. iii Author’s declaration ................................................................................................................ v Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... vi List of Publications .................................................................................................................. x Conference Papers ............................................................................................................... x Journal Paper Publications ................................................................................................... x List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... xi List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ xii List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ xiv CHAPTER 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview of the research methodology ...................................................................... 4 1.2 Research Motivation ................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research objectives ..................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Contributions .............................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Research Limitations .................................................................................................