The major area of my research is on the use of Bayesian probabilistic reasoning as a means to achieve better information technology systems, with a special focus on decision support and multi-source data fusion. As a result, I am interested on the diverse areas of knowledge that contribute to this broad challenge (e.g. Data Mining, Utility theory, Markov processes, Game theory, etc), while also flirting with the different domains in which I believe Bayesian reasoning can make a difference (e.g. BioGenetics, C3I systems, Web applications, etc). At present time, I am working on:
- Representing and reasoning under uncertainty in the Semantic Web.
- Use of probabilistic ontologies on SW problems, such as semantic mapping, principled plausible reasoning to enhance domain knowledge, etc.
- Employing Multi-Entity Bayesian Networks in multi-sensor data fusion architectures for behavioral assessment, command and control systems, and similar applications.
- Application of AI techniques in strategic planning processes.
Major Projects in which I have some degree of participation
PR-OWL
One of the major limitations within the development efforts of the Semantic Web is the lack of a comprehensive, principled formalism for representing and reasoning under uncertainty. That is, current SW research is focused on classical logic and some of its variants, failing to provide a means to deal with the many forms in which knowledge cannot be discharged or ignored (e.g. incomplete, ambiguous, or dissonant evidence).
PR-OWL (Probabilistic OWL) is one of the approaches aimed to solve the above limitation using Bayesian methods for representing and reasoning under uncertain knowledge. The framework of PR-OWL is Multi-Entity Bayesian Networks (MEBN), a First-Order Bayesian Logic that provides the mathematical basis for merging the expressiveness of Classical First-Order Logic with the power and flexibility of Bayesian Probability.
Information on both PR-OWL and MEBN can be found on the PR-OWL website.
UnBBayes-MEBN
UnBBayes is a probabilistic network framework written in Java. It's composed by a inference engine, a GUI editor, an API, and a learning environment. The algorithms used are based on strong junction tree method and measure and search (K2 & B).
Currently I am working with the UnBBayes folks at the University of Brasilia in the development of a GUI and a reasoner for opening, creating, saving, and reasoning with probabilistic ontologies in PR-OWL format. Files saved in UnBBayes-MEBN are backward compatible with "legacy" (non-probabilistic) ontologies so it can be opened in ontology editors such as Protègè or Swoop.
URSW
The focus of the Uncertainty Reasoning for the Semantic Web workshop (URSW) is to address the challenge of representing and reasoning with incomplete, uncertain information in the context of Semantic Web development. The workshop is held at the International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC).
ISWC is a major international forum for presenting visionary research on all aspects of th Semantic Web. The Uncertainty Reasoning Workshop is an exciting opportunity fo collaboration and cross-fertilization between the uncertainty reasoning community and the Semantic Web community
The first workshop (URSW 2005) was held on the fourth ISWC, in Galway, Ireland. The second workshop (URSW 2006) was held at the fifth ISWC, in Athens, GA, USA. The third workshop (URSW2007) will be held at the sixth ISWC, in Busan, Korea.
URW3-XG Incubator Group
I am working as an invited expert in the W3C's Uncertainty Reasoning for the World Wide Web (URW3) Incubator Group, which is part of the Incubator Activity. The group's mission is to better define the challenge of reasoning with and representing uncertain information available through the World Wide Web and related WWW technologies. More information can be found in the URW3-XG Charter.
2005
First Workshop on Uncertainty Reasoning for the Semantic Web (URSW 2005), at the Fourth International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC 2005):
- Program Committee
- Organizing Committee
2006
Twenty-First National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-06):
- Program Committee
Journal of Artificial Intelligence (JAIR):
- Reviewer
Second Operational Data Link Simposium (SEDOP 2 - Portuguese);
- Organizing Committee
Second Workshop on Uncertainty Reasoning for the Semantic Web (URSW 2006), at the Fifth International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC 2006):
- Program Committee
- Organizing Committee
2007
Twenty-Second National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-07):
- Program Committee
Third Operational Data Link Simposium (SEDOP 3 - Portuguese):
- Chair
Third Workshop on Uncertainty Reasoning for the Semantic Web (URSW 2007), at the Sixth International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC 2007):
- Program Committee
- Organizing Committee
2008
Eleventh Ibero-American Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IBERAMIA 2008):
- Program Committee
First International Workshop on Fuzzy Logic On the Web (FLOW 2008)
- Program Committee
Fourth Workshop on Uncertainty Reasoning for the Semantic Web (URSW 2008), at the Sixth International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC 2008):
- Program Committee
- Organizing Committee
Fourteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2008)
- Program Committee
CC-270 - Fundamentals of Command and Control (at ITA)
Current MS Students:
- Rommel Carvalho (Co-Advising with Marcelo Ladeira from UnB)
- Luiz Topan
