MUTU: An Analysis Tool for Maintaining a System of Hierarchically Linked Ontologies

Abstract. We consider ontology evolution in a system of light-weight Linked Data ontologies, aligned with each other to form a larger ontology system. When one ontology changes, the human editor must keep track of the actual changes and of the modifications needed in the related ontologies in order to keep the system consistent. This paper presents an analysis tool MUTU, by which such changes and their potential effects on other ontologies can be found. Such an analysis is useful for the ontology editors for understanding the differences between ontology versions, and for updating linked ontologies when changes occurred in other components of an ontology system. 1 Facilitating changes across ontologies 1.1 Position statement Ontologies are often linked into larger ontology systems systems of a general upper ontology complemented by domain-specific ontologies. This enables that the experts of various domains can create their field-specific ontologies that co-operate with the other ontologies.