Knowledge of places: an ontological analysis of the social level in the city

Abstract

In this paper we develop an investigation about geographical places as complex spatial environments. The approach we explore is based on ontological analysis. We aim to integrate a cognitive stand within the traditional analytical and organizational views of complex spatial environments. Our focus is about facilitating decision-making processes.

The introduction of ontological levels is rather useful for organizing the modelling of complex systems. The levels we elicited are informative, anyway our understanding of space cannot lack the contextual perspective of every single place and of any single individual. Our research is still ongoing, and following researches are needed to develop a formal framework that can completely integrate standard and ontological methodologies for a general contextual knowledge.