Spatial Conceptual Modeling: Anchoring Knowledge in the Real World

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of spatial conceptual modeling, which allows anchoring mental world knowledge in the physical world using augmented reality technologies. For a first formal characterization, we describe a mapping from the spatial information concepts location, field, object, network, and event, as used in spatial computing, to conceptual modeling concepts using the FDMM formalism. This allows to identify necessary adaptations at the metamodeling level to make the approach applicable to arbitrary types of spatial conceptual modeling languages. Finally, possible application areas of spatial conceptual modeling in the medical domain, manufacturing and engineering, physical IT architectures and smart homes, supply chain management and logistics, civil engineering, and smart cities and cultural heritage are discussed.