Topic map-based description and representation of agricultural models

In order to improve the capability of model resource sharing and management for different agricultural disciplines, a new approach to description and representation of agricultural models was proposed, which used the description information of model components as meta-data to generate the topic maps at different levels. Firstly, the characteristics of agricultural models was analyzed, the mapping relationships between agricultural models and model components were established, and then information on the facets and relationship descriptions of agricultural model components was extracted and the Description Model for Agricultural Model Components (DM-AMC) was constructed. Further, the DM-AMC was represented as topic type, association type, occurrence type and association role. Finally, the Topic Maps for Agricultural Model Components (TM-AMC) was constructed by taking example and using matching and merging algorithms. With crop phasic development model as example, the XML documents of atomic topic maps with the characters of unified description and dynamic expansion were generated. The results indicated that a unified description on agricultural model information and generation of multi-level and easy-accessed TM-AMC based on DM-AMC could enhance capability of general sharing and management with agricultural model information.