Search with Meanings: An Overview of Semantic Search Systems

Research on semantic search aims to improve conventional information search and retrieval methods, and facilitate information acquisition, processing, storage and retrieval on the semantic web. The past ten years have seen a number of implemented semantic search systems and various proposed frameworks. A comprehensive survey is needed to gain an overall view of current research trends in this field. We have investigated a number of pilot projects and corresponding practical systems focusing on their objectives, methodologies and most distinctive characteristics. In this paper, we report our study and findings based on which a generalised semantic search framework is formalised. Further, we describe issues with regards to future research in this area.