3D Visualization of Semantic Metadata Models and Ontologies

We propose an algorithm for the 3D visualization of general ontology models used in many applications, such as semantic web, entity-relationship diagrams and other database models. The visualization places entities in the 3D space. Previous techniques produce drawings that are 2-dimensional, which are often complicated and hard to comprehend. Our technique uses the third dimension almost exclusively for the display of the isa relationships (links) while the property relationships (links) are placed on some layer (plane). Thus the semantic difference between isa links and property links, which should be as vertical or as horizontal as possible respectively, is emphasized. Special reference is made on a certain model, the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model.