SEMANTIC NET

• To achieve accurate knowledge representation, several techniques are available,

including:
• Logical Representation: This method employs formal logic to represent
information systematically.
• Semantic Networks: These graphical representations connect related concepts,
making it easier to visualize relationships.
• Production Rules: Utilized to establish a set of rules for decision-making and
problem-solving.
• Frames Representation: This technique structures information into frames or
templates, enhancing data organization.
• Semantic networks are basically graphic
depictions of knowledge composed
of nodes and links that show
hierarchical relationships between
objects.
• The nodes are interconnected by links
or arcs.
• These arcs show the relationships
between the various objects and
• Some of the most common arcs are of the is-
a or has-a type.
• Is-a is used to show class relationship; that is, that
an object belongs to a larger class or category of
objects.
• Has-a links are used to identify characteristics or
attributes of the object nodes.
• Other arcs are used for definitional purposes.
• Semantic networks can show inheritance. Semantic
nets are a visual representation of relationships,
and can be combined with other representations.
 Types of Semantic Networks
• Definitional Networks: This represents the relationship between concepts and
their subtypes.
• Definitional networks are fundamental in ensuring clarity and precision in
knowledge representation, allowing for a clear delineation of how different
concepts relate to one another within a given domain.
• Assertional Networks: It is used to assert propositions and convey factual
information.
• These networks are particularly useful for capturing and communicating
structured information, making them a cornerstone for knowledge-based systems
and databases.
• Implicational Networks: They rely on implications as the primary connections
between nodes, emphasizing cause-and-effect relationships.
• By emphasizing causal connections, these networks are vital for predictive
modeling, risk assessment, and scenario analysis, enabling the inference of
potential outcomes based on established relationships.
• Executable Networks: Contain mechanisms capable of inducing changes within
the network itself, allowing for dynamic adaptations.
• These networks are essential for systems that require real-time decision-making,
as they can autonomously modify their structure or behavior to optimize
performance or adapt to new information.
• Learning Networks: These expand knowledge representations by emphasizing
insights from examples and focusing on adaptive learning.
• Learning networks are foundational in machine learning and AI applications, as
they enable systems to continuously improve and refine their understanding of
the world through exposure to new information.
• Hybrid Networks: This type of network consists of two or more of the above-
mentioned techniques, either within a single network or between closely
interacting networks, to fulfill diverse knowledge representation requirements.
Components of Semantic Networks

• Lexical Components:
• Nodes: These represent objects or concepts within the network.
• Links: They denote the relationships connecting nodes.
• Labels: Labels attached to nodes and links specify particular objects and relations,
providing context.
• Structural Component: In this aspect, nodes and links combine to form a
directed graph. Labels are placed strategically on both nodes and links to
establish their roles within the network’s structure.
• Semantic Component: This component gives meaning to the links and labels
associated with nodes. The interpretations of these meanings guide the
network’s functionality, enabling knowledge representation and inference.
• Procedural Part: Constructors permit the creation of new nodes and links,
expanding the network. Destructors, on the other hand, facilitate the removal
of nodes and links, ensuring the network remains adaptable and up-to-date.
•INHERITANCE REASONING
• Semantic net allows us to perform inheritance
reasoning as all members of a class will inherit all
the properties of superclass .
• We could use inheritance to derive the additional
relation. Semantic nets allow multiple inheritance.
So an object can belong to more than one category
and a category can be a subset of more than one
another category.
• ADVANTAGES
• · Semantic nets have the ability to represent default values for
categories. In the above figure John has one leg while he is a
person and all persons have two legs. So persons have two
legs has only default status which can be overridden by a
specific value.
• · They convey some meaning in a transparent manner.
• · They nets are simple and easy to understand.
• · They are easy to translate into PROLOG.
• DISADVANTAGES
• · One of the drawbacks of semantic network is that the links
between the objects represent only binary relations. For
example, the sentence Run(RajdhaniExpress,
Chandigarh,delhi,Tomorrow) cannot be asserted directly.
• · There is no standard definition of link names.
• · Tom is an instance of dog.
• · Tom caught a cat
• · Tom is owned by rashan.
• · Tom is brown in colour.
• · Dogs like bones.
• · The dog sat on the mat.
• · A dog is a mammal.
• · A cat is an instance animal
• · All mammals are animals.
• · Mammals have fur.
• This network contains examples of isa relation, as well as some
other, more domain-specific relations like sat_on, like, caught,
is_coloured, is_owned_by. In this network, we could use
inheritance to derive the additional relation
• sat_on (Tom,Mat)
QUESTIONS