An ontology for government decisions and acts

What is it about?

Governments generate large amounts of data through public decisions and official documents, often published online. However, much of this information is written in natural language, making it hard to analyze and use effectively. This paper explores how technologies like Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Semantic Web tools can transform this data into more structured formats, making it easier to extract valuable insights. The authors propose a new system called d2kg (Diavgeia to Knowledge Graph), which uses an advanced data structure known as a Knowledge Graph to represent Greek government decisions in a way that improves transparency, accountability, and accessibility. By integrating European Union standards and vocabularies, the system allows for easier data sharing and analysis, helping the public and policymakers better understand government actions. In summary, this work shows how government data can be turned into useful knowledge, promoting openness and public trust. The ontology and its documentation are publicly available online for use by researchers and developers.

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Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This work is both timely and unique because it addresses a growing need for more transparent, accessible, and usable government data at a time when public accountability is increasingly demanded. Governments worldwide are producing vast amounts of data, but much of it remains difficult to analyze due to its unstructured nature. By using cutting-edge technologies like Knowledge Graphs, NLP, and Semantic Web tools, this paper transforms semi-structured government documents into structured, interoperable data that can be reused and shared more easily. What makes this work stand out is the d2kg ontology, which uniquely integrates EU-standard vocabularies with Greek government data, providing a framework that can be adapted to other public administration systems. This facilitates not only transparency and accountability but also opens up new possibilities for automated data analysis, policy monitoring, and cybersecurity. The difference this research can make is significant: it has the potential to revolutionize how government data is used, fostering better public awareness and more informed decision-making. By turning vast amounts of government records into actionable knowledge, this work empowers data analysts, policymakers, and the general public to engage more deeply with open governance, enhancing trust and promoting civic engagement. In short, the paper is important because it bridges the gap between raw government data and practical use cases, offering a scalable solution that could be adopted by other governments and public sectors globally.

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