Ontological Analysis of Dimensional Modeling Concepts in Data Warehousing/Business Intelligence Systems

Collecting, processing and utilizing data information plays an increasingly important role in data warehousing/business intelligence (DWH/BI) systems. Currently, these systems are predominantly described using natural text, informal diagrams, or UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams. These potentially imprecise methods for describing new or complex DWH/BI topics can in combination with variations in naming and interpretations of concepts between different authors lead to miscommunication issues. This paper shows the possibility and benefits of using a more formal approach in documenting and describing such systems or their parts, which results in a more precise form of communication between researchers or industry experts. The conceptual analysis of selected parts of the DWH/BI domain is done using the OntoUML modeling language.