  Ontologies facilitate the integration of heterogeneous data sources by
resolving semantic heterogeneity between them. This research aims to study the
possibility of generating a domain conceptual model from a given ontology with
the vision to grow this generated conceptual data model into a global
conceptual model integrating a number of existing data and information sources.
Based on ontologically derived semantics of the BWW model, rules are identified
that map elements of the ontology language (DAML+OIL) to domain conceptual
model elements. This mapping is demonstrated using TAMBIS ontology. A
significant corollary of this study is that it is possible to generate a domain
conceptual model from a given ontology subject to validation that needs to be
performed by the domain specialist before evolving this model into a global
conceptual model.
