Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 14(1), pp. 262 - 273
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2026.140117
Reprint (PDF) (511Kb)

Formalization of Knowledge in Construction: From Thesaurus to Ontology

Zarina Kabzhan ^1,*, Alexandr Shakhnovich ², Tanatkan Abakanov ³, Sergey Issayenko ^4
1 Center for Science and Digitalization in Construction, Kazakh Research and Design Institute of Construction and Architecture, Republic of Kazakhstan
² Kazakh Research and Design Institute of Construction and Architecture, Republic of Kazakhstan
³ Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Republic of Kazakhstan
⁴ QazCode LLP, 010010, 2 Kadyrgali Zhalayiri Str., Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at substantiating the need to develop a unified ontological model in the construction industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Ontology allowed standardizing terminology in relation to concepts, improving data exchange and automating processes in construction. It is suggested to use a Thesaurus containing definitions of key terms in the construction industry as the foundation for developing an ontological model. The methodology provided several stages of ontology development, including defining the general structure, classes and properties, semantic relations between concepts, inference rules and ontology validation. The methodology also included the use of ontological conceptual modelling and natural language processing technologies to extract and systematize the terminology and concepts of the construction industry. The analysis of regulatory documents enabled the identification of key concepts and terms, forming the basis for the Thesaurus. The study employed a hybrid methodology that integrates established ontological engineering principles with advanced artificial intelligence techniques, including natural language processing for automated term extraction and machine learning for identifying semantic relationships. This approach ensured the development of a robust ontological framework specifically tailored to the multilingual context of Kazakhstan's construction industry. The findings demonstrate that the created semantic relations table significantly enhances the standardization of regulatory documentation, improving clarity, eliminating terminological ambiguities, and minimizing errors in data exchange among construction stakeholders.

KEYWORDS
Thesaurus, Digitalization, Regulatory Framework, Semantic Relations, Terminology

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Zarina Kabzhan , Alexandr Shakhnovich , Tanatkan Abakanov , Sergey Issayenko , "Formalization of Knowledge in Construction: From Thesaurus to Ontology," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 262 - 273, 2026. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2026.140117.

(b). APA Format:
Zarina Kabzhan , Alexandr Shakhnovich , Tanatkan Abakanov , Sergey Issayenko (2026). Formalization of Knowledge in Construction: From Thesaurus to Ontology. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 14(1), 262 - 273. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2026.140117.