Browsing by Author "Blomkamp, Yvonne"

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    ERI Energy thesaurus
    (1990) Blomkamp, Yvonne; Smith, J G
    Although numerous dictionaries of energy terms are available, and there are other thesauri on specific aspects of energy, for example, coal, biomass, nuclear energy, there are few comprehensive energy thesauri. So far, no energy thesaurus applicable to South Africa, has been published. It was found that energy terms in the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Data Base: Subject Thesaurus are used in a different context to South Africa. The United Kingdom in - turn, used terms in a different context to the United States. In order for there to be effective cooperation between information centres engaged in the collection, storage and dissemination of energy-related information in South Africa, a need was perceived for the definition and standardisation of the terms and concepts used in the energy field. In recognition of this need, the CSIR provided funds for a year to develop an energy thesaurus relevant to South Africa.
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    The development and evaluation of an index language for energy research
    (1990) Blomkamp, Yvonne; Smith, J. G
    Based on a perceived need in the operation of the Information Service of the Energy Research Institute (ERI) at the University of Cape Town, the concept, development and potential of the searching thesaurus as a search aid in a computerised ISAR system is examined. A searching thesaurus is used mainly for the construction of search statements, where controlled and/or free language is used in order to increase recall and/or precision in the retrieval process as desired by the searcher, although it may still be used as a conventional thesaurus for terminological control in indexing. Thus the search process could be streamlined through reducing possible "noise" often found with free language searching, resulting in increased retrieval effectiveness and search efficiency. Against the background of important historical evaluation research projects, the development of the ERI Energy Thesaurus as a search aid and its testing and evaluation is described. The first phase of the project describes the construction of the thesaurus and the second phase, its evaluation. In both phases, the users play an important role. The 30 participants selected were composed of 15 energy subject experts and 15 information experts. The primary data, obtained through questionnaires, were firstly, responses by the participants to the usefulness and structure of the thesaurus, and secondly, the degree of satisfaction with their search results. The thesaurus evaluation covered: (1) use, specifically, the value of its assistance in search statement construction, and usefulness for searching in the energy field in general, (2) structure, regarding the helpfulness of the cross-references and format as a whole with reference to ease of use. Participants were also requested to indicate their views on the need for terminological control in a computerised ISAR system. The possible influence of knowledge of the subject field on the search results was also examined. The performance measures used are those considered in the literature to be established indicators of user satisfaction, namely, relevance values, the recall and precision ratio. The search results were evaluated in order to assess the effectiveness of the thesaurus as a search aid. Three search modes were used, (i) combined controlled and free language, (ii) controlled language (thesaurus) only, and (iii) free language only, to assess which allowed the most accurate and efficient retrieval of information. Overall, the use and structure of the thesaurus received a favourable response. A positive response (93,3%) to the need for terminological control in a computerised ISAR system was achieved. The search results evaluation indicated that in both groups, the combined controlled and free language and controlled language only modes produced higher precision. The free language only mode was the only one to retrieve zero items the greatest number of times, occurring predominantly among the energy subject experts. Thus subject knowledge was not considered to have influenced search results. It is therefore suggested that the searching thesaurus can increase search efficiency and system performance, resulting in the retrieval of more accurate and relevant information for the user of an ISAR system.
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    The Development and Evaluation of an index language for energy research [Volume 2]
    (1990) Blomkamp, Yvonne; Franco, Dan
    Although numerous dictionaries of energy terms are available, and there are other thesauri on specific aspects of energy, for example, coal, biomass, nuclear energy, there are few comprehensive energy thesauri. So far, no energy thesaurus applicable to South Africa, has been published. It was found that energy terms in the US. Department of Energy's Energy Data Base: Subject Thesaurus are used in a different context to South Africa. The United Kingdom in - turn, used terms in a different context to the United States . In order for there to be effective cooperation between information centres engaged in the collection, storage and . dissemination of energy-related information in South Africa, a need was perceived for the definition and standardisation of the terms and concepts used in the energy field. In recognition of this need, the CSIR provided funds for a year to develop an energy thesaurus relevant to South Africa. As the Energy Research Institute at the University of Cape Town had the most developed energy information system in South Africa at the time, the vocabulary from the Institute's energy database was used as the base from which the thesaurus was constructed. The database contained information considered to be most representative of the main areas of research in the energy field in South Africa. Compilation was undertaken with the assistance and cooperation of the research staff at the Institute. The core area of the thesaurus is the energy field, with an emphasis on energy technology, energy research and development, energy sources, energy resources and reserves, and energy utilisation. A special emphasis is placed on alternative energy, which includes appropriate technology and alternative fuels. The fringe areas of the thesaurus are economics, engineering, and air pollution. The thesaurus has been designed for use mainly in a computerised information system, although it could be made available for use in a manual system. In a computerised system, it is hoped that, built into the system, it could be used for reference as an online aid to both indexers and searchers. It must be emphasised that this will not exclude the use of natural or free language in searching. Thus, the thesaurus can be used as a guide if and when required.