Designing a Virtual Learning Environment Based on an Ontological Description of the Subject Domain

Abstract

The paper proposes an approach to designing a virtual learning environment based on an ontological description of the subject domain. The aim of the study is to develop an architectural scheme that separates the semantic knowledge layer from the visualization layer when educational content is generated in Unity. The formal core of the environment is an ontology created in Protégé with the Web Ontology Language and exported in the Resource Description Framework format. The methodological novelty of the work lies in treating the ontology not as a passive appendix to a ready-made scene but as the primary source of data for dynamic scene construction. The knowledge graph is interpreted by the SceneManager component, which reads the ontology file, converts the data structure into JavaScript Object Notation, and maps semantic entities to project assets, interface elements, and text descriptions. This organization makes it possible to manage the composition of virtual objects, their attributes, and their relations in a centralized way without directly modifying the code of the visual layer. The proposed scheme improves the reproducibility of environment population, simplifies content updates, and creates conditions for involving subject-matter experts in maintaining the knowledge base. The practical value of the approach lies in the possibility of scaling the virtual environment by extending the ontology and reusing a unified set of scene generation rules.