This paper presents an ontology-based approach for
data quality inference on streaming observation data
originating from large-scale sensor networks. We evaluate this
approach in the context of an existing river basin monitoring
program called the Intelligent River®. Our current methods
for data quality evaluation are compared with the ontologybased
inference methods described in this paper. We present
an architecture that incorporates semantic inference into a
publish/subscribe messaging middleware, allowing data quality
inference to occur on real-time data streams. Our preliminary
benchmark results indicate delays of 100ms for basic data
quality checks based on an existing semantic web software
framework. We demonstrate how these results can be
maintained under increasing sensor data traffic rates by
allowing inference software agents to work in parallel. These
results indicate that data quality inference using the semantic
sensor network paradigm is viable solution for data intensive,
large-scale sensor networks.