Abstract: Ontology-based knowledge representation approach and Jena-based reasoning engine are proposed for solving the problems about knowledge representation and reasoning exiting in expert system for emergency rescue. Emergency rescue ontology and some inference rules are built by Simple Knowledge-Engineering Methodology and Jena Rule Syntax， and the reasoning for ontology knowledge base is realized. The proposed ontology is applied in an expressway emergency rescue system， the result shows that this knowledge base is of the ability to solve the practical problem； it is helpful for the sharing and reuse of expressway emergency rescue domain knowledge； and it stimulates the development of expert system in the domain of expressway emergency rescue.

Key words: emergency rescue, expert system, knowledge representation, ontology, Jena