Modeling Standards

The evolution of modeling standards is an enabling factor for the broad adoption of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

Motivation for Modeling Standards

Different types of models are needed to support the analysis, specification, design, and verification of systems. Each type of model can be used to represent different aspects of a system, such as representing the set of system components and their interconnections and interfaces, or representing a system to support performance analysis or reliability analysis. Modeling standards play an important role in defining agreed upon system modeling concepts that can be represented for a particular domain of interest. They also enable integration of different types of models across domains of interest. Modeling standards are extremely important to support MBSE, which must integrate across disciplines, products, and technologies.

Standards for system modeling languages can also enable cross discipline, cross project, and cross organization communications. This offers the potential to reduce training requirements for practitioners who need to learn about a particular system, and enables the reuse of system artifacts. Standard modeling languages also provide a common foundation for advancing the practice of systems engineering as do other Systems Engineering Standards.

Types of Modeling Standards

There are many different standards that apply to systems modeling. Modeling standards include standards for modeling languages, data exchange between models, and for transformation of one model to another to achieve semantic interoperability, as well as more general modeling standards. The following is a partial list of representative modeling standards, including a common acronym for many and a reference where more information can be found.

Modeling Languages for Systems

Descriptive models. These standards apply to general descriptive modeling of systems.

• Functional Flow Block Diagram (FFBD) (xx)
• Integration Definition for Functional Modeling (IDEF0) (xx)
• Object Process Diagrams (OPD) and Object Process Language (OPL) (xx)
• Systems Modeling Language (SysML) (xx)
• Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM) (xx)
• Web ontology language (OWL) (xx)

Analytical models and simulations. These standards apply to both analytical models and simulations.

• Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) (xx)
• High Level Architecture (xx)
• Modelica (xx)
• Semantics of a Foundational Subset for Executable UML Models (FUML) (xx)

Data Exchange Standards

These standards enable the exchange of information between models.

• Application Protocol for Systems Engineering Data Exchange (ISO 10303-233) (AP-233) (xx)
• Requirements Interchange Format (ReqIF) (xx)
• XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) (xx)
• Resource Description Framework (RDF) (xx)

Model Transformations

These standards apply to transforming one model to another to support semantic interoperability.

• Query View Transformations (QVT) (xx)
• SysML-Modelica Transformation (xx)
• SysML-OPM Transformation (xx)

General Modeling Standards

These standards provide general frameworks for modeling.

• Model driven architecture (MDA®) (xx)
• IEEE 1471-2000 -Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-Intensive Systems (xx)

Other Domain-specific Modeling Standards

Software design models

These standards apply to modeling application software and/or embedded software design.

• Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) (xx)
• Modeling and Analysis for Real-Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE) (xx)
• Unified Modeling Language (UML) (xx)

Hardware design models

These standards apply to modeling hardware design.

• VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) (xx)

Business process models

These standards apply to modeling business processes.

• Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) (xx)

References

Please make sure all references are listed alphabetically and are formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed). See the BKCASE Reference Guidance for additional information.

Citations

ANSI/IEEE. 2000. Recommended Practice for Architectural Description for Software-Intensive Systems. New York, NY: American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), ANSI/IEEE 1471-2000.

Application Protocol for Systems Engineering Data Exchange (ISO 10303-233. Available at http://www.exff.org/ap233

Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL). Available at http://standards.sae.org/as5506a/

Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). Available at http://www.bpmn.org/

Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_Interactive_Simulation

Functional flow block diagram (FFBD). Available at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_flow_block_diagram

ISO/IEC 42010:2007. Systems and Software Engineering — Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-intensive Systems, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, September 12, 2007. ISO/IEC 42010:2007. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_42010

Integration Definition for Functional Modeling (IDEF0). Available at http://www.idef.com/IDEF0.htm

IEEE Standard 1516, IEEE Standard for High Level Architecture, Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Available at http://www.sisostds.org/ProductsPublications/Standards/IEEEStandards.aspx

Wikipedia. High Level Architecture (HLA). Available at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_level_architecture_(simulation)

Modeling and Analysis for Real-Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE). Available at http://www.omgwiki.org/marte/

Model driven architecture (MDA®). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model-driven_architectureModelica

Object Management Group. Query View Transformations (QVT). Available at http://www.omg.org/spec/QVT/1.1/

Object Management Group. Requirements Interchange Format (ReqIF). Available at http://www.omg.org/spec/ReqIF/

Resource Description Framework (RDF). Available at http://www.w3.org/RDF/.

Object Management Group. Semantics of a Foundational Subset for Executable UML Models (FUML). Available at http://www.omg.org/spec/FUML/

Object Management Group. Systems Modeling Language (SysML). Available at http://www.omgsysml.org/

Object Management Group. SysML-Modelica Transformation Specification. Available at http://www.omg.org/spec/SyM/

Object Management Group. Unified Modeling Language™ (UML). [http://www.uml.org/#UML2.0

Object Management Group. Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM). Available at http://www.omg.org/spec/UPDM/

Object Management Group. XML Metadata Interchange (XMI). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XML_Metadata_Interchange

VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL). Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHDL

Web ontology language. (OWL)Avaialbe at http://www.w3.org/2004/OWL/

Additional References

Dori, D. 2002. Object-Process Methodology – A Holistic Systems Paradigm, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2002 (ISBN 3-540-65471-2). http://www.amazon.com/Object-Process-Methodology-Dov-Dori/dp/3540654712

Friedenthal, S., A. Moore, and R. Steiner. 2009. A Practical Guide to SysML: The Systems Modeling Language. Morgan Kaufman. Needham, MA, USA: OMG Press. (Chapter 1).

Fritzon, P. 2004. Object-oriented modeling and simulation with Modelica 2.1. New York, NY: Wiley Interscience and IEEE Press.

Grobshtein, Y. and Dori, D. 2011. Generating SysML Views from an OPM Model: Design and Evaluation. Systems Engineering, DOI 10.1002/sys.20181. Available at http://esml.iem.technion.ac.il/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/GeneratingSysMLViewsFromAnOPMModel.pdf

Paredis, C. J. J., and et al. 2010. An overview of the SysML-modelica transformation specification. Paper presented at 20th Annual International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) International Symposium, 12-15 July, 2010, Chicago, IL.

Weilkiens, T. 2008. Systems Engineering with SysML/UML. Morgan Kaufman. Needham, MA, USA OMG Press.

ISO. Product Data Representation and Exchange (STEP). International Standards Organizationa (ISO) 10303. Available at http://www.tc184sc4.org/SC4_Open/SC4%20Legacy%20Products%20(2001-08)/STEP_(10303)/ISO 10303

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