Modeling Standards
The evolution of modeling standards is an enabling factor for 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 model-based systems engineering, 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.
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 classified by these types of standards.
Modeling languages for systems
Descriptive models These standards apply to general descriptive modeling of systems
- Functional Flow Block Diagram (FFBD)
- Integration Definition for Functional Modeling (IDEF0)
- Object Process Diagrams (OPD) and Object Process Language (OPL)
- Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
- Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM)
- Web ontology language (OWL)
Analytical models and simulations These standards apply to both analytical models and simulations
- Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS)
- High Level Architecture
- Modelica
- Semantics of a Foundational Subset for Executable UML Models (FUML)
Data exchange standards
- Application Protocol for Systems Engineering Data Exchange (ISO 10303-233) (AP-233)
- Requirements Interchange Format (ReqIF)
- XML Metadata Interchange (XMI)
- Resource Description Framework (RDF)
Model transformations
These standards apply to transforming one model to another so support semantic interoperability
General modeling standards
These standards provide general frameworks for modeling
- Model driven architecture (MDA®)
- IEEE 1471-2000 -Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-Intensive Systems
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)
- Modeling and Analysis for Real-Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE)
- Unified Modeling Language (UML)
Hardware design models
These standards apply to modeling hardware design
Primary References
| Application Protocol for Systems Engineering Data Exchange (ISO 10303-233) (AP-233)
| Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL)
| Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS)
| Functional flow block diagram (FFBD)
| IEEE 1471-2000 -Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-Intensive Systems
| Integration Definition for Functional Modeling (IDEF0)
| High Level Architecture (HLA)
| High Level Architecture (HLA)
| Modeling and Analysis for Real-Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE)
| Model driven architecture (MDA®)
| Query View Transformations (QVT)
| Requirements Interchange Format (ReqIF)
| Resource Description Framework (RDF)
| Semantics of a Foundational Subset for Executable UML Models (FUML)
| Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
| SysML-Modelica Transformation Specification
| Unified Modeling Language™ (UML)
| Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM)
| XML Metadata Interchange (XMI)
| VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL)
Additional References
Additional Reading
Dori, D. 2002. Object-Process Methodology: A Holistics System Paradigm, Springer.
Friedenthal, S., A. Moore, and R. Steiner. 2009. A practical guide to SysML: The systems modeling language. Morgan Kaufman. Needham, MA, USA: OMG Press.
Fritzon, P. 2004. Object-oriented modeling and simulation with Modelica 2.1. New York, NY: Wiley Interscience and IEEE Press.
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.
10303 | Product Data Representation and Exchange (STEP)