Demonstrating a semantic approach to clarifying regulatory ambiguity in aircraft design and development using process mapping, UML, and ontological modeling

Abstract

The design and development of an aircraft is a complex process, often taking place over 6-7 years, involving thousands of experts from many disciplines, and costing several billion dollars. Software tools have been developed to help manage this complexity, yet challenges remain with respect to their utility. Model-based approaches have been increasingly used to inform the development of software tools, in particular to facilitate an understanding between software developers and the domain experts for whom the software is being developed. Recent aircraft modeling research has identified challenges, such as interoperability, stemming from a lack of formal semantic structure. This paper discusses the current challenges faced in modeling literature, and proposes a formalized approach to semantic modeling of the aircraft design and development process. As certification is critical to aircraft design, the approach proposes using publicly available regulatory documentation to provide generic language and definitions, followed by an ontological model to develop a formal, aircraft domain-specific semantic structure prior to modeling for software-specific applications. Three modeling methods of process mapping, ontological modeling, and Unified Modeling Language (UML) are used to illustrate the advantages and limitations of a semantic approach to modeling. This paper uses the Advisory circular AC 21.101-1B Establishing the Certification Basis of Changed Aeronautical Products as a case study to illustrate the proposed approach. A formalized approach to modeling the aircraft design and development process contributes to structuring a model that adequately reflects the many entities and complex interactions that are implicit to this process. This paper concludes by identifying opportunities for further investigation of regulatory documentation to improve formal models of the aircraft design and development process.