Conceptual Modeling Tool Research Articles

The ICOM 3.0 intelligent conceptual modelling tool and methodology

ICOM (version 3.0) is an advanced conceptual modelling tool, which allows the user to design multiple extended ontologies. Each project can be organised into several ontologies, with the possibility to include inter- and intra-ontology constraints. Complete logical reasoning is employed by the tool to verify the specification, infer implicit facts, devise stricter constraints, and manifest any inconsistency. ICOM is fully integrated with a very powerful description logic reasoning server which acts as a background inference engine. The intention behind ICOM is to provide a simple conceptual modelling tool that demonstrates the use of, and stimulates interest in, the novel and powerful knowledge representation based technologies for database and ontology design.

Towards computer-aided multiscale modelling: An overarching methodology and support of conceptual modelling

Multiscale modelling is now widely regarded as a promising and powerful tool in various disciplines, including the broad area of process engineering. However, a multiscale model is usually much more difficult to develop than a single-scale model due to a range of conceptual, numerical, and software challenges. Currently, there is little support developed to facilitate multiscale modelling. This paper discusses the key challenges faced by computer-aided multiscale modelling (CAMM) and presents a methodology for developing a computer-based, generic and open supporting framework for multiscale modelling. Details are particularly provided on the development of a conceptual modelling tool, an important element of the envisaged tool set for CAMM. The application of this tool is illustrated by two reactor modelling examples.

AFRA: Argumentation framework with recursive attacks

The issue of representing attacks to attacks in argumentation is receiving an increasing attention as a useful conceptual modelling tool in several contexts. In this paper we present AFRA, a formalism encompassing unlimited recursive attacks within argumentation frameworks. AFRA satisfies the basic requirements of definition simplicity and rigorous compatibility with Dung’s theory of argumentation. This paper provides a complete development of the AFRA formalism complemented by illustrative examples and a detailed comparison with other recursive attack formalizations.

Conceptual and ontological modeling in information systems

Conceptual modeling of a subject domain, which produces its conceptual model, is an important stage in designing information systems. In recent years, much attention in the development of such systems has been given to reusing information resources and to providing access to them at the semantic level. Methods and technologies of ontological modeling have lately been under intensive development. In this paper, problems and preconditions of conceptual modeling of the subject domain in database technologies and information systems are discussed. Various approaches to conceptual modeling, conceptual modeling languages, and the respective tools are considered, various interpretations of the role of the conceptual model of the subject domain are discussed, and the current state of conceptual modeling tools produced by software industry is assessed. The relationships between the conceptual schemas of the subject domain and ontologies are analyzed and their similarities and differences are described. Terminological issues and the directions of research in the field of conceptual and ontological modeling are considered. An extensive list of references is given.

How Conceptual Modeling Is Used

Conceptual models play an increasingly important role for business process engineering, information systems development, and customizing of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Despite the widespread interest in conceptual modeling, relatively little is known to date on the level and nature of conceptual modeling use in practice. Therefore our study investigates how practitioners use conceptual modeling. In particular, we address the following three key questions: To what extent do practitioners use conceptual modeling techniques and tools? How relevant is conceptual modeling for certain purposes? Are there barriers and success factors in using conceptual modeling? This paper informs information systems professionals about recent trends in the area of conceptual modeling. The results of our study should be considered when developing syllabuses for modeling courses as well as when judging the relevance of various research streams in the area of conceptual modeling.

A user-oriented ontology-based approach for network intrusion detection

A new approach is suggested for designing and developing an intrusion detection application where the domain expertise is used for generating it more easily. This approach uses ontologies as a way of grasping the knowledge of a domain, expressing the intrusion detection system much more in terms of the end users domain, generating the intrusion detection more easily and performing intelligent reasoning. Furthermore, ontologies are also used as a conceptual modeling tool allowing a non-expert person to model his/her intrusion detection application only using the concepts of intrusion detection more intuitively and more user-oriented towards his/her domain expertise.

An overview of the unified modeling language and diagrammatic modeling language design in software engineering

The need to manage the immense complexity in software engineering makes tools and methods essential, and requires that they be designed in accordance with well-defined principles. Surprisingly, there is yet no explicit body of knowledge for designing diagrammatic modeling languages (DMLs), despite the fact that they are used extensively as the primary conceptual modeling tools in software engineering. This paper provides an overview of the new and growing field of DML design that aims at compiling such a body of knowledge. The paper starts with relevant definitions and a brief introduction of the current de-facto standard DML of software engineering called the Unified Modeling Language (UML), and offers a short account of efforts and directions in DML design.

CODASYS

The paper describes the main features of a prototype tool CODASYS (COnceptual modeling tool for DAtabase SYStems), which purports to help novice designers engaged in conceptual data modeling. It is well known that conceptual data modeling is an error-prone process for novice database designers. The tool assists a designer in developing an entity-relationship diagram that can be translated to a normalized relational representation, free of derived dependencies. We first discuss a set of requirements for the tool that is based on achieving normal forms, on preventing data modeling errors, and on a theoretical foundation. We then discuss how the tool achieves the four normal forms and prevents common database errors such as incorrect degree, incorrect connectivity, and derived relationships. Further, we provide a cognitive framework for understanding novice error behavior and elaborate on how CODASYS addresses cognitive strain in database design. Next, we present the features of the tool and, with the help of flowcharts, discuss how these features have been implemented using a rule-based approach. It may be noted that empirical studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of the tool and have indicated significant improvement in novice designer performance.

Derived types and taxonomic constraints in conceptual modeling

This paper analyzes the relationships between derived types and taxonomic constraints. The objectives are to see which taxonomic constraints are entailed by derivation rules and to analyze how taxonomic constraints can be satisfied in presence of derived types. We classify derived entity types into several classes. The classification reveals the taxonomic constraints entailed in each case. These constraints must be base constraints (defined in the taxonomy) or derivable from them. We show how the base taxonomic constraints can be satisfied, either by the derivation rules (or the whole schema), or by enforcement. We also show that our results extend naturally to taxonomies of relationship types. Our results are general and could be incorporated into many conceptual modeling environments and tools. The expected benefits are an improvement in the verification of the consistency between taxonomic constraints and derivation rules, and a guide (to the information system designer) for the determination of the taxonomic constraints that must be enforced in the final system.

KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING OF A MONITORING AND CONTROL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM

This paper presents the Object-Oriented Knowledge Engineering (OOKE) methodology and its application in developing an expert system. OOKE is an expert system development methodology which incorporates the conceptual modelling tool of Inferential Modelling Technique into the analysis model of the Object-Oriented Software Engineering methodology. It was applied to develop a supervisory and decision support system for monitor and control of a water distribution system called the Water Advisor. The expertise, heuristics and reasoning knowledge of experts were acquired and then formulated in a model building process using the OOKE into a conceptual model which became the basis for a prototype expert system.

A knowledge-based system approach for code-checking of steel structures according to Eurocode 3

In steel structure design code-checking according to Eurocode 3 is a comprehensive task. Checking of resistance and classification of cross-sections needed for the determination of the type of frame analysis (elastic, plastic) and the cross-sectional strength is especially complex. However, effective application of these rules is a problem due to complexity and inaccessibility of the rules. This leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation by designers. Further, rules seem to be incomplete and inconsistent. This paper describes a knowledge based system approach for checking completeness and consistency of rules in Eurocode 3 and for improving the accessibility of these rules. In order to realise this we use the conceptual modelling language “Decision Tables” to model the rules and the conceptual modelling tool “AKTS” to draw and access the decision tables. Decision tables clearly demonstrate incompleteness and inconsistency of knowledge. AKTS enables us to model knowledge in decision tables and to access this knowledge. This makes Decision Tables and AKTS an excellent combination for the development of a knowledge based system to support a complete and consistent resistance check and classification of cross-sections in steel structures according to Eurocode 3.

A visual approach to object-oriented analysis based on abstract diagrams

Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) methods are rapidly getting a wide consensus. They are mainly based on a diagrammatic approach. Diagrams are intuitive, fast to learn and easy to use. However, they lack of a formal basis and their semantics is mainly descriptive. Furthermore, validation and verification of analysis specifications are, to a large extent, performed manually. Conversely, formal specification methods, such as Z or Larch, do not guarantee the same level of intuitiveness and have not been conceived for a diagrammatic representation.In this paper we present a visual, diagrammatic OOAD method conceived to joining formality and intuitive user interaction. The method is organised in three layers. The external layer allows the user directly manipulate diagrams representing analysis specifications. The internal layer represents the formal model of the application being analysed. Then we have an intermediate layer that decouples the two, so that the external (presentation) layer has the independence from the formal layer that allows the flexibility to meet at the best the interaction needs of the user. The proposed method has been embodied in Mosaico, an O-O conceptual modeling tool developed at IASI-CNR.

An ER Based Methodology for Modeling User Views and Detecting Derived Relationships

The entity relationship (ER) data model has become the most popular conceptual data modeling tool. Most CASE and expert tools that perform data modeling are based on the ER model. Further, many ER-based methodologies have been proposed. No ER-based methodology, however, has presented a systematic approach to model user views. This paper suggests an ER-based methodology for data modeling of user views even if they are complex and involve many layers of nested data. The methodology can not only handle binary relationships, but also ternary and higher degree relationships. In addition, it includes a methodical approach to detect derived relationships. It should be possible to implement the methodology in a CASE or expert tool.

Object-oriented design and programming in medical decision support

The concept of object-oriented design and programming has recently received a great deal of attention from the software engineering community. This paper highlights the realisable benefits of using the object-oriented approach in the design and development of clinical decision support systems. These systems seek to build a computational model of some problem domain and therefore tend to be exploratory in nature. Conventional procedural design techniques do not support either the process of model building or rapid prototyping. The central concepts of the object-oriented paradigm are introduced, namely encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, and their use illustrated in a case study, taken from the domain of breast histopathology. In particular, the dual roles of inheritance in object-oriented programming are examined, i.e., inheritance as a conceptual modelling tool and inheritance as a code reuse mechanism. It is argued that the use of the former is not entirely intuitive and may be difficult to incorporate into the design process. However, inheritance as a means of optimising code reuse offers substantial technical benefits.

Understanding object-oriented: a unifying paradigm

Understanding object-oriented: a unifying paradigm