Conceptual Modeling Languages Research Articles

SAMM: an architecture modeling methodology for ship command and control systems

Ship command and control systems (SCCSs) are composed of large-scale, complex, real-time and software-intensive systems that complete tasks collaboratively. Open architecture has been introduced to design the architecture of SCCSs and has been refined into functional architecture (FA) and technical architecture (TA) to meet architectural requirements such as adapting fast-speed functional and technical changes. Thereby, specifying the architecture of SCCSs, based on FA and TA, becomes a key issue for stakeholders of the domain. In this paper, we propose an architecture modeling methodology (named as SAMM) for describing the architecture of SCCSs. SAMM is derived by following a systematic and generic framework--modeling Goal, domain-specific Conceptual model, architecture Viewpoint, and architecture description Language (GCVL), which guides domain experts to devise domain-specific architecture modeling methodologies of large-scale software-intensive systems. SAMM contains three viewpoints and 22 models, and a UML/SysML-based architecture description language. An industrial application of SAMM, along with the subsequent application of the derived SAMM architecture model (i.e., a deployed SCCS prototype) was conducted to evaluate SAMM. A questionnaire-based survey was also conducted to subjectively evaluate whether SAMM meets the modeling goals and its applicability. Results show that SAMM meets all modeling goals and is easy to apply.

8.5.2 Structural Modeling in Biomedical and Product Engineering

AbstractStructural modeling is common for biomedical systems as well as manufactured products. Examples and experience from both fields clarify modeling issues applicable to each field. Modeling in both fields shares the commonality that a model describes one or more physical, or virtual, structures in terms of their components and connections between components. Modeling effectiveness depends on the relationship between the model and the systems which realize or conform to the model. The logic based approaches used for biomedical modeling can be adapted for engineering with the promise that automated reasoning can be integrated into product development and maintenance. Modeling languages such as SysML provide good graphical syntax and the concepts needed for representing product decompositions and interconnections in multiple domains. This paper illustrates the benefits of working within a logic‐based framework which incorporates the concepts of part decompositions and interconnections found in SysML. The concept of a model as an axiom set used in conceptual modeling languages such as OWL 2 is applied to SysML models. This discussion is intended for model practitioners in both fields.

Model-based risk-oriented robust systems design with object-process methodology

We introduce and demonstrate ROSE – risk-oriented systems engineering, a new approach that integrates risk aspects with system analysis, modelling and design. ROSE is designed to improve the integration and coordination of system design and risk management by fusing robust design paradigms with risk analytic techniques in a model-based environment. While system design and risk management are two critical systems engineering processes, their integration is loose, because too often systems engineers and risk analysts use different semantics, techniques, and tools. This unfortunate disconnects renders risk management efforts detached from system design and management. Object-process methodology (OPM) is a bimodal visual and textual conceptual modelling language and an emerging ISO Standard (19450) for system modelling and design. Making use of OPM, ROSE integrates risk identification, modelling, analysis, mitigation, and control aspects into the robust system design process, and later into system deployment, configuration, and management. Using a commercial airliners defence system against shoulder missiles as a case in point, we demonstrate the principles and benefits of ROSE in risk-oriented systems.

Research on Consistency Checking of OntoUML Model

OntoUML is a conceptual modeling language which is built with a lightweight expansion of UML metamodel, but it doesn’t provide mechanism of consistency checking on conceptual model. The correctness of the syntax and semantics of the model still need artificial check. The paper introduced OntoUML briefly and put forward a scheme of consistency checking of OntoUML model based on description logics. By transforming into knowledge base of description logics, the detection of consistencies at the OntoUML model can be realized using existing mature reasoning system.

A Dynamic Online Interface Representing a Polyvalent Cultural Identity: The Case of Crete

Conceptual models offer the ability to capture several concepts, and more importantly their often complicated relationships, in one single view. When applying this method in order to represent a geographical region's past, this would mean an emphasis on the dynamic structure of the cultural phenomena represented and not on a formalistic evolutionary catalogue of data and de-contextualized information. Especially when dealing with complex and deep hierarchies or intangible notions, a conceptual model can offer an additional level of perceptual understanding. We use the Conceptual Modeling Language (ConML) in our proposed application for the presentation of the main monuments of Crete as a tool for organizing, manipulating, and communicating the large amounts of data such a project entails. Conceptualization and abstraction of information through different levels of detail allows the application to be light and easy to use. Moreover, the ability to switch between different historical periods offers a comparative study of the monuments evolution in time. Thus, we aim at a dynamic representation from the user of Crete's, an island characterized by the Mediterranean's rich and polyvalent historical development, culture.

Generating SysML views from an OPM model: Design and evaluation

AbstractConceptual modeling is key to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches. OPM (Object‐Process Methodology) and SysML (OMG Systems Modeling Language) are two state‐of‐the‐art conceptual modeling languages. While both languages aim at the same purpose of providing a means for general‐purpose systems engineering, these languages take different approaches in realizing this goal. As each of the languages has its relative strengths and weaknesses, ways to create synergies between them are considered in this work. We propose combining advantages of each language through automatic generation of several SysML views from an OPM model. To this end, we developed a new algorithm and software application for implementing the OPM‐to‐SysML views generation, and evaluated the results through an experiment conducted for this purpose. The formally constructed experiment described in this paper, which has been designed to test the quality of the auto‐generated diagrams and their impact on system comprehension, indicates that the addition of some auto‐generated SysML views to an OPM system model has increased system comprehension level. Our approach can benefit various stakeholders by promoting better system understanding, standardization, and improved interoperability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 14:

Enhancing the semantics of UML association redefinition

Association redefinition is a UML construct that permits us to define an association end more specifically in a particular context. Concretely, it allows specifying some additional participation and cardinality constraints on the association. Association refinements, which have been studied and used by many authors in conceptual modelling languages prior to UML, are closely related to association redefinitions. They also permit to refine the ends of an association adding participation and cardinality constraints. In this paper, we analyze and compare the semantics of both concepts and propose to extend the semantics of association redefinitions in UML to cover all the constraints that may be expressed by association refinements in other conceptual modelling languages. Additionally, we present how to integrate previous results on validation of association refinements to UML and how to generate code for a relational technology platform. Finally, we provide a prototype tool to verify the feasibility of the approach.

Theoretical foundations and engineering tools for building ontologies as reference conceptual models

Perhaps the most fundamental notion underlying the desiderata for a successful Semantic Web is Semantic Interoperability. In this context, ontologies have been more and more recognized as one of the enabling technologies. This paper defends the view that an approach which neglects the role of ontologies as reference conceptual models cannot meet the requirements for full semantic interoperability. The paper starts by offering an engineering view on ontology engineering, discussing the relation between ontologies as conceptual models and ontologies as codification artifacts. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of foundational theories and principles to the design of ontology (conceptual) modeling languages and models, emphasizing the fundamental role played by true ontological notions in this process. Finally, it elaborates on the need for proper tools to handle the complexity of ontology engineering in industrial scenarios and complex domains. These tools include ontological design patterns as well as well-founded computational environments to support ontology creation, verification and validation (via model simulation).

A Geometrically Enhanced Conceptual Model and Query Language

Motivated by our experiences with spatial modelling for the sustainable land use initiative we present a geometrically enhanced ER model (GERM), which preserves the key principles of entity-relationship modelling and at the same time introduces bulk constructors and geometric features. The model distinguishes between a syntactic level of types and an explicit internal level, in which types give rise to polyhedra that are defined by algebraic varieties. It further emphasises the stability of algebraic operations by means of a natural modelling algebra that extends the usual Boolean operations on point sets.

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.

6.1.2 Generating SysML Views from an OPM Model: Design and Evaluation

AbstractConceptual modeling is key to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches. OPM – Object‐Process Methodology and SysML – OMG Systems Modeling Language are two state‐of‐the‐art conceptual modeling languages. While both languages aim at the same purpose of providing a means for general‐purpose systems engineering, these languages take different approaches in realizing this goal. As each of the languages has its relative strengths and weaknesses, ways to create synergies between them are considered in this work. We propose combining advantages of each language through automatic generation of SysML views from an OPM model. To this end, we developed a new algorithm and software application for implementing the OPM‐to‐SysML views generation, and evaluated the results through an experiment conducted for this purpose. Our approach can benefit various stakeholders by promoting better system understanding, standardization, and improved interoperability.

Modeling languages for business processes and business rules: A representational analysis

Process modeling and rule modeling languages are both used to document organizational policies and procedures. To date, their synergies and overlap are under-researched. Understanding the relationship between the two modeling types would allow organizations to maximize synergies, avoid content duplication, and thus reduce their overall modeling effort. In this paper, we use the Bunge–Wand–Weber (BWW) representation theory to compare the representation capabilities of process and rule modeling languages. We perform a representational analysis of four rule modeling specifications: The Simple Rule Markup Language (SRML), the Semantic Web Rules Language (SWRL), the Production Rule Representation (PRR), and the Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules (SBVR) specification. We compare their BWW representation capabilities with those of four popular conceptual process modeling languages. In our analysis, we focus on the aspects of maximum ontological completeness and minimum ontological overlap. The outcome of this study shows that no single language is internally complete with respect to the BWW representation model. We also show that a combination of two languages, in particular SRML and BPMN, appears to be better suited for combined process and rule modeling than any of these modeling languages used independently.

Scalable satisfiability checking and test data generation from modeling diagrams

We explore the automatic generation of test data that respect constraints expressed in the Object-Role Modeling (ORM) language. ORM is a popular conceptual modeling language, primarily targeting database applications, with significant uses in practice. The general problem of even checking whether an ORM diagram is satisfiable is quite hard: restricted forms are easily NP-hard and the problem is undecidable for some expressive formulations of ORM. Brute-force mapping to input for constraint and SAT solvers does not scale: state-of-the-art solvers fail to find data to satisfy uniqueness and mandatory constraints in realistic time even for small examples. We instead define a restricted subset of ORM that allows efficient reasoning yet contains most constraints overwhelmingly used in practice. We show that the problem of deciding whether these constraints are consistent (i.e., whether we can generate appropriate test data) is solvable in polynomial time, and we produce a highly efficient (interactive speed) checker. Additionally, we analyze over 160 ORM diagrams that capture data models from industrial practice and demonstrate that our subset of ORM is expressive enough to handle their vast majority.

The role of Foundational Ontologies for Domain Ontology Engineering: a case study in the Software Process Domain

Foundational ontologies are theoretically well-founded domain independent systems of categories that have been successfully used to improve the quality of conceptual modeling languages and models. In this paper, we present the latest developments in the UFO ontology. Moreover, we elaborate on the relevance of these foundational ontologies in the development of domain ontologies by showing a case study in the software process domain.

Consistency preserving co-evolution of formal specifications and agent-oriented conceptual models

Many modelling techniques tend to address “late-phase” requirements while many critical modelling decisions (such as determining the main goals of the system, how the stakeholders depend on each other, and what alternatives exist) are taken during early-phase requirements engineering. The i ∗ modelling framework is a semiformal agent-oriented conceptual modelling language that is well-suited for answering these questions. This paper addresses key challenge faced in the practical deployment of agent-oriented conceptual modelling frameworks such as i ∗. Our approach to addressing this problem is based on the observation that the value of conceptual modelling in the i ∗ framework lies in its use as a notation complementary to existing requirements modelling and specification languages, i.e., the expressive power of i ∗ complements rather than supplants that of existing notations. The use of i ∗ in this fashion requires that we define methodologies that support the co-evolution of i ∗ models with more traditional specifications. This research examines how this might be done with formal specification notations (specifically Z).

Improving the definition of general constraints in UML

An important aspect in the specification of conceptual schemas is the definition of general constraints that cannot be expressed by the predefined constructs provided by conceptual modeling languages. This is generally achieved by using general-purpose languages like OCL. In this paper we propose a new approach that facilitates the definition of such general constraints in UML. More precisely, we define a profile that extends the set of predefined UML constraints by adding certain types of constraints that are commonly used in conceptual schemas. We also show how our proposal facilitates reasoning about the constraints and their automatic code generation, study the application of our ideas to the specification of two real-life applications, and present a prototype tool implementation.

Modeling multi-agent systems

Emerging from a paradigm different from objects, the modeling of agents requires its own conceptual frameworks, modeling languages, and methodologies.

Towards using visual process models to control enterprise systems functionalities

In this paper, we propose a model-driven approach for web-service development with the intention of IT infrastructure integration in enterprise models. This implies the extension of existing conceptual modelling languages with language constructs that aim at model information transparency on a web-service basis. Therefore, we assess the grammatical specification of conceptual modelling languages for business domains. Acting on the language meta-level means in this context the introduction of web-service-related constructs into widely used visual modelling grammars. The vision is the situation-dependent adaptation of software functionality to the actual documented utilisation. Economical relevance results from the reduction of significant discrepancies between enterprise systems functionalities and business requirements.

A CASE tool for modelling and automatically generating web service-enabled applications

This paper presents a CASE tool for the high-level specification of web applications integrated with web services. The CASE tool is based on WebML, a conceptual modelling language used for the specification of the front end of web applications. WebML, extended with new primitives for modelling web services, allows one to specify complex interactions between a web application, driven by the user, and remote processes, represented by services. The CASE tool also allows the specification and deployment of application functionalities as web services and automatically generates the running code, including web pages, web services calls and the exposed web services. In this paper, we describe the primitives for web services modelling, the architecture of the CASE tool for designing the applications, and the runtime architecture of the generated applications. Finally, we give an overview of some industrial applications developed with the described approach.

A method for the definition of integrity constraints in object-oriented conceptual modeling languages

We propose a new method that eases the definition of integrity constraints in object-oriented conceptual modeling languages. The essence of the method is to represent constraints by special operations that we call constraint operations. The formal specification of these operations is the definition of the corresponding constraints. The method allows the specialization of constraints and the definition of exceptions. The main application of the method is for static constraints. However, a variant of it can also be applied for creation-time and deletion-time constraints, two particular classes of temporal constraints. The method can be adapted to any object-oriented language, and we show its adaptation to the UML. We also show that our method has several advantages over existing methods.