Reference modelling in support of M&S—foundations and applications

Abstract

Whether by design or by practice, systems engineering (SE) processes are used more and more often in Modeling and Simulation (M&S). While the two disciplines are very close, there are some differences that must be taken into account in order to successfully reuse practices from one community to another. In this paper, we introduce the M&S System Development Framework (MS-SDF) that unifies SE and M&S processes. The MS-SDF comprises the SE processes of requirements capture, conceptual modelling, and verification and validation (V&V), and extends them to M&S. We use model theory as a deductive apparatus in order to develop the MS-SDF. We discuss the benefits of the MS-SDF especially in the selection between federation development and multi-model approaches and the design of composable models and simulations. Lastly, a real life application example of the framework is provided.

Keywords:

• conceptual modelling
• model theory
• systems engineering
• verification & validation

Notes

1 A comprehensive exploration of the term ‘system’ is outside of the scope of this paper. Informally and generally speaking, a system is a collection of elements (related to one another) exhibiting a collective behaviour. Informally and specifically speaking, a system in systems engineering is a man-made solution to a well-defined problem. There are many other working definitions but until we formally define terms, we choose not to abide by one and consider that informal definitions are equivalent.

2 The term reference model, as introduced in this paper, is addressing a collection of all relevant real-world referents and the perceptions thereof in form of a collection of statements using mathematical logic. This approach of capturing real-world referents has been adapted from semiotics and has been applied to address M&S challenges by Turnitsa and Tolk (2008) and generalized by Hofmann et al (2011). It should not be confused with the reference model used in systems and software engineering that are abstract frameworks of common concepts.