Assessing a Model-Driven Web-Application Engineering Approach

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) by reframing software development as the transformation of high-level models, promises lots of gains to Software Engineering in terms of productivity, quality and reusability. Although a number of empirical studies have established the reality of these gains, there are still lots of reluctances toward the adoption of MDE in practice. This resistance can be explained by several technological and social factors among which a natural scepticism toward novel approaches. In this paper we attempt to provide arguments to help alleviate this scepticism by conducting an assessment of a MDE approach. Our goal is to show that although this MDE is novel, it retains similarities with the conventional Software Engineering approach while automating aspects of it.

NDT-Suite: A Methodological Tool Solution in the Model-Driven Engineering Paradigm

Although the Model-Driven paradigm is being accepted in the research environment as a very useful and powerful option for effective software development, its real application in the enterprise context is still a challenge for software engineering. Several causes can be stacked out, but one of them can be the lack of tool support for the efficient application of this paradigm. This paper presents a set of tools, grouped in a suite named NDT-Suite, which under the Model-Driven paradigm offer a suitable solution for software development. These tools explore different options that this paradigm can improve such as, development, quality assurance or requirement treatment. Besides, this paper analyses how they are being successfully applied in the industry.

An ontological metamodeling framework for semantic simulation model engineering

Recently,the ontological metamodel plays an increasingly important role to specify systems in two forms:ontology and metamodel.Ontology is a descriptive model representing reality by a set of concepts,their interrelations,and constraints.On the other hand,metamodel is a more classical,but more powerful model in which concepts and relationships are represented in a prescriptive way.This study firstly clarifies the difference between the two approaches,then explains their advantages and limitations,and attempts to explore a general ontological metamodeling framework by integrating each characteristic,in order to implement semantic simulation model engineering.As a proof of concept,this paper takes the combat effectiveness simulation systems as a motivating case,uses the proposed framework to define a set of ontological composable modeling frameworks,and presents an underwater targets search scenario for running simulations and analyzing results.Finally,this paper expects that this framework will be generally used in other fields.

基于MDE的异构模型转换：从MARTE模型到FIACRE模型

通过研究一个具有代表性的UML/MARTE(unified modeling language/modeling and analysis of real time and embedded systems)模型向FIACRE(intermediate format for the architectures of embedded distributed components)形式模型的转换实例,探讨了异构模型之间在语义和语法层的相互转换问题.在语义层,通过模型转换技术构造语义映射规则,实现元语言之间的转换;在语法层,通过构造元模型的具体语法,反映元语言的语法规则,从而产生目标模型的程序实体.基于此实例研究,探讨了通用转换途径的相关框架和关键技术,并讨论了转换工作的优缺点和实用性.

Model architecture-oriented combat system effectiveness simulation based on MDE

Combat system effectiveness simulation (CSES) is a special type of complex system simulation. Three non-functional requirements (NFRs), i.e. model composability, domain specific modeling, and model evolvability, are gaining higher priority from CSES users when evaluating different modeling methodologies for CSES. Traditional CSES modeling methodologies are either domain-neutral (lack of domain characteristics consideration and limited support for model composability) or domain-oriented (lack of openness and evolvability) and fall short of the three NFRs. Inspired by the concept of architecture in systems engineering and software engineering fields, we extend it into a concept of model architecture for complex simulation systems, and propose a model architecture-oriented modeling methodology in which the model architecture plays a central role in achieving the three NFRs. Various model-driven engineering (MDE) approaches and technologies, including simulation modeling platform (SMP), unified modeling language (UML), domain specific modeling (DSM), eclipse modeling framework (EMF), graphical modeling framework (GMF), and so forth, are applied where possible in representing the CSES model architecture and its components' behaviors from physical and cognitive domain aspects. A prototype CSES system, called weapon effectiveness simulation system (WESS), and a non-trivial air-combat simulation example are presented to demonstrate the methodology.

UML-based combat effectiveness simulation system modeling within MDE

To reduce complexity, the combat effectiveness simulation system(CESS) is often decomposed into static structure,physical behavior, and cognitive behavior, and model abstraction is layered onto domain invariant knowledge(DIK) and application variant knowledge(AVK) levels. This study concentrates on the specification of CESS’s physical behaviors at the DIK level of abstraction, and proposes a model driven framework for efficiently developing simulation models within model-driven engineering(MDE). Technically, this framework integrates the four-layer metamodeling architecture and a set of model transformation techniques with the objective of reducing model heterogeneity and enhancing model continuity. As a proof of concept, a torpedo example is illustrated to explain how physical models are developed following the proposed framework. Finally, a combat scenario is constructed to demonstrate the availability, and a further verification is shown by a reasonable agreement between simulation results and field observations.

Tests Management in CALIPSOneo: A MDE Solution

Testing in Software Engineering is one of the most important phases although, unfortunately, it cannot be always successfully fulfilled due to time constraints. In most cases, the development phase takes more time than it was estimated, entailing negative effects on the testing phase. The delay increases even more in Research and Development (R + D) projects, where the real time to execute tasks is more difficult to control. Model Driven Engineering (MDE) offers a solution to avoid testing costs without affecting the execution quality of the applied test. This paper presents a practical overview of a Model Driven Testing (MDT)-based methodology and its impact on CALIPSOneo project, which was carried out in liaison with Airbus Defense and Space and, particularly, with the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) department.

A Reference Model for the Analysis and Comparison of MDE Approaches for Web-Application Development

The emerging Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) paradigm advocates the use of models as first-class citizens in the software development process, while artifacts such as documentation and source-code can be quickly produced from those models by using automated transformations. Even though many MDE-oriented approaches, languages and tools have been developed in the recent past, there is no standard that concretely defines a specific sequence of steps to obtain a functional software system from a model. Thus, the existing approaches present numerous differences among themselves, because each one handles the problems inherent to software development in its own way. This paper presents and discusses a reference model for the comparative study of current MDE approaches in the scope of web-application development. This reference model focuses on relevant aspects such as modeling language scope (domain, business-logic, user-interface), usage of patterns, separation of concerns, model transformations, tool support, and deployment details like web-platform independence and traditional programming required. The ultimate goal of this paper is to determine the aspects that will be of greater importance in future web-oriented MDE languages.

DSML ProcGraph: Overview and a Mid-Size Industrial Application Example

This paper presents model-based approach to process-control software development. The presented approach enables modelling of control software in a straightforward manner and, at the same time, on a high level of abstraction. The essence of the presented approach is a high-level, domain-specific modelling language ProcGraph, which is based on three types of diagrams that describe the modelled system using a domain-oriented hierarchical structure of interdependent procedural control entities and state-transition diagrams describing the behaviour of the procedural control entities. The presented concept is demonstrated by means of higher-level model segments of a real process-control application that deals with the micronisation process in the production of titanium dioxide. The presented industrial case shows that the application of ProcGraph provides adequate expressive power for an elegant preparation of graphic specifications in a transparent and easy way.

运行时软件体系结构的建模与维护

运行时体系结构是系统运行时刻的一个动态、结构化的抽象,描述系统当前的组成成分、各成分的状态和配置以及不同成分之间的关系.运行时体系结构与目标系统间具有动态的因果关联,即系统的变化及时体现在体系结构上,而对体系结构的修改及时影响当前系统.运行时体系结构允许开发者以读写体系结构的方式实现系统的监测和调整,是体系结构层次系统动态适应与在线演化的基础.构造运行时体系结构的关键是针对不同的目标系统和体系结构风格实现合适的基础设施,以维护二者之间的因果关联.由于目标系统和体系结构的多样性以及因果关联维护逻辑的复杂性,这一构造过程往往过于繁琐、易错、难以复用和维护.提出一种模型驱动的运行时体系结构构造方法.开发者只需针对目标系统、体系结构以及两者之间的关系分别进行建模,根据这些模型,支撑框架自动构造合法而高效的运行时体系结构基础设施.基于MOF和QVT标准建模语言定义了一组运行时体系结构建模语言,并基于通用的模型与系统间同步技术实现了相应的支撑框架.一系列实例研究表明,该方法具有广泛的适用性,并显著提高了运行时体系结构构造过程的效率与可复用性.

模型驱动工程在分布式实时嵌入式系统QoS评价中的应用

在分析传统的分布式实时嵌入式系统开发过程中,针对服务质量(QoS)评价方法存在弊端的问题,总结了运用模型驱动工程(MDE)对分布式实时嵌入式系统的服务质量进行管理,将服务质量评价引入系统开发周期的各种探索,指出该方法应解决的几个关键问题,并分析了几种具有代表性解决方案的优缺点,提出了解决方法和建议。

基于ASM的元模型形式化语义的研究

提出一种在模型驱动开发过程中的形式化语义描述方法。该方法利用元建模技术,形式化地描述了元模型及其语义间的映射关系,以提供精确的语义描述,从而为模型驱动开发提供有力的支持。将描述框架用于模型转换规则的定义以及元模型的分析与验证,并以简单Petri网为例,说明该方法可以有效地支持模型转换和代码生成。

基于VMD多尺度散布熵的柴油机故障诊断方法

为从非平稳非线性的缸盖振动信号中提取出柴油机故障特征,本文中提出一种基于变分模态分解(VMD)的多尺度散布熵的柴油机失火故障诊断方法。利用VMD对柴油机缸盖振动信号进行分解,选取散布熵最小的模态分量作为分析信号,计算该信号的多尺度散布熵,并选取前6个尺度散布熵作为故障特征向量,输入粒子群优化的支持向量机(PSO-SVM)中进行失火故障分类判断,并与其他4种常见方法进行对比,结果表明,本文中提出的诊断方法能够有效提取故障特征,准确识别故障类型,优于所对比方法。

ARINC653航空电子系统AADL建模技术研究

随着ARINC653系统在我国航空领域的广泛应用,研究ARINC653系统建模方法将为进一步研究基于模型的ARINC653系统可靠性、可调度性分析奠定基础。详细研究了ARINC653系统AADL建模的方法,具体描述了ARINC653系统、分区、进程、进程通信和健康监控等核心元素的AADL建模映射机制,并进行实例说明。

A Model Transformation Approach for Detecting Distancing Violations in Weighted Graphs

This work presents the design of an Internet of Things(IoT)edge-based system based on model transformation and complete weighted graph to detect violations of social distancing measures in indoor public places.Awireless sensor network based on Bluetooth Low Energy is introduced as the infrastructure of the proposed design.A hybrid model transformation strategy for generating a graph database to represent groups of people is presented as a core middleware layer of the detecting system’s proposed architectural design.A Neo4j graph database is used as a target implementation generated from the proposed transformational system to store all captured real-time IoT data about the distances between individuals in an indoor area and answer user predefined queries,expressed using Neo4j Cypher,to provide insights from the stored data for decision support.As proof of concept,a discrete-time simulation model was adopted for the design of a COVID-19 physical distancing measures case study to evaluate the introduced system architecture.Twenty-one weighted graphs were generated randomly and the degrees of violation of distancing measures were inspected.The experimental results demonstrate the capability of the proposed system design to detect violations of COVID-19 physical distancing measures within an enclosed area.

A survey of model-driven techniques and tools for cyber-physical systems

Cyber-physical systems(CPSs)have emerged as a potential enabling technology to handle the challenges in social and economic sustainable development.Since it was proposed in 2006,intensive research has been conducted,showing that the construction of a CPS is a hard and complex engineering process due to the nature of integrating a large number of heterogeneous subsystems.Among other approaches to dealing with the complex design issues,model-driven design of CPSs has shown its advantages.In this review paper,we present a survey of research on model-driven development of CPSs.We are concerned mainly with the widely used methods,techniques,and tools,and discuss how these are applied to CPSs.We also present comparative analyses on the surveyed techniques and tools from various perspectives,including their modeling languages,functionalities,and the challenges which they address in CPS design.With our understanding of the surveyed methods,we believe that model-driven approaches are an inevitable choice in building CPSs and further research effort is needed in the development of model-driven theories,techniques,and tools.We also argue that a unified modeling platform is needed.Such a platform would benefit research in the academic community and practical development in industry,and improve the collaboration between these two communities.

Generating native user interfaces for multiple devices by means of model transformation

In the last years, the types of devices used to access information systems have notably increased using different operating systems, screen sizes, interaction mechanisms, and software features. This device fragmentation is an important issue to tackle when developing native mobile service front-end applications. To address this issue,we propose the generation of native user interfaces(UIs) by means of model transformations, following the modelbased user interface(MBUI) paradigm. The resulting MBUI framework, called LIZARD, generates applications for multiple target platforms. LIZARD allows the definition of applications at a high level of abstraction, and applies model transformations to generate the target native UI considering the specific features of target platforms. The generated applications follow the UI design guidelines and the architectural and design patterns specified by the corresponding operating system manufacturer. The objective is not to generate generic applications following the lowest-common-denominator approach, but to follow the particular guidelines specified for each target device. We present an example application modeled in LIZARD, generating different UIs for Windows Phone and two types of Android devices(smartphones and tablets).