Visualization of SysML Project Meta-Model Architecture and Evolution

Abstract

Large and complex projects, such as infrastructure, often require the collaboration of multiple parties and disciplines, where an structured interdisciplinary methodology is necessary: Systems Engineering. This field traditionally relied on a document based approach, but is currently transitioning to a model based variant, with the Systems Modeling Language as one of its main standards. Visual modeling platforms, such as Enterprise Architect, allow to design and construct models in SysML. However, these tools lack proper measurement and visualization functionality to deal with project specific meta-model architectures. To overcome these limitations a software tool was developed using the extract-abstract-present paradigm: VoSMA. Also, multiple measurements were developed applying the Goal-Question-Metric approach, and different visualization methodologies were explored to present this information. Three SysML tunnel projects were analyzed as test case studies to assess the usefulness and correctness of the generated data, and multiple feedback sessions were conducted with experienced systems engineers. The results are very promising and indicate that the data generated may greatly benefit project development. Based on the results of the evaluation and the achieved progress, some suggestions and possible future directions were provided at the end of this study.