Model-Based System Architecture

Foreword

Contrary to popular myth, models are not new to systems engineering. Models are the way engineers analyze both problems and solutions, so systems models are as old as systems engineering itself. With the traditional focus on written specifications as the “source of truth,” models were secondary and descriptive – sometimes reflected as simple sketches, sometimes shown in formal diagrams, partially captured in analysis packages, and often trapped in the mind of the chief engineer. The transformation of systems engineering from document-centric to model-centric practices is not about the introduction of models. It is about making models explicit and moving them to the foreground where they serve as the authoritative tool for design, analysis, communication, and system specification.

Organizations today are investing heavily in representations, standards, methodologies, and technologies to transform the practice of systems engineering through model-driven paradigms. To manage the complexity of today's problems; to keep pace with today's rapidly evolving technologies; to capture the required knowledge regarding the problem, solution, and rationale; to respond effectively to change – all require that systems engineering join the other engineering disciplines in moving beyond document-centric techniques and embracing the power of a model-based foundation. With energy and focus over the last ten years has come notable progress. The industry has advanced in the area of representations ...