Graph Transformation Concepts for Meta-model Evolution Guaranteeing Permanent Type Conformance throughout Model Migration

In this chapter, we present our approach for the definition of Multi-View Visual Languages (MVVLs). These are languages made of a set of different diagram types, which are used to specify the different aspects of a system. A prominent example of this kind of languages is UML, which defines a set of diagrams for the description of the static and dynamic elements of software systems. In the multi-view approach, consistency checking is essential to verify that the combination of the various system views yields a consistent description of the system. We use two techniques to define environments for MVVLs: meta-modelling and graph transformation. The former is used to describe the syntax of the whole language. In addition, we define a meta-model for each diagram type of the language (that we call viewpoint) as a restriction of the complete MVVL meta-model. From this high-level description, we can generate a customized environment supporting the definition of multiple system views. Consistency between views is ensured by translating each one of them into a unique repository model which is conformant to the meta-model of the whole language. The translation is performed by automatically generated graph transformation rules. Whenever a change is performed in a view, some rules are triggered to update the repository. These updates may trigger other rules to propagate the changes from the repository to the rest of the views. In our approach, graph transformation techniques are also used for other purposes, such as model simulation, optimization and transformation into other formalisms. In this chapter, we also discuss the integration of these concepts in the AToM3 tool, and show some illustrative examples by generating an environment for a small subset of UML.

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Automating the Migration of Enterprise Architecture Models

International Journal of Information System Modeling and Design ◽

10.4018/ijismd.2016040104 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 72-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nuno Silva ◽

Francisco Ferreira ◽

Pedro Sousa ◽

Miguel Mira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Enterprise Architecture ◽

Development Projects ◽

Migration Process ◽

Model Evolution ◽

Management Tools ◽

Meta Model ◽

Manual Task ◽

Business Requirements ◽

Enterprise Architectures

The evolution of Enterprise Architectures (EA) is the result of applying EA development projects within organizations with the goal of accomplishing specific business requirements. Recent approaches seek to automate and improve EA practice within organizations by employing EA management tools. Thus, evolving the organization's EA meta-model is a consequence of fulfilling such initiatives. Currently, the migration of EA models conforming to a specific EA meta-model evolution is a manual task in which EA data corresponding to the actual models is gathered and the models re-designed. This results in an error-prone and time-consuming task. To address this issue, the authors propose a set of migration rules to automate the migration process. The proposed migration rules were implemented within an EA tool and then demonstrated and validated using a fictitious organization migration scenario.

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Assessing the impact of meta-model evolution: a measure and its automotive application

Software & Systems Modeling ◽

10.1007/s10270-017-0601-1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 1419-1445

Author(s):

Darko Durisic ◽

Miroslaw Staron ◽

Matthias Tichy ◽

Jörgen Hansson

Keyword(s):

Automotive Application ◽

Model Evolution ◽

Meta Model ◽

The Impact

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Evolution of ArchiMate and ArchiMate Models

New Perspectives on Information Systems Modeling and Design - Advances in Computer and Electrical Engineering ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7271-8.ch001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Nuno Silva ◽

Pedro Sousa ◽

Miguel Mira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Enterprise Architecture ◽

Fundamental Aspect ◽

Modeling Language ◽

Model Driven Engineering ◽

Meta Model ◽

Model Driven ◽

Model Migration ◽

Tightly Coupled ◽

Architecture Modeling ◽

Over Time

Models are a fundamental aspect of enterprise architecture, as they capture the concepts and relationships that describe the essentials of the different enterprise domains. These models are tightly coupled to an enterprise architecture modeling language that defines the rules for creating and updating such models. In the model-driven engineering field, these languages are formalized as meta-models. Over time, to keep up with the need to capture a more complex reality in their enterprise architecture models, organizations need to enrich the meta-model and, consequently, migrate the existing models. Model migration poses a strenuous modeling effort with the gathering of enterprise data and model redesign, leading to an error-prone and time-consuming task. In this chapter, the authors present a catalog of co-evolution operations for enabling automation of ArchiMate model migration based on a set of meta-model changes.

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