Using patterns to support simulation and validation interoperability and re-use

摘要

Simulations are software-intensive systems that model other systems. They are usually developed to meet the needs of commercial, training, or military enterprises, but little support is available to help engineers reason about interoperation between simulation processes and the system and software engineering processes of these enterprises, or to help them simultaneously satisfy the many related standards and guidelines. Dealing with these interfaces has been a challenge for the European REVVA consortium when developing some ideas being taken forward by the SISO GM-VV PDG. Goal-based standards and guidelines, such as the generic methodology for verification and validation (GM-VV), are becoming increasingly attractive to standards organisations. This is because they are easier to develop and more resilient to change than procedural-based approaches. However, experience shows that they place higher demands on users and verifiers than their procedural predecessors. This may become critical at interfaces, if engineers lack experience of one or more of the interfacing domains. Then, reuse of proven patterns may be the only way to ensure reliable delivery against demanding cost, time and performance targets. This paper is based on SE Validation Limited's work in developing pattern-based approaches to help overcome such challenges. The paper specifically addresses the use of problem-based patterns with problem-frame and goal-structuring graphically-based networks as a basis for designing, planning, communicating and justifying simulation endeavours.