Supporting Model-to-Model Transformations: The VMT Approach

The model-driven architecture approach (MDA) promotes software development as driven by a thorough modeling phase where application code is automatically generated from a platform specific UML model (PSM). The idea is that the PSM is itself derived from a platform independent UML model (PIM). Such code generation and model derivation are examples of model-to-model transformations. This paper presents the Visual Model Transformation (VMT) approach, which includes a transformation language and a tool to support UML model transformations. The transformation language is a visual declarative language that supports the specification, composition and reuse of model transformation rules. These rules make use of the OCL language and a visual notation to indicate the selection, creation, modification and removal of model elements. An abstract denotational semantics based on graph transformation is sketched for the VMT language. We also present the MEDAL tool, which is a prototype build on top of IBM/Rational XDE development environment, and is a first step towards tool support for the VMT approach

Incorporating Model-Driven Techniques into Requirements Engineering for the Service-Oriented Development Process

Abstract. Modern information systems, which are the result of the interconnection of systems of many organizations, run in variable contexts, and require both a lightweight approach to interoperability and the capability to actively react to changing requirements and failures. Model-Driven Development (MDD) and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) are software development approaches that deal with this complexity, reducing time and cost development and augmenting flexibility and interoperability. Although, requirements engineering is accepted as a critical activity in these approaches, there is a need to appropriately integrate and automate the requirements modeling and transformation tasks as part of MDD and SOA development approaches. Our proposal is a Rational Unified Process (RUP) extension, in which the requirements discipline is placed in a model-driven context in order to derive SOAs. This paper includes the definition of a model-driven requirements process including activities, roles, and work products

Ambiguity and Conflict in Policy Implementation: The Case of the New Care Models (Vanguard) Programme in England

Policy driven change is challenging, with a significant gap between theory and practice. A key tension in enacting such change is achieving a balance between bottom-up development of local, context-specific approaches, and top-down, centrally determined policy solutions and their mutual sequencing. Ideal type models of the policy-making process envisage a rational ordered approach, driven by evidence and accompanied by ongoing evaluation of outcomes (Parsons, 1995, p77); however, the reality is far more complex. We examine the implementation and early operation of the New Care Models (NCM) Vanguard programme in England, using Matland’s (1995) ambiguity-conflict model, to explore the aims and expectations of the programme. We consider the relationship between top-down and bottom-up approaches to policy development and draw attention to the pressures coming from what was initially perceived as a permissive policy approach of encouraging experimentation, whilst also requiring rapid learning, scale and spread. We suggest that future programmes for large-scale policy implementation initiatives could be crafted differently to take account of the environment of implementation and render ambitions more realistic. Rather than aiming to create a set of definite products and templates, it may be that a set of principles for design and implementation should be developed and spread

Sustainable mobility governance in smart cities for urban policy development – a scoping review and conceptual model

Purpose The aim of this study is to propose a governance model and key performance indicators on how policy makers can contribute to a more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable mobility within and across smart cities to examine sustainable urban mobility grounded on the rational management of public transportation infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach This study employed desk research methodology grounded on secondary data from existing documents and previous research to develop a sustainable mobility governance model that explores key factors that influence future urban policy development. The collected secondary data was descriptively analyzed to provide initiatives and elements needed to achieve sustainable mobility services in smart cities. Findings Findings from this study provide evidence on how cities can benefit from the application of data from different sources to provide value-added services to promote integrated and sustainable mobility. Additionally, findings from this study discuss the role of smart mobility for sustainable services and the application for data driven initiatives towards sustainable smart cities to enhance mobility interconnectivity, accessibility, and multimodality. Findings from this study identifies technical and non-technical factors that impact the sustainable mobility transition.acceptedVersio