On the Role of Assertions for Conceptual Modeling as Enablers of Composable Simulation Solutions

This research provides a much needed systematic review of the roles that assertions play in model composability and simulation interoperability. In doing so, this research contributes a partial solution to one of the problems of model composability and simulation interoperability—namely, why do simulation systems fail to achieve the maximum level of interoperability possible? It demonstrates the importance of the assertions that are made during model development and simulation implementation, particularly as they reflect the unique viewpoint of each developer or user. It hypothesizes that it is possible to detect composability conflicts by means of a four-step process developed by the author for capturing and comparing assertions. It demonstrates the process using a well understood example problem—the Falling Body Problem—developing a formal model of assertion, a strategy for assertion comparison, an inventory of forces, and a catalog of significant assertions that might be made for each term in the solution to the problem. Finally, it develops a software application to implement the strategy for comparing sets of assertions. The software successfully detects potential conflicts between ontologies that were otherwise determined to be ontologically consistent, thus proving the hypothesis