Scenario-Based Development and Verification of Domain-Specific Languages

The use of domain-specific languages (DSLs) has increased manifold for problem solving in specific domain areas as they allow for a wider variety of expressions within their domain. Modeling using DSLs has shown high increases in productivity after accounting for the time and cost expended in developing them, making them a suitable target for improvement in order to reap higher rewards. The currently used approach for domain modeling involves the creation of an ontology which is then used to describe the domain model. This ontology encapsulates all domain knowledge and can be cumbersome to create, requiring external sources of information and assistance from a domain expert. This dissertation first discusses the use and importance of DSLs for scenario generation for a domain and presents an extension to the Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL). The main contribution of this dissertation is a novel framework for scenario based development of DSLs, called the Domain-Specific Scenario (DoSS) framework. This framework proposes the use of scenarios in natural language, which are currently used in requirements engineering and testing, as the basis for developing the domain model iteratively. An example of the use of this approach is provided by developing a domain model for ASDL and comparing the published model with one obtained using DoSS. This approach is supplemented with a case study to validate the claim that DoSS is easier to use by non-experts in the domain by having a user create a model and comparing it to one obtained by the author. These models were found to be almost identical, showing a promising return for this approach. The time taken and effort required to create this model by the user were recorded and found to be quite low, although no similar results have been published so no comparison could be made. State charts are then used for verification of scenarios to ensure the conformity between scenarios and models. The dissertation also discusses applications of the ideas presented here, specifically, the use of ASDL for Air Traffic Control training scenarios and the use of DoSS for ontology generation

Formal Scenario Definition Language for Aviation: Aircraft Landing Case Study

Although the importance of scenarios in modeling and simulation has long been well known, there still exists a lack of common understanding and standardized practices in simulation scenario development. This paper proposes a Domain-Specific Language (DLS) to provide a standard scenario specification that will lead to a common mechanism for verifying and executing aviation scenarios, effective sharing of scenarios among various simulation environments, improve the consistency among different simulators and simulations, and even enable the reuse of scenario specifications. Following DSL design practices, the proposed Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) will provide a well-structured definition language to formally specify complete aircraft landing scenarios. In order to capture the necessary constructs for a simulation scenario, Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Base Object Model (BOM) is adopted as the baseline metamodel. This baseline is extended using the fundamentals of aircraft landing that cover all the domain-related concepts and terminology as constructs. By taking a formal approach in defining aviation scenarios, ASDL aims at providing consistency and completeness checking, and model-to-text transformations capabilities for various targets in the aviation scenario definition domain. The results of this work will be used to develop a graphical modeling environment and automatic means to transform scenario models into executable scenario scripts. The work presented here is the first stepping stone in formal scenario definition in aviation domain

SES and Ecore for Ontology-based Scenario Modeling in Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL)

The Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) is a domain-specific language proposal which aims to provide a standard aviation scenario specification mechanism and enable the reuse of scenario generation methods among different simulators. This paper presents a model-based scenario development approach that exploits Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) core (Ecore) and System Entity Structure (SES) for metamodeling and modeling these elements. The construction of the ASDL metamodel using both platforms is described to illustrate the processes. As a result of comparing two approaches, it is concluded that they follow a similar structure in the hierarchical definition of modeled elements despite there being different toolsets available in each method. Thereby, each metamodel can be easily converted into the other type using transformations. As an application use case, the use of the proposed ontology-based scenario development in the aviation domain is discussed, where a training tool is being developed that utilizes SES/Ecore approach to build a scenario-driven training tool for air traffic controllers

OWL Ontology to ECORE Metamodel Transformation for Designing a Domain Specific Language to Develop Aviation Scenarios

Ontology-driven software development has gained significant interest in domain-specific application development. Ontologies are treated as formal models representing the knowledge, which can be eventually used for automatic code generation. Among existing modeling technologies, the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) has been widely used to generate domain-specific metamodels using Ecore, and all the way to generation of the Java code. Such robust technologies suggest mapping ontologies to metamodels through series of transformations. A number of efforts have tried mapping ontologies to Ecore metamodels for fast code generation and knowledge consistency. In this paper we suggest transforming an OWL-based ontology model to EMF Ecore metamodel for designing a Domain Specific Language (DSL). We present the ontology developed for Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) to capture various simulation scenarios in the aviation domain. We demonstrate key terminologies and their use and definitions in order to generate flight simulation scenarios such as: landing, departure, reroute, etc. The use of Web Ontology Language (OWL) in developing ASDL ontology is discussed and its relation to ASDL Ecore metamodel is presented. This paper finally elaborates the challenges and shortfalls in mapping OWL ontology to Ecore metamodel in EMF

Graphical Specification of Flight Scenarios with Aviation Scenario Defintion Language (ASDL)

The Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) has been proposed as a domain-specific language providing a well-structured definition language to specify departure, enroute, re-route, and landing scenarios. Exploiting the capabilities of Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF), ASDL provides a holistic conceptual metamodel construct to define all entities, attributes, and relationships needed to specify a complete flight scenario. Representing scenario models graphically, increases effectiveness of communication by providing fast, easy, and accurate method of transferring information among interested parties. It is well known that graphical diagrams are more effective than text in the communication between end-users and or domain experts. As such, models are majorly delivered graphically and supported by graphical design and editing tools. In order to provide an easy-to-use drag and drop framework to construct flight scenario models, here we present a graphical modeling and editing interface to ASDL. The proposed graphical scenario specification tool is developed using EMF Forms within EMF which provides a rapid mechanism to develop tools for modelling languages. The effort presented here will provide a graphical modeling and editing tool to specify ASDL flight scenarios while automatically validating user input and providing consistency and completeness checking. Backed by model-driven approach, the graphical modeling interface will hide all the ASDL language development details, making the tool suitable for non-developers such as pilots and air traffic controllers. This paper will include details on building the graphical framework with Eclipse Modeling Framework. We provide the detailed components of the generated GUI, highlighting the tool’s capabilities and user’s interactions. As a case-study, we also provide an example flight scenario model built using the presented tool

Automatic Generation of Flight Simulation Scenarios with Aviation Scenario Definition Language

The rise of modeling and simulation has been phenomenal in aviation as a swift, accurate, and cost-effective method for experimentation and training. However, there still exists a lack of common understanding and standardized practices in the simulation scenario development process. This paper presents a detailed overview of the Aviation Scenario Definition Language, which provides a standard scenario specification mechanism in the aviation domain. The Aviation Scenario Definition Language provides a well-structured definition language to formally specify a complete flight simulation scenario. This paper provides the technical details of the Aviation Scenario Definition Language and its underlying Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization standard base object model. A case study for unmanned aerial vehicle flight is presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the Aviation Scenario Definition Language in automatically generating simulation scenario scripts for a target flight simulator

Formal Verification of Simulation Scenarios in Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL)

Formal methods offer well-defined means for mathematical verification of the functional specifications of software systems. For model-based engineering, model checking is a verification technique that explores all possible system states. The Aviation Scenario Definition Language is a domain-specific language designed based on a scenario development process from a model-driven engineering perspective. It aims at providing a well-structured definition language to specify departure, en route, re-route, and landing scenarios. This paper uses statecharts and a model checker for the verification of each scenario generated and uses examples to demonstrate conformance to the rules established in the statecharts to verify the logic of all future scenarios

Formal Scenario Definition Language for Aviation: Aircraft Landing Case Sudy

Although the importance of scenarios in modeling and simulation has long been well known, there still exists a lack of common understanding and standardized practices in simulation scenario development. This paper proposes a Domain-Specific Language (DLS) to provide a standard scenario specification that will lead to a common mechanism for verifying and executing aviation scenarios, effective sharing of scenarios among various simulation environments, improve the consistency among different simulators and simulations, and even enable the reuse of scenario specifications. Following DSL design practices, the proposed Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) will provide a well-structured definition language to formally specify complete aircraft landing scenarios. In order to capture the necessary constructs for a simulation scenario, Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Base Object Model (BOM) is adopted as the baseline metamodel. This baseline is extended using the fundamentals of aircraft landing that cover all the domain-related concepts and terminology as constructs. By taking a formal approach in defining aviation scenarios, ASDL aims at providing consistency and completeness checking, and model-to-text transformations capabilities for various targets in the aviation scenario definition domain. The results of this work will be used to develop a graphical modeling environment and automatic means to transform scenario models into executable scenario scripts. The work presented here is the first stepping stone in formal scenario definition in aviation domain. --From the paper

Schema-based Ontological Representations of a Domain-Specific Scenario Modeling Language

The first step in designing a domain-specific simulation scenario definition language is constructing its ontology. The recently published Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) aims at providing a common platform to specify scenarios in the aviation domain. To capture an ASDL ontology, the Web Ontology Language and the Protégé tool was utilized, which was then converted into an XML schema by means of tool automation in the Eclipse Modeling Framework. On the other hand, the System Entity Structure (SES) provides a formal basis to represent the ontological foundations of a domain language. Following the XML Schema representation of SES, a scenario modeling ontology that has been recently published, we illustrate how an equivalent schema for a scenario definition language can be constructed using a domain-specific language ontology-driven approach and SES. We take both approaches to represent the ASDL ontology and prove that the resulting schema produced from these two approaches converge to the same result

SES and Ecore for Ontology-based Scenario Modeling in Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL)

The Aviation Scenario Definition Language (ASDL) is a domain-specific language proposal which aims to provide a standard aviation scenario specification mechanism and enable the reuse of scenario generation methods among different simulators. This paper presents a model-based scenario development approach that exploits Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) core (Ecore) and System Entity Structure (SES) for metamodeling and modeling these elements. The construction of the ASDL metamodel using both platforms is described to illustrate the processes. As a result of comparing two approaches, it is concluded that they follow a similar structure in the hierarchical definition of modeled elements despite there being different toolsets available in each method. Thereby, each metamodel can be easily converted into the other type using transformations. As an application use case, the use of the proposed ontology-based scenario development in the aviation domain is discussed, where a training tool is being developed that utilizes SES/Ecore approach to build a scenario-driven training tool for air traffic controllers