GraCoT , a tool for co-creation of models and metamodels in specific domains

Abstract

In many domains, models are created based on predefined metamodels which abstract the structure of the domain in question. However, there are specific domains, like Enterprise Architecture (EA) projects, where a metamodel cannot be defined in advance to the creation of the model. Unfortunately, in this situation using standard frameworks, like EMF, generates some inconveniences in the construction of the model and the metamodel because these frameworks do not support the manipulation of metamodels at runtime. In this paper, we propose a strategy to co-create metamodels and models in an incremental and simultaneous way. This proposal is supported by a dynamic approach that separates the linguistic and the ontological conformity concerns of metamodeling. This strategy has been implemented in a graphical editor called GraCoT, which also provides interactive assistance to guide the users during the co-creation process.

An approach to the co-creation of models and metamodels in Enterprise Architecture Projects.

“…As in our previous work, Tables 3 and 4 show the suggested solutions provided by those linguistic and ontological validation rules that offer fix the problem detected [GSV13]. The third column of both tables indicates whether the suggested solution is interactive; this means, whether a wizard is required or not.…”

“…This analysis provides information that can be used to make decisions about existing problems or desired improvements of the enterprise [LFJU09] [GSV13]. The first phases of EA frameworks and methodologies (e.g., TOGAF [The09]) usually involve activities directed towards identifying elements to model their attributes, and their relations.…”

“…Some of these components form the core component of the tool, while others just provide extension points to allow their interaction. These technical details can be consulted in the Section 3.1 of our previous work [GSV13].…”

“…The process of changing both metamodels and models incrementally has been called co-creation of models and metamodels [GSV13]. In this paper we present the strategy to build a toolset to support co-creation by handling metamodels in a dynamic way.…”