A SysML-based Approach to Support Executable Software Architectures
Software Architecture, Execution, SysML-based Architectural Description Language, Operational Environment, Execution Scenarios
Since software-intensive systems frequently operate within complex environments, defining and evaluating their behavior by executing the software architecture is critical. The architectural execution enables system simulation
and dynamic analysis, verifying compliance to requirements, supporting verification and validation (V&V) processes, and allowing performance monitoring and optimization at runtime. Although executable architectures are widely
used in the literature, a recent systematic mapping revealed a gap related to the explicit modeling of the operating environment and the execution scenarios of the systems. This gap is particularly significant in light of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 standard, which points out the importance of explicitly addressing the
interactions between the system and its environment throughout its life cycle.
The systematic mapping revealed that several techniques concentrate mostly on activities restricted to specific purposes, neglecting the comprehensive view of the system’s architectural execution. This thesis proposes to enhance a SysML-based Architecture Description Language to provide an integrated and complete solution for architectural modeling and execution, therefore addressing such challenges. The suggested approach integrates new components that enable explicit representation of the operational environment and execution scenarios, guaranteeing that architectural execution occurs within the real-world context of the system and complies with the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 guidelines. The solution also includes an associated tool that enables the editing and execution of the architecture. The proposed approach is validated by modeling an automated guided vehicle system (AGV), demonstrating its potential to reduce costly late-stage rework through early architectural analysis.