Object Oriented Repository for the Management of Systems, Software, and Modeling and Simulation Data Structures

As the complexity and size of technological systems grows and subsystems become more specialized, the amount of design information that needs to be captured, managed and put into use increases. No single individual can adequately comprehend the sheer magnitude of this data requiring the use of databases and automated tools within each domain of the process and stovepiped environments. An integrated approach is needed by which experts in each domain can continue to use their specialized tools but which also provides comprehensive cross-domain data sharing, inter-domain traceability, multi-domain information and asset configuration management and analysis; and which fosters collaborative development. Today, the need for an integrated approach has increased as the focus of architectures has shifted from developing each individual system to developing capabilities and the information that shapes and informs concept development and decision making. The Army is developing entirely new organizations, systems and functional architectures; converting units to new configurations; modernizing the force; developing System of Systems Architectures (SoSA) and Family of Systems Architectures (FoSA) that comprise combat systems and complimentary systems to include embedded training, personnel, medical and logistics systems. Individual architectures require collaborative development, consideration of joint interoperability requirements, and cross Service boundary vertical and horizontal integration. A common, object oriented repository and open collaboration effort are required to facilitate the development of a coherent Army-wide architecture development. The solution is the creation of a "super-context" in which all data from all tools may reside. An extensible, open super-context provides a natural means for interrelating data between architectures. In this manner, the data from various projects can become part of a larger project that has a complete scope.