Model Based Systems Engineering with Department of Defense Architectural Framework

This paper presents a methodology for Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) utilizing the guidelines provided by the Department of Defense Architectural Framework (DoDAF). MBSE focuses the system engineering process on system modeling. Thus, requirements derivation, system design, integration, verification, and validation activities all center around the model of the system. System models can be built in many ways. This paper presents an approach using DoDAF. Visual accessibility of the DoDAF views facilitates full participation by all system stakeholders, including the customers, developers, and implementers, and enables the necessary dialogue. The approach promotes communications among the members of the development team and speeds up the iterations of the systems engineering process. The paper illustrates the utility of the DoDAF artifacts by means of a simplified but comprehensive, easy to follow, illustrative example. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 14: 305-326, 2011