A Systems Engineering Methodology for Analyzing Systems of Systems

This paper presents a methodology for performing architectural analyses of complex systems of systems using process modeling. A process is a series of actions undertaken by a system of systems to produce one or more end results, typically products and services. The method applies to systems-of systems whose effectiveness and performance depend strongly on process timelines, such as distributed information systems, logistics systems and manufacturing and distribution systems. A fundamental tool in this method is the development of a unified modeling language (UML) related view of the system-of-system processes of interest and the subsequent conversion of the UML related view into an end-to-end system of systems executable object-oriented simulation model. The Naval Postgraduate School has developed this methodology over the past ten years and has successfully applied it to a range of systems of systems studies. The methodology is illustrated by applying process modeling and simulation to analysis of an expeditionary warfare system of systems and a joint combat identification (CID) system. Work currently underway to apply the methodology to the analysis of a multinational maritime domain protection (MDP) system is described. Issues associated with systems of systems engineering analyses and future work are also discussed.