On a federated architecture for utilizing domain-specific descriptive models. (Poster)

TL;DR

This paper proposes a federated architecture based on Category Theory and symmetric multicategories to improve the exchange and reuse of domain-specific descriptive models in Systems Engineering.

Contribution

It introduces a novel federated architecture utilizing Category Theory and matrices over a semiring to structure and interpret descriptive models without losing clarity.

Findings

Defines a federated architecture for descriptive models

Uses symmetric multicategories and matrices over a semiring

Facilitates practical application and model reuse

Abstract

In a Systems Engineering setting, various models are produced using a variety of methods and tools. Focusing on a type of models -- called descriptive models -- which we shall describe, we argue that, while the clarity and precision of models are essential for their exchange and reuse, the way in which the data of these models are defined and the information conveyed is also essential for their (re) utilization -- e.g., for analysis or synthesis purposes. Category Theory has made it possible to link seemingly separate fields or domains, so that anything that can be rewritten in this framework benefits from a level of abstraction and a relational viewpoint -- essential to address complexity. We therefore take advantage of this framework to define a federated architecture for projecting and conveying these models without sacrificing clarity and precision. A federated architecture has two important advantages. On the one hand, it unifies these models from their structure; on the other hand, it allows a specific usage (instantiation or interpretation) of this structure within a business domain. We define the structure of these models as a symmetric multicategory. In particular, we rely on matrices over a semiring to define morphisms and their composition. The choice of matrices is intended to facilitate the application in practice.