Toward executable architectures to support evaluation

It has been 10 years since the Department of Defense (DoD) first issued its architecture framework (DODAF). In the past we have shown that it is possible to take an architecture description that conforms to DODAF and convert it to an executable model to support rigorous evaluation. We now have a proof of concept that demonstrates the feasibility of making the conversion to the executable model automatically. Implementing this automatic translation will enable architects to apply more rigorous analysis and evaluation approaches to complex architecture evaluation problems such as determining the agility in particular architecture designs that are based on information sharing. This paper describes the issues in automatic translation of architectures that are based on either the structured analysis or the object oriented approaches into the rigorous executable modeling language of colored Petri nets. The paper includes a proof of concept case study and briefly discusses the advantages of using the executable model in evaluating logical, behavioral, and performance aspects of the architecture.