Combining metrics data and the structure of UML models using GIS visualization approaches

UML models describe the structure and behavior of existing or future software systems. In addition to the UML model, developers consult metrics and other attribute data for evaluation and analysis purposes. In hitherto techniques, attribute data and structural data in the diagrams of the UML model is split in different representations. For the process of evaluation of a system the attribute data must be combined with the structural data. Geographical information systems (GIS) deploy visualization techniques to combine these different types of data. We propose a set of visualization techniques adopted from GIS to enrich UML models with attribute data. Advantages and examples of the visualizations are discussed, as well as limitations to the applicability. Especially the technique where colors represent attribute values of elements seems promising.