Reuse strategies and objectives for J-MASS

The Joint Modeling and Simulation System (J-MASS) is a standardized modeling and simulation environment that supports the development and integration of digital models into derailed simulations (for example, weapon systems, threat systems, and environmental effects). Reuse of the models and data developed by domain experts is fundamental to the J-MASS operational concept, J-MASS employs several strategies to facilitate reuse: a common methodology to design models, a common architecture to develop models, and a common repository to store and retrieve models. Reuse is inherent in the design process of developing J-MASS models. Models are designed to be reusable, and the J-MASS architecture promotes this design philosophy. The J-MASS Software Structural Model (SSM) is a design methodology that provides a framework for object-based model development so that developers can share a common reuse philosophy and method. The SSM methodology incorporates the use of standard structural templates to develop modeling components that execute in a standard runtime architecture. The J-MASS Simulation Support Environment (SSE) provides a common architecture and toolset to design, develop, integrate, configure, execute, and analyze models and simulations. The SSE is an open architecture that is populated with a standard set of development and analysis tools, and can also be extended with site-specific tools. J-MASS users benefit by sharing both models and tools. This paper describes how J-MASS is used to promote the sharing of information among model developers and analysts and to facilitate reuse during the model development process. The paper discusses how to meet the overall objectives of providing a common architecture to develop detailed and accurate simulations with increased reliability and reduced time and resources