Describing a Service Oriented Reference Architecture using an Electronic Process Guide: Case of distributed disasters knowledge management

In this paper we show initial steps towards how to apply an Electronic Process Guide (EPG) for describing information and its utilization process, of Domain Specific Service Oriented Reference Architecture (DS-SORA), for disasters and emergencies management. Reference Architecture (RA) models and uses abstract elements in a domain. It is possible to have several RAs at different levels of the same domain. Typically RA is described as a static construct showing concepts and their relationships. RAs usually do not include any guidance on how to implement these abstract concepts or how to realize generalized functions in concrete implementations. The application of EPG links the activities of service design processes to the corresponding RA information. Although the demand for interoperation between systems and organizations is growing, the choice between available technologies is not straightforward. The follow-up of the development of these technologies is also a hard task. Without a dynamic mechanism for following the development of the main ingredients of the selected reference architecture there is a danger that its description and benefits will degrade quickly and endanger the maintenance, further development, and governance of the implemented concrete architecture. EPG offers a dynamic approach for the presentations of RAs and their realization processes.