Title: Systems of systems engineering thesaurus approach: from concept to realisation

Authors: Huseyin Dogan; Vishal Barot; Michael Henshaw; Carys Siemieniuch; Murray Sinclair

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, P429, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK ' Engineering Systems of Systems Group, School of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, Garendon Wing, Holywell Park, LE11 3TU, UK ' Engineering Systems of Systems Group, School of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, Garendon Wing, Holywell Park, LE11 3TU, UK ' Engineering Systems of Systems Group, School of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, Garendon Wing, Holywell Park, LE11 3TU, UK ' Engineering Systems of Systems Group, School of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, Garendon Wing, Holywell Park, LE11 3TU, UK

Abstract: The developing discipline of systems of systems engineering (SoSE) is gaining attention in an increasingly broad range of domains; however, each domain comes with its own set of terms and concepts so that there may be confusion between different domains ostensibly engaged in similar challenges. SoSE is faced with concept multiplicity (one term, more than one concept) and term multiplicity (one concept, more than one term). It is unrealistic to expect long-established domains to simply change ontology to match with other domains, but a means of recognising related concepts and terms across domains and across industrial sectors will enable more rapid progress to be made in the development of SoSE. The approach taken to generating a thesaurus, through which such relationships can be documented, is presented. The approach is essentially consultative among SoSE experts and the current version of the thesaurus is available online. A combination of problem statement definition and logical decomposition has been used; the method is described and application is illustrated using well-known terms.

Keywords: SoSE thesaurus; system of systems; SoS terminology; SoSE concepts; semantic interoperability; heterogeneity; system of systems engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSE.2014.065751

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering, 2014 Vol.5 No.3, pp.228 - 247

Received: 26 Dec 2013
Accepted: 25 Jun 2014
Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *

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