Enterprise Architecture Tradespace Analysis
Systems Engineering and Systems Management Transformation Dr. Tommer Ender
Co-Principal Investigators:
Objective: The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Science & Technology priority for Engineered Resilient Systems (ERS) calls for adaptable designs with diverse systems models that can easily be modified and re-used, the ability to iterate designs quickly and a clear linkage to mission needs. Towards this end, tradespace analysis is of great importance. The work represented in this document supports the goals of ERS through an investigation of using tradespace tools developed at Georgia Institute of Technology in tandem with Army Research Laboratories (ARL) simulation technologies in order to characterize the impact of design changes on the mission. This required modifying both tools as needed to support the research objectives. The intent is for these combined tools to eventually serve as a proving ground for an apples-to-apples comparison of trades during concept development, analysis of alternatives and materiel solutions analysis.
Approach: Three primary tasks were conducted as part of this effort:
- Tradespace Tool Interfaces: In order to support a multitude of models and simulation of various fidelities, a combined interface framework needed to be developed. Of particular importance was the ability to include models and simulations that were not developed for the framework but could contribute to the framework at little or no cost to the original developing activity. This work documented the interface specifications for the framework in the form of an Application Programming Interface (API).
- Representative Use Case: This work required development of a representative use case for the tradespace tools, helping to secure the endorsement of key stakeholders, integrating key models and simulations and then providing useful analytic results. The integrated teamwork with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) to determine representative scenarios that demonstrate the benefits of tradespace and decision support tools.
- Tradespace Tool Analysis: The integrated team investigated the ARL and Georgia Tech tools via the interface framework to perform a tradespace analysis of the representative use case.
Application: The transition strategy is directly supported by the first major deliverable, which occurred on February 11, 2014 when Georgia Institute of Technology and Army Research Laboratories conducted a live demonstration between FACT interfacing with EASE. This effort is expected to transition to a toolset deployed at ERDC in support of the ERS program.