Simulating Events in Requirements Engineering by Using Pre-conceptual-Schema-based Components from Scientific Software Domain Representation

Abstract

Event simulation is a process for analyzing the behavior of a natural or automated system. Such behavior is produced by events–phenomena or something that happens at any moment. Events are simulated in scientific software domains (SSD) for finding scientific results and developing scientific software, which allow making critical decisions. Usually, scientists use scientific models with simulation components for simulating events and requirements engineering (RE) models for representing SSD in a software development process. However, the separation of simulation components in scientific models and software components in RE models causes inconsistency in elements of the system domain, especially in events. Consistency is required for a near solution to the needs of the scientific stakeholders. Business analysts also use RE models and know software development processes, but they lack scientific knowledge for describing elements of a SSD. Therefore, scientists and business analysts require a computing model, which integrates common knowledge by using scientific and software components for simulating events and producing scientific software. Pre-conceptual schemas (PCS) are computing models used on RE for representing a domain, which is near to stakeholders. Several simulation components are found in PCS, i.e., events. Thus, we propose PCS components for simulating events in RE from SSD. After, we validate the PCS understand and usage in SSD. Scientists and business analysts can take advantage of the PCS for representing and simulating events and developing scientific software from the same model. Such a proposal contributes to reducing the gap between both engineering and science into scientific software development.