Understanding Model Transformation by Classification and Formalization

Software modeling techniques offer a means to address the size and complexity of modern day software problems through the use of abstraction, projection, and decomposition. Typically, multiple models are used to describe non-trivial software systems. However, if such models must be related and kept consistent by hand, then the viability of modeling as a means to reduce risks, minimize costs, improve time-tomarket, and enhance product quality is nullified (most probably made even worse). As such, model-driven development approaches, in the direction of OMG’s Model Driven Architecture initiative [OMG03], must be supported by tools that are at least able to automate the various tasks of keeping models consistent. Furthermore, the more that the various activities of model elaboration, synthesis, and evolution can be automated the more the above stated factors will be better addressed. Our team at IBM ZRL [BPIA], entitled Business Process Integration and Automation (BPIA), is involved in research and development of model transformation techniques for model-driven development approaches in the domain of ebusiness solutions [GGK+03, HK04, KHK+03]. We are performing work on transformin