Can ontologies prevent MBSE models from becoming obsolete?

Abstract

Model-based systems engineering provides a soft, manageable, and query-able representation of product design and lifecycle. However, at the same time, it creates a discontinuous space of data that does not integrate, constantly becomes outdated, and has to be upgraded as tools evolve. Models that are not maintained become legacy, and then become obsolete and useless. We look at how ontologies that follow the semantic web technology for data representation can create interoperability among the modeling tools, support model reuse, and fight the aging and obsolescence of models.