AP233 is IT infrastructure that a Systems Engineer will never see. However, the support for communication between Systems Engineering tools and applications enabled by AP233 is critical in moving towards a Collaborative Systems-of-Systems Engineering environment.
What is AP233?
AP233 is an ISO standard information model for the interchange of Systems Architecture and Engineering data for which a Fall 2006 ISO ballot is scheduled. The AP233 development team works closely with the OMG SysML team, INCOSE and the US DoD to ensure support for and alignment with those standards communities. However, AP233 is designed to be neutral of any specific Military Architecture Framework (e.g. DoDAF), modelling language (e.g. SysML) or vendor application.
Formally, AP233 is as the ISO 10303-233 Systems engineering and design, one of the STEP family of standards. AP233 is a STEP-based data exchange standard targeted to support the needs of the systems engineering community, consistent with emerging standards in CAD, structural, electrical, engineering analysis and support domains.The scope of AP233 is broad and includes:
• Requirements
• Product Data Management (PDM) - also known as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
• Project Management (e.g. Cost and Schedule)
• Systems structures and functional breakdowns
• Systems function-based and state-based behavior
• Risk and Issues Management
• Validation and Verification
How do AP233, DoDAF and SysML relate?
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Architecture Framework (DoDAF) defines a common apporach for DoD architecture description development, presentation, and integration for both warfighting operations and business operations and processes. The Framework is intended to ensure that architecture descriptions can be compared and related across organizational boundaries, including joint and multinational ones. DoDAF does not require any particular language or notation to be used.
The Object Management Group (OMG) System Modeling Language is an extention to the Unified Modeling Language (UML) making it more suitable for Systems Architecture and Engineering users. Ssytems Enigneers will be able to use SySML to create DoDAF-compliant architecture descriptions.
AP233 is a neutral data exchange standard so that System Engineers can exchange data between SysML, other DoDAF-compliant and general purpose System Engineering tools.
Contact us for more information
Eurostep has provided key resources to AP233 development. Please contact Phil Spiby for more information about Systems Engineering, or David Price about Architecture Frameworks.
More technical information is available at the AP233 support page in the Engineering eXchange For Free site: www.exff.org
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