Effective acquisition requires collaboration among multiple Stakeholders. Modeling & Simulation (M&S) tools combined with an information-sharing infrastructure (i.e., integrated data environment – IDE) into a distributed collaborative environment can enable cost-effective development and sustainment of systems and systems of systems. [1]
M&S should share the common information base with the rest of Systems Engineering. The IDE should allow data producers to publish their data items and record required metadata. Metadata is critical to the discovery and understanding of functions. It should also allow data consumers, from their desktop, to readily discover (via browsing and searching), access (via proper access controls), understand, and download the data they need, and have an archiving capability so that the program can, at any future time, identify the information set that was used to inform a decision. [1]
Metadata
The metadata that accompanies each data item should provide the information needed to understand its structure, lineage, and meaning, including its context and applicability. This same metadata will facilitate Verification, Validation & Accreditation (VV&A) and will allow the data it describes to be transformed into the form needed by the consuming M&S tool. Particular sets of data items will describe the system at a particular point in its development and as such will inform program events and provide the information foundation for program activities, including M&S-based analyses. [1]
AcqLinks and References:
- [1] Modeling & Simulation Guidance for the Acquisition Workforce – Oct 208
- DoD Instruction 5000.61 “DoD M&S Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A)” – 9 Dec 2009
- DoD 5000.59 “DoD Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Management” – 8 Aug 2007
- DoD “M&S Body of Knowledge (BOK)” – June 2008
- DAU “Test and Evaluation Management Guide” – Chapter 14 – Jan 2005
- SMC “Systems Engineering Handbook” – 15 Jan 2004
- DoD 5000.59-M “M&S Glossary” – Jan 1998
- DoD “M&S Glossary” – 1 Oct 2011
- Acquisition Modeling and Simulation Master Plan – 17 April 2006
- White Paper: JHU APL “Best Practices for the Development of M&A” – June 10
- White Paper: Introduction to Modeling and Simulation by Anu Maria
- White Paper: Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
- Presentation: Manager’s Guide to the High Level Architecture (HLA) for M&S – 11 May 2009
- Website: Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation
- Website: Army Modeling and Simulation Office
- Website: DoD M&S Coordination Office (MSCO)
- Website: DoD M&S Catalog
- Website: Simulate Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO)
