Agris Sostaks

Graphical template language for transformation synthesis

Higher-Order Transformations (HOT) have become an important support for the development of model transformations in various transformation languages. Most frequently HOTs are used to synthesize transformations from different kinds of models, for example, mapping models. This means that model driven development (MDD) is being successfully applied to transformations themselves too. The standard HOT solution is to create the transformation as a model using the abstract syntax. However, for graphical transformation languages a significantly more efficient solution would be to create the transformation using its graphical (concrete) syntax. An analogy could be the textual template languages such as JET which directly create texts from a model in the concrete syntax of the target language. This paper introduces a new kind of language - a graphical template language for transformation synthesis, named Template MOLA. This language is used for creation of transformations in MOLA transformation language. Template MOLA is an adequate solution for many typical HOT applications.

Tool support for MOLA

The paper describes the MOLA Tool, which supports the model transformation language MOLA. MOLA Tool consists of two parts: MOLA definition environment and MOLA execution environment. MOLA definition environment is based on the GMF (Generic Modeling Framework) and contains graphical editors for metamodels and MOLA diagrams, as well as the MOLA compiler. The main component of MOLA execution environment is a MOLA virtual machine, which performs model transformations, using an SQL database as a repository. The execution environment may be used as a plug-in for Eclipse based modeling tools (e.g., IBM Rational RSA). The current status of the tool is truly academic.

From requirements to code in a model driven way

Though there is a lot of support for model driven development the support for complete model driven path from requirements to code is limited. The approach proposed in this paper offers such a path which is fully supported by model transformations. The starting point is semiformal requirements containing behaviour description in a controlled natural language. A chain of models is proposed including analysis, platform independent and platform specific models. A particular architecture style is chosen by means of selecting a set of appropriate design patterns for these models. It is shown how to define informally and then implement in model transformation language MOLA the required transformations. By executing these transformations a prototype of the system is obtained.

Tree based domain-specific mapping languages

Model transformation languages have been mainly used by researchers --- the software engineering industry has not yet widely accepted the model driven software development (MDSD). One of the main reasons is the complexity of metamodelling principles the developers are required to know to actually use model transformations in the way the OMG has stated. We offer the basic principles how to create domain-specific model transformation languages which can be used by developers relying only on familiar modelling concepts. We propose to use simple graphical mappings to specify the correspondence between source and target models which are represented using trees based on the concrete syntax of underlying modelling languages. If such principles were followed, then the range of potential users of model transformation languages would increase significantly.

Self-service Ad-hoc Querying Using Controlled Natural Language

The ad-hoc querying process is slow and error prone due to inability of business experts of accessing data directly without involving IT experts. The problem lies in complexity of means used to query data. We propose a new natural language- and semistar ontology-based ad-hoc querying approach which lowers the steep learning curve required to be able to query data. The proposed approach would significantly shorten the time needed to master the ad-hoc querying and to gain the direct access to data by business experts, thus facilitating the decision making process in enterprises, government institutions and other organizations.

Modeling and query language for hospitals

So far the traditional process modeling languages have found a limited use in the hospital settings. One of the reasons behind this delay has been the lack of clear definition of the sequence of activities that are carried out in the hospital. We propose a new modeling language (as a profile of UML Class diagrams) that captures all the useful features from various UML diagrams and can be used in modeling of the hospitals. Based on the modeling language, we have developed an easy-to-perceive graphical query language, which allows the physicians to retrieve directly from the various hospital databases information they need to better understand the flow of clinical processes.

DSL Based Platform for Business Process Management

Currently nearly all commercial and open source BPMS are based on BPMN as a process notation. In contrast, the paper proposes to build a BPMS based on a domain specific language (DSL) as a process notation – DSBPMS. In such a DSBPMS a specific business process support could be created by business analysts. A platform for creating such DSBPMS with feasible efforts is described. This platform contains a Configurator for easy creation of graphical editors for the chosen DSL and a simple mapping language for transforming processes in this DSL to a language directly executable by the execution engine of this platform. The engine includes also all typical execution support functions so no other tools are required.

Behaviour modelling notation for information system design

Problems related to behaviour modelling within the platform independent model (PIM) during the model driven design are discussed in the paper. The emphasis is on design problems for information systems, especially on building a behaviour draft. At first issues in the traditional approach using sequence diagrams are discussed. Then a new approach based on activity diagrams is proposed. An extension of activity diagram notation specifically oriented towards comprehensive and readable behaviour design description is presented.

ViziQuer: A Web-Based Tool for Visual Diagrammatic Queries Over RDF Data

We demonstrate the open source ViziQuer tool for web-based creation and execution of visual diagrammatic queries over RDF/SPARQL data. The tool supports the data instance level and statistics queries, providing visual counterparts for most of SPARQL 1.1 select query constructs, including aggregation and subqueries. A query environment can be created over a user-supplied SPARQL endpoint with known data schema (a data schema exploration service is available, as well). There are pre-defined demonstration query environments for a mini-university data set, a fragment of synthetic similar to reality hospital data set, and a variant of Linked Movie Database RDF data set.

Facilitation of Health Professionals Responsible Autonomy with Easy-to-Use Hospital Data Querying Language.

Support for the development of responsible autonomy as opposite to management that is based on direct control is found to be by far more effective approach in healthcare management, especially when it concerns physicians as the most influential group of health professionals. It is therefore important to obtain a process-oriented knowledge system where physicians would be able to autonomously answer questions which are outside the scope of pre-made direct control reports. However, the ad-hoc data querying process is slow and error-prone due to inability of health professionals to access data directly without involving IT experts. The problem lies in the complexity of means used to query data. We propose a new natural language- and semistar ontology-based ad-hoc data querying approach which reduces the steep learning curve required to be able to query data. The proposed approach would significantly decrease the time needed to master the ad-hoc data querying thus allowing health professionals an independent exploration of the data.