Towards a Unified Model-Based Engineering Framework: Integrating UML Profiles into EMF

The development of robust modeling frameworks that support consistent and accurate representation of system models is key to coping with the increasing complexity of Systems Engineering. The Unified Modelling Language (UML) supports the creation of profiles as a means of extension, chiefly to languages supported by commercial tools. For example, profiles have been applied in such popular domain-specific modelling languages (DSMLs) as SysML. However, proper support for profile-based extension is not available for the widely used open-source Eclipse Modelling Framework (EMF). In this paper, we present a method to create EMF-based representations of UML-based profiles. By applying manual transformations from UML profile elements to EMF metamodel entities, we have developed a method through which the semantics of UML-based profiles can be captured within the target EMF metamodel. We have applied our approach to one of the SysML-based Risk Analysis and Assessment Modeling Languages (RAAML) profiles and are able to develop the corresponding metamodel. This validates that our proposed technique provides a standardized EMF representation of the widely used UML-based profiles, thus contributing to the advancement of Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE).