SI promotes UML for military
The integrator says its Unified Model Language-based approach addresses command, control, communications, computers and intelligence requirements.
SI International has crafted an object-oriented design and analysis approach that the company says addresses military systems requirements.
The integrator said its Unified Model Language-based approach specifically addresses the military's command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) requirements. SI International unveiled the capability April 4, but the company has been honing object-oriented techniques since 1997.
UML, an object-oriented software design language, may also be used in business process modeling and enterprise architecture development. In one example, SI International employed UML to complete the architecture for the Combat Commanders Integrated Command and Control System.
SI International now aims to take its UML experience and apply it more broadly. Earl Pedersen, vice president for e-government and enterprise architecture at SI International, said the company has developed 81 processes for a core command and control model, which he said is applicable to all services.
Pedersen said object-oriented techniques "provide a lot more flexibility" than older approaches such as functional decomposition. He said previous methods lack the agility to deal with the varied missions and organizational composition of today’s armed forces.
SI International's object-oriented approach may employ a range of spiral software development methodologies, but often is used in conjunction with IBM’s Rational Unified Process for Systems Engineering methodology, Pedersen said.
Moore is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, N.Y.
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