UML 2 activity model support for systems engineering functional flow diagrams

Abstract This article compares Activity models of the Unified Modeling Language, version 2 (UML 2) [OMG (Object Management Group), UML 2.0 superstructure specification, August 2003, http://www.omg.org/cgi‐bin/doc?ptc/03‐08‐02 ], to a widely‐used systems engineering (SE) flow diagram, the Enhanced Functional Flow Block Diagram (EFFBD) [J. Long, Relationships between common graphical representations in system engineering, ViTech Corporation, 2002], and to the requirements for functional flow modeling in a systems engineering extension for UML (UML‐SE) [OMG Systems Engineering Domain Special Interest Group (SE‐DSIG), UML for systems engineering RFP, March 2003a, http://www.omg.org/cgi‐bin/doc?ad/03‐03‐41 ]. Issues are identified in applying UML 2 Activities to EFFBD and to satisfying UML‐SE functional flow requirements. Solutions are suggested to these issues that can be used to translate between the languages and to develop standards such as revisions to UML 2 or extensions in UML‐SE. * © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 6, 249–265, 2003