One purpose of the Materials Genome Initiative is to reduce the lead time of materials development. In support of this initiative, Integrated Computational Materials Science and Engineering (ICMSE) in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory is developing a path towards model based research. A large scale software infrastructure is required to provide these capabilities. In order for this infrastructure to be adopted by the scientific community, it must be tailored to research requirements. In the federal space, most enterprise software development efforts are marked by the failure of commercial turn-key solutions. The Integrated Collaborative Environment (ICE) is a federated software framework that delivers dynamic and customized functionality to a diverse and complex research landscape. A key driver of success for ICE is the utilization of process and data analytics to identify data management requirements of representative research efforts.

Good design practices and requirements definition are an effective means of both developing robust software as well as defining standard process. These practices include requirements gathering and elicitation using Business Process Modeling Notation, Unified Modeling Language class diagrams, use cases and discrete milestone success criteria. This presentation will describe the use of these tools and methods in the context of an Organic Matrix Composite research project. The results are twofold—rapid delivery of functionality for the research team in ICE integrated with the Hub and a well-defined sequence of the research process, “research on research.” Such an involved requirements process also engenders the development of ICMSE culture—a cooperation of software and materials engineering.

1. 1. Contractor, RCF Information Systems

2. 2. Project Manager, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate

3. 3. Student Intern, Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education

Elizabeth Wirrig

Elizabeth Wirrig serves as the Lead Analyst for ICE, an enterprise scientific toolset for the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (RX) of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Elizabeth works closely with the Scientists and Engineers in AFRL, gathering requirements to map out their research processes and find ways to customize ICE to fit their specific needs. Elizabeth received a B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Dayton.

HUBzero Foundation

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Elizabeth Wirrig; Matthew D Jacobsen; Lori Simmons; Lydia O'connell; K. Rebecca Servaites; Kevin Porter; Claire Stirm (2016), "Enhancement of System Design and the Research Landscape through Process and Data Modeling," https://help.hubzero.org/resources/1532.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. hubbub
2. hubzero
3. 2015