Data management in the joint modeling and simulation system (J-MASS)

Joint Modeling and Simulation System (J-MASS) was specified to possess an open systems based architecture to support the Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation needs well into the future. Its open systems architectural design is based on a backplane and agents concept. One of the most important agents is the Modeling Library. The Modeling Library provides a repository for user-developed model components, configuration data, simulations, scenario files, output data, and postprocessing results. The Modeling Library will also store modeling and simulation tools and related data files and J-MASS system source code. What is the technology that will enable the J-MASS Modeling Library to assist the users in organizing their data and the program office in establishing a Test Process Archive for its systems? During the past few years, several studies have been performed to review the fast changing area of data management technology. These studies have looked at the mature technologies of relational database management systems (RDBMS) and the emerging technologies of object-oriented database management systems (OODBMSs) and object servers. This paper will provide an overview of this work. The paper will first identify the J-MASS requirements and then will proceed with a review of various technologies and evaluations that were performed against representative implementations of the emerging technologies. The paper will conclude with the technology recommendation for J-MASS data management.