Model-based requirements engineering for system of systems

Model-based systems engineering is a discipline of systems engineering where a model forms the heart of all the systems engineering activities and is the basis of many of the project artefacts. Systems modelling is no longer viewed as simply a `good idea' but is, however, increasingly become an essential part of any systems engineering project. Indeed, this is the start point for the EU FP7 project known as COMPASS (Comprehensive Modelling for Advanced Systems of Systems) that has funded this research. The application of model-based systems engineering is becoming well understood at the systems level, however, there is a lack of research and subsequent industrial application at the system of systems (SoS) level. The main aim of the COMPASS project is to provide an approach for SoS including: processes, tools and new modelling techniques. This paper discusses how a model-based systems engineering approach was developed for requirements engineering that could be applied to both system of systems (SoS) and its constituent system (CS) level. This approach would meet the requirements of current best practice in system of systems in terms of established standards and research.