Using SysML to Capture a Naval Ship’s Ontology for Interdisciplinary Communication

Naval ships have become increasingly complex over time due to the need to integrate and operate a wide array of modern onboard systems. This growing complexity makes ship design a more challenging and time-consuming process. The number of disciplines involved and the interdependent variables affecting ship operability have also expanded. To enhance collaboration between the various disciplines and decision-makers, it is proposed to create a naval warship ontology that captures multiple stakeholder viewpoints using a unified model. The viewpoint elaborated upon here focuses on ship operability. In this context, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a valuable framework to capture the ship’s ontology. MBSE is a systematic and iterative approach that uses models to analyze, manage, and navigate the complexity of the systems involved. By employing MBSE, a formal and structured representation of the ship can be created to support decision-making processes related to its design, construction, and operation. To develop an MBSE-based methodology for a ship, the first step is to create an ontology that captures essential concepts, relationships, and constraints. This representation is established using Systems Modelling Language (SysML). In the example presented, the definition of ship operability is based on DEF(AUST) 5000—ADF Maritime Materiel Requirements Set. A methodology is then followed to identify the necessary steps and diagrams to evaluate ship operability. These steps result in the creation of a viewpoint for defining operability criteria and aid in identifying potential risks under various operating conditions.