Common Concept Method for Citizen Modelers in Cross-Domain Engineering

The common concept method for citizen modelers in cross-domain engineering addresses the challenge of semantic inconsistencies arising from heterogeneous domain models in production systems engineering by integrating model-driven engineering, citizen modeling and ontology-based knowledge representation into a unified workflow. The proposed approach introduces a lightweight domain-specific modeling language embedded within a Sparx Enterprise Architect MDG extension. This extension enables domain experts, referred to as citizen modelers, to intuitively capture concepts, properties and relations without requiring deep MBSE expertise. A four-phase process guides the creation of a consistent common vocabulary. An AutomationML export maintains semantic integrity and facilitates seamless data exchange with downstream tools. The method was validated by engineering students acting as citizen modelers and in an industrial project. This paper uses a generic conveyor belt example to demonstrate the method. The study indicates that the CC method facilitates efficient, collaborative modeling, semantic alignment and enhanced interoperability across heterogeneous engineering domains.