Transforming information models to support the generation of efficient implementations

The paper addresses the issue of building an environment to transform specifications into efficient implementations. The area of interest is the derivation from information models of the definitions of data interchange formats, database schemas and application specific programming interfaces. The goal is to convert conceptual models into models from which implementations may be derived in a predictable manner. The system described here manipulates information models written in the ISO standard information modelling language, EXPRESS. It is part of the ISO STEP standard that is widely used in the manufacturing and process industries. Various transformations are described to illustrate how a conceptual model relates to eventual implementations. The transformation environment for information models is written in Java.