Affiliations: Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. E-mail: Andreas.Opdahl@uib.no | LabSTICC, University of South Brittany, Lorient, France. E-mail: Giuseppe.Berio@univ-ubs.fr | LINA, University of Nantes, Nantes, France. E-mail: Mounira.Harzallah@univ-nantes.fr | Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. E-mail: rma@ut.ee
Note: [] Corresponding author: Andreas L. Opdahl, Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7802, NO-5020 Bergen, Norway. Tel.: +47 5558 4140; Fax: +47 5558 9149; E-mail: Andreas.Opdahl@uib.no.
Abstract: The Unified Enterprise Modelling Language (UEML) aims to support precise semantic definition of a wide variety of enterprise- and IS-modelling languages. In the longer run, it is also intended as a hub for integrated use of enterprise and information system (IS) models expressed in different languages. To achieve this, UEML provides a common ontology that interrelates the semantics of many existing modelling languages. This paper presents the motivation and background for the UEML work. It then presents the structure and contents of UEML's evolving common ontology, the Unified Enterprise Modelling Ontology (UEMO), which has been established through analyses of 130 modelling constructs from a selection of 10 enterprise- and IS-modelling languages. It goes on to discuss the current state of UEMO and its further evolution. Finally, conclusions and paths for further work are offered.
Keywords: Ontology, Unified Enterprise Modelling Language, UEML, Unified Enterprise Modelling Ontology, UEMO, enterprise modelling, information systems modelling, description logic, OWL
