XMILE: towards an XML interchange language for system dynamics models

Abstract

We propose that XML should be used as an interchange language for system dynamics models and we have designed and implemented a demonstration that we call XMILE. We believe that there will be many benefits for the system dynamics community in developing a full-scale interchange language. This paper discusses the motivation factors behind the idea of developing an interchange language for system dynamics models, and explains why XML is a good candidate framework. An initial implementation of XMILE is also presented along with initial findings about its applicability to models built on various system dynamics software platforms.

Information systems research with system dynamics

“…Requirements analysis, an early phase of the systems development lifecycle (SDLC), is one of the most crucial phases for the success of a systems development project. Drawing on empirical (Abdel-Hamid, 1988, 1990Abdel-Hamid andMadnick, 1989a, 1989b) • Software development process (Lin and Levary, 1989;Barros et al, 2002;Chatters et al, 2000;Choi et al, 2006;Häberlein, 2004;Lee and Miller, 2004;Lehman and Ramil, 1999;Madachy and Tarbet, 2000;Martin and Raffo, 2000;Roehling et al, 2000;Ruiz et al, 2004;Wernick and Hall, 2002;Luna-Reyes et al, 2005;Madachy, 2008;Otto and Belardo, 2002) • Software project management (Rodrigues and Williams, 1997) • Software development cost estimation (Boehm et al, 2000) • Open source software development modeling Focus on IS development output • Enterprise data modeling (Wang and Yi-Ming, 1998) • Requirements engineering (Williams, 2001;Loucopoulos and Prekas, 2003) • UML (Unified Modeling Language) and SD (Tignor, 2003) • Unifying SD and business objects in DSS development (Gregoriades and Karakostas, 2004) • Developing IT standards for the system dynamics community (Diker and Allen, 2005) • DSS evaluation (Marquez and Blanchar, 2006) • IS use and productivity (Kanungo, 2003) • Internet growth and telecommunications (Dutta, 2001b;Dutta andRoy, 2003, 2004b) • Management support systems (Clark et al, 2007;Clark and Jones, 2008) • Strategic decision making, mental models and ERP (Ritchie-Dunham, 2001)…”

SDXchange: stand‐alone translators to enable XMILE model adaptation, transportation, and exchange

“…As many in the SD community have observed (Diker and Allen, ; Chichakly, ; Myrtveit, ), convenient and effective exchange and interoperability of simulation models promises significant benefits for students, researchers, practitioners, and vendors. Key among the benefits usually mentioned are: improved learning opportunities for students, through access to a wider range of published models without the need to license multiple platforms; improved access to models for peer review and replication; significantly improved opportunities for collaboration and interaction among researchers; and improved access to reusable models and model components. …”

“…As many in the SD community have observed (Diker and Allen, 2005;Chichakly, 2014;Myrtveit, 1995), convenient and effective exchange and interoperability of simulation models promises significant benefits for students, researchers, practitioners, and vendors. Key among the benefits usually mentioned are:…”

XMILE: a new standard for system dynamics

“…There are practical reasons for wanting a standard with which to represent models. Diker and Allen () outline many of these, but key are archiving, replicability, analysis and specialized tool development. Archiving is supported by being able to tie a model to a specific published standard so that it is completely clear how to interpret the content of a model file.…”