Date

23 October 2024

Category

Blog, Concurrent Design, MBSE

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When engineering teams assess how to start applying model-based system engineering (MBSE) to new projects, they also need to choose the MBSE tools that their teams will use.

In previous MBSE posts, we’ve explained how MBSE can help you manage the complexity of modern engineering projects, what its main principles are and how to overcome the challenges of adopting an MBSE approach. Since the tools can also be considered a core part of the process, it is important to choose one that satisfies the needs of both the project and the team. However, selecting the right MBSE platform for your project can be challenging, given the wide array of tools available. In this post, we’ll guide you through the process of choosing an MBSE tool by summarising the main options available and their key functionalities.

By Paloma Maestro Redondo, System Engineer and Project Manager

The importance of selecting the right tool set

Choosing the right MBSE tool is critical to ensuring effective communication, integration and model management throughout a project’s life cycle. The right tool can improve collaboration between teams, support decision-making with robust data analysis, and enable efficient traceability from requirements to design, development and validation.

With the growing use of digital twins – virtual representations of physical systems – MBSE tools have become even more important, enabling real-time synchronisation between models and their physical counterparts. This integration helps teams to simulate and predict system behaviours under different conditions.

Model maintenance is an equally important factor. As systems evolve, it is essential to ensure that models are kept up to date in order to guarantee accuracy and reliability, particularly for long-term projects that involve continuous iterations. The use of MBSE tools that support efficient model updates and can be seamlessly integrated into the different project phases helps to reduce the risk of errors and improve overall project success.

What are the key criteria for selecting an MBSE tool?

Before diving into the tools themselves, it’s important to establish the criteria for making your choice. Not every engineering team, even within the same organisation, will have the same needs when implementing MBSE. Also, depending on the stage of the project and the composition of the team, some tools may be more beneficial than others.

Some factors to consider include:

  • Compatibility with existing systems: How well does the tool integrate with your current environment and tool set? Will you need to exchange data between different tools?
  • Ease of use: Does the tool have an intuitive user interface, or will extensive training be required? Do you already have expertise on the tools within your organisation? Will people – both experts and users – have enough time for training?
  • Collaboration features: How well does the tool support teamwork? Does the tool support geographically distributed teams? Are the collaboration functionalities easy to set up or will IT or software teams be required to get started?
  • Scalability: Can the tool scale with your project as it grows in complexity? Will the tool still be used in later project phases?
  • Foster a shared understanding: Can the artifacts produced with the tools be shared and presented with external stakeholders? Will it be easy for them to understand these models or outputs?
  • Compliance and standards: Does it comply with relevant industry standards? Do you need a robust access management control for tool’s users?

Overview of popular MBSE tools

Cameo Systems Modeler

Cameo Systems Modeler, developed by No Magic (now part of Dassault Systèmes), is one of the most widely used MBSE tools. It provides comprehensive support for systems modelling using SysML (Systems Modeling Language) and integrates seamlessly with other applications, either using the Cameo DataHub or additional plugins like the Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Import plugin.

Key features include high-level simulation capabilities, robust requirements management and traceability throughout the system life cycle.

Cameo is particularly well suited for large teams working on complex projects that require strict compliance with SysML standards and collaboration across teams, which is handled using the MagicDraw Teamwork Cloud.

Siemens Polarion

Siemens Polarion is a powerful tool focused on requirements management and collaborative application life cycle management (ALM). It offers smooth integration with various engineering tools and databases, providing a unified platform for tracking requirements through all stages of development.

Known for its strong emphasis on requirements management and its use of state-of-the-art user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), Polarion also provides clear traceability from requirements to product delivery.

It is best suited for projects that prioritise managing detailed requirements and maintaining strong links between different development phases.

Capella

Capella is an open source MBSE tool developed by Thales, designed specifically for system architecture design. Capella implements the Arcadia methodology, tailored to capture functional, logical and physical architectures.

Capella uses a flexible approach, which makes it easy to learn and use. That’s the reason why it’s favoured by smaller teams or projects that don’t need the full rigour of SysML, or by those projects that require a less rigid framework for system modelling. If you want to use it in a collaborative setup within a team, you’ll need the commercial Capella add-on Team for Capella, which is developed and maintained by Obeo.

Enterprise Architect

Sparx Systems’ Enterprise Architect is a versatile platform that supports a variety of modelling languages, including SysML, UML and BPMN, making it suitable for multi-disciplinary projects.

The platform offers a wide range of plugins and integrations with external tools, especially for simulations, increasing its versatility across industries. It provides traceability from system requirements to implementation and deployment, as well as validation and verification functionalities based on design rules.

Enterprise Architect’s comprehensive support for various modelling standards and its collaborative features make it a strong choice for teams that need a flexible tool for modelling systems architecture and design.

CDP4-COMET

CDP4 Comet logoCDP4-COMET, developed by Starion Group, is an MBSE tool specifically designed to support concurrent design projects that involve multidisciplinary teams. Although it provides flexibility to be used in any domain, it is based on ECSS-E-TM-10-25, a reference standard for exchanging model data that’s used in space system engineering.

CDP4-COMET facilitates collaboration across teams and integrates well with other MBSE tools to support complex engineering projects. The tool’s key feature is the support of collaborative modelling, enabling large teams to work simultaneously on the same model and facilitating fast iterations on the design, while ensuring a shared understanding of the system.

CDP4-COMET is best suited for projects requiring intensive teamwork, especially in industries like space engineering or where concurrent design is used to improve results and accelerate the initial design phases.

Innoslate

Innoslate, developed by SPEC Innovations, is an MBSE tool designed for life cycle modelling and system analysis that supports both SysML and LML (Lifecycle Modeling Language).

Innoslate integrates system modelling, simulation and requirements management in a single application, making it ideal for projects that require full traceability throughout the life cycle phases. Its key features include a simple user interface, functionalities for team and project collaboration, simulation capabilities and automated documentation.

Innoslate is best suited for life cycle-based projects in industries such as defence or aerospace where complete traceability and collaboration across large teams are essential.

How can you choose the right tool for your project?

The most suitable MBSE tool will depend on your specific requirements and the needs and constraints of your project. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice:

  • Consider your project’s complexity: Large, highly regulated industries like aerospace and defence may require tools that can handle robust compliance features. On the other hand, smaller projects may benefit from more lightweight and flexible tools. If a high level of collaboration is expected, ensure that the tool can support this and that it is focused on the right life cycle phase.
  • Evaluate your team’s familiarity with modelling languages: If your team is already familiar with SysML, a SysML-focused tool like Cameo or Enterprise Architect may be the best choice. If the teams don’t have previous MBSE knowledge, tools like CDP4-COMET might be easier to integrate in existing processes.
  • Assess the need to align with existing standards and practices: Some of the MBSE tools can be configured to ensure compliance with certain methodologies or standards. An example of this would be ESA SysML Solution, which supports implementing an MBSE approach in projects in accordance with the ECSS standards and current systems engineering practices at the European Space Agency (ESA), using ESA’s MBSE Methodology. ESA SysML Solution is implemented on Cameo Systems Modeler and Enterprise Architect.
  • Look at your long-term needs: If you anticipate project growth, consider a scalable solution and develop the right infrastructure to ensure that the tools and processes can be integrated during the project life cycle.

Moving forward

Choosing the right MBSE tool can significantly impact the efficiency and success of your projects. By understanding the principles and the functionalities of each tool and aligning them with your project needs, you can streamline your system engineering process and improve collaboration across teams.

We didn’t have room here to cover all the available open source and commercial MBSE tools, but the information and tips should give you clear guidance on where to start. If you still have any questions or would like additional advice on how to get started with MBSE in your own organisations and projects, please get in touch with our MBSE team.

To read upcoming posts in this series, follow Starion Group on LinkedIn to find out when new ones are published.

Find out more about MBSE at Starion.