RMT: A modeling support system for model reuse

The ability to reuse models is an important issue for DSS modeling productivity. This paper presents a prototype system to support model reuse called RMT (Reverse Modeling Tool). The system is based on a framework which promotes reusability of DSS models using an idea of reverse modeling. Contrary to the typical modeling life-cycle, reverse modeling focuses on the identification, extraction, and reorganization of model constructs from existing models. RMT consists of: (1) a meta system that defines meta models to capture generic knowledge on model building, (2) a model translator that translates models into reusable model constructs, and (3) a model base. An object-oriented database (OODB) is adopted as a model base, which identifies model constructs as objects. The prototype system is developed using ONTOS on a UNIX workstation.