Automating the Evolution of Data Models for Space Missions. A Model-Based Approach

In space industry, model-driven engineering (MDE) is a key technique to model data exchanges with satellites. During the preparation of a space mission, the associated data models are often revised and need to be compared from one version to another. Thus, due to the undeniably growth of changes, it becomes difficult to track them. New methods and techniques to understand and represent the differences, as well as commonalities, between different model's revisions are highly required. Recent research works address the evolution process between the two layers (M2/M1) of the MDE architecture. In this research work, we have explored the use of the layers (M1/0) of the same architecture in order to define a set of atomic operators and their composition that encapsulate both data model evolution and data migration. The use of these operators improves the quality of data migration, by ensuring full conservation of the information carried by the data.