Knowledge tools to organise software engineering Data: Development and validation of an ontology based on ECSS standard

This paper describes an OWL-based ontology to manage the data and artifacts created as part of software development projects based on the ECSS-E-ST-40C standard for SW development. ECSS standards are the main reference in aerospace projects. ECSS-E-ST-40C establishes the process, activities, requirements, and work products that must be generated. As part of its requirements, ECSS-E-ST-40C implicitly refers to specific data that must be generated, collected, and managed. The ontology identifies these data and the relationships that are inferred from the requirements in the standard, intending to set up the basis for building advanced information systems where data coming from different projects can be integrated and connected into a coherent set. The definition of this ontology provides the conceptual framework to develop data exchange processes and interfaces between the different tools and information systems used by the different players in the aerospace industry.