Natural Language Based Conceptual Modelling Frameworks: State of the Art and Future Opportunities

Identifying requirements for an information system is an important task and conceptual modelling is the first step in this process. Conceptual modelling plays a critical role in the information system design process and usually involves domain experts and knowledge engineers who brainstorm together to identify the required knowledge to build an information system. The conceptual modelling process starts with the collection of necessary information from the domain experts by the knowledge engineers. Afterwards, the knowledge engineers use traditional model driven engineering techniques to design the system based on the collected information. Natural language based conceptual modelling frameworks or systems are used to help domain experts and knowledge engineers in eliciting requirements and building conceptual models from a natural language text. In this paper, we discuss the state of the art of some recent conceptual modelling frameworks that are based on natural language. We take a closer look at how these frameworks are built, in particular at the underlying motivation, architecture, types of natural language used (e.g., restricted vs unrestricted), types of the conceptual model generated, verification support of the requirements specifications as well as the conceptual models, and underlying knowledge representation formalism. We also discuss some future research opportunities that these frameworks offer.

[1]  Anindya Iqbal,et al.  An Empirical Study of Developer Discussions on Low-Code Software Development Challenges , 2021, 2021 IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Mining Software Repositories (MSR).

[2]  Gerson Sunyé,et al.  Challenges & opportunities in low-code testing , 2020, MoDELS.

[3]  Marcus Woo,et al.  The Rise of No/Low Code Software Development—No Experience Needed? , 2020, Engineering.

[4]  Rolf Schwitter,et al.  A survey on automatically constructed universal knowledge bases , 2020, J. Inf. Sci..

[5]  George Baryannis,et al.  Semi-automated development of conceptual models from natural language text , 2020, Data Knowl. Eng..

[6]  Rolf Schwitter,et al.  Semantic Round-Tripping in Conceptual Modelling Using Restricted Natural Language , 2020, ADC.

[7]  Francisco Fraile,et al.  Low-Code as Enabler of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Industry , 2019, Applied Sciences.

[8]  Rolf Schwitter,et al.  CNL-ER: A Controlled Natural Language for Specifying and Verbalising Entity Relationship Models , 2019, ALTA.

[9]  Fabio Kon,et al.  A Survey of DevOps Concepts and Challenges , 2019, ACM Comput. Surv..

[10]  Eduardo Figueiredo,et al.  A Literature Review and Comparison of Three Feature Location Techniques using ArgoUML-SPL , 2019, VaMoS.

[11]  Alessio Ferrari,et al.  Natural Language Requirements Processing: From Research to Practice , 2018, 2018 IEEE/ACM 40th International Conference on Software Engineering: Companion (ICSE-Companion).

[12]  Joseph Frantiska,et al.  Visualization Tools for Learning Environment Development , 2017 .

[13]  Harald Störrle,et al.  How are Conceptual Models used in Industrial Software Development?: A Descriptive Survey , 2017, EASE.

[14]  Hajo A. Reijers,et al.  Comparing textual descriptions to process models - The automatic detection of inconsistencies , 2017, Inf. Syst..

[15]  Henda Hajjami Ben Ghézala,et al.  Automatic builder of class diagram (ABCD): an application of UML generation from functional requirements , 2016, Softw. Pract. Exp..

[16]  Domenico Lembo,et al.  Eddy: A Graphical Editor for OWL 2 Ontologies , 2016, IJCAI.

[17]  Domenico Lembo,et al.  Easy OWL Drawing with the Graphol Visual Ontology Language , 2016, KR.

[18]  Georg Grossmann,et al.  Formalising Natural Language Specifications Using a Cognitive Linguistics/Configuration Based Approach , 2013, 2013 17th IEEE International Enterprise Distributed Object Computing Conference.

[19]  François Lévy,et al.  Formalization of Natural Language Regulations through SBVR Structured English - (Tutorial) , 2013, RuleML.

[20]  Enrico Franconi,et al.  ORM2: Formalisation and Encoding in OWL2 , 2012, OTM Workshops.

[21]  Sergio Tessaris,et al.  The ICOM 3.0 intelligent conceptual modelling tool and methodology , 2012, Semantic Web.

[22]  Kuhn Tobias,et al.  Controlled English for knowledge representation , 2010 .

[23]  Rodina Ahmad,et al.  Class Diagram Extraction from Textual Requirements Using Natural Language Processing (NLP) Techniques , 2010, 2010 Second International Conference on Computer Research and Development.

[24]  Muhammad Ali Babar,et al.  An Automated Tool for Generating UML Models from Natural Language Requirements , 2009, 2009 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering.

[25]  Olga Ormandjieva,et al.  Models Derived from Automatically Analyzed Textual User Requirements , 2006, Fourth International Conference on Software Engineering Research, Management and Applications (SERA'06).

[26]  Diego Calvanese,et al.  Reasoning on UML class diagrams , 2005, Artif. Intell..

[27]  Robert J. Gaizauskas,et al.  CM-Builder: A Natural Language-Based CASE Tool for Object-Oriented Analysis , 2003, Automated Software Engineering.

[28]  Luisa Mich,et al.  NL-OOPS: A Requirements Analysis Tool Based On Natural Language Processing , 2002 .

[29]  Kalina Bontcheva,et al.  GATE: an Architecture for Development of Robust HLT applications , 2002, ACL.

[30]  Vincenzo Gervasi,et al.  The Cico Domain-Based Parser , 2001 .

[31]  Robert J. Gaizauskas,et al.  Using a semantic network for information extraction , 1997, Natural Language Engineering.

[32]  Luisa Mich,et al.  NL-OOPS: from natural language to object oriented requirements using the natural language processing system LOLITA , 1996, Natural Language Engineering.

[33]  R. Garigliano,et al.  University of Durham: Description of the LOLITA system as Used in MUC-7 , 1995, MUC.

[34]  Md. Saddam Hossain Mukta,et al.  Challenges, Applications and Design Aspects of Federated Learning: A Survey , 2021, IEEE Access.

[35]  Terry Halpin,et al.  Reference Scheme Modeling , 2019, New Perspectives on Information Systems Modeling and Design.

[36]  Robert Waszkowski,et al.  Low-code platform for automating business processes in manufacturing , 2019, IFAC-PapersOnLine.

[37]  Rolf Schwitter,et al.  Specifying Conceptual Models Using Restricted Natural Language , 2018, ALTA.

[38]  Raja Touahni,et al.  Automatic Transformation of User Stories into UML Use Case Diagrams using NLP Techniques , 2018, ANT/SEIT.

[39]  Jean-Marc Jézéquel,et al.  Model Driven Engineering , 2017, Encyclopedia of GIS.

[40]  C. Maria Keet,et al.  Multilingual verbalization of ORM conceptual models and axiomatized ontologies , 2014 .

[41]  T. Halpin.  Object-Role Modeling , 2009, Encyclopedia of Database Systems.

[42]  Vincenzo Gervasi,et al.  On the Systematic Analysis of Natural Language Requirements with CIRCE , 2006, Automated Software Engineering.

[43]  Carsten Lutz,et al.  Reasoning about Entity Relationship Diagrams with Complex Attribute Dependencies , 2002, Description Logics.

[44]  D. Rosenberg,et al.  Use Case Driven Object Modeling With UML , 1999 .

[45]  Yorick Wilks,et al.  University of Sheffield: Description of the LaSIE System as Used for MUC-6 , 1995, MUC.

[46]  Alexander Borgida,et al.  Conceptual Modeling of Information Systems , 1985, On Knowledge Base Management Systems.