Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Introduction
3.1
Background, Aims and Objectives
This paper has three objectives:
A Triptych Software Paradigm:
We wish to illustrate the triptych notions of:
{
domain engineering
,
{
requirements engineering
and
{
software design
Domain engineering
builds a theory of the application domain. It does so by de-
scribing it: Informally and formally. As it, the domain, is, without any reference
to computing, ie. also without any reference to requirements. Normally a domain
is described normatively: encompassing many actual as well as possible instanti-
ations. And the domain need be described from the point of view of all relevant
stake-holders, and at a variety of abstractions: the very basics, the domain with
its support technologies, with its rules & regulations, human behaviours, etc.
Requirements engineering
builds a theory of some software for the support
of some activities within the domain. It does so by describing domain require-
ments, interface requirements and machine requirements.
Domain requirements
projects
instantiates
extends
it.
Interface requirements
specify the human-computer interface (HCI): the way hu-
man users \see" the system (multi-media), dialogues between man and machine,
etc.
Machine requirements
specify dependability (availability, accessibility, secu-
rity, reliability, etc.), performance, and maintainability (perfective, adaptive and
corrective), as well as development and execution platforms.
Finally
software design
specify the architecture of th software: How users and
other software perceive or use it, its organisation: How the internal interfaces are
composed. Architecture usually `implements' domain and interface requirements.
Program organisation `implements' machine requirements.
and
the normative domains; and, in cases, also
Decision Support Systems:
We attempt to combine two main streams of software
technology: decision supports systems and geographic information systems in the
specic context of environmentally sustainable development.
Sustainable Development:
The main text of this paper will deal with this subject.
The next sections will detail the points to be made.
3.2
Sustainable Development
The concept of sustainable development was brought into focus at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development. That conference was held
in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, in June 1992.
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