International Council on Systems Engineering

INCOSE Systems Architecture Tools Survey
INCOSE | TDWG Home | Tools Database: RM SA Measurement General

Welcome to the INCOSE Systems Architecture (SA) Tools Survey site, sponsored by the Tools Database Working Group. The Tools Database Working Group consists of both tool users and tool suppliers who are interested in the use of technology to enable Systems Engineering. The TDWG began gathering information on Systems Architecture tools in the 1990's. Working with the INCOSE Systems Architecture Working Group, they developed the survey questions for Systems Architecture tools found here. The survey responses, including the rating of compliance with each questions or feature, are provided by the tool vendors directly. However, the TDWG reserves the right to review and correct any "informational injustices" (i.e. exaggerated answers). Please report any bugs or enhancement suggestions to the Tools Database Working Group chair at tdwg-info@incose.org. Your feedback is appreciated. Please encourage any vendor whose tool is not yet included in the survey database to participate by sending them a link to this website.

Disclaimer: The Systems Architecture tools and associated survey responses are provided for informational purposes only to INCOSE members and other members of the systems engineering community. There is no intent by INCOSE to endorse any tool listed or discredit any tool not listed. The information shown has NOT been verified by INCOSE as to its accuracy or validity and therefore all users are cautioned to use at their own discretion. INCOSE cannot be held accountable for any interpretations, liabilities or damages that may occur should any of the provided data be inaccurate, misstated, or in any other way misrepresent its correct status. All users are encouraged to conduct their own verification of the data prior to its use. Reliance or use of the information shown here is solely at the user's own risk.

Using the Survey: The following table contains clickable links to the vendor's website (click on the tool name), the complete set of detailed responses for a given tool (click on any row in the column for the tool you're interested in), and the vendor contact info (click on Contact at the bottom of the column). As this table grows, load times will become longer, so please be patient.

Vendors: You are responsible for the accuracy of your responses. If you would like to update your contact information or survey responses, login here. If you would like to add your tool to this survey, this survey worksheet is available to help prepare your survey responses prior to requesting an account for survey submission.


Tools:ARTiSAN StudioCORE 5.1Cradle 5.2Envision VIPSLATE 6.5 (a UGS Teamcenter product)UGS Teamcenter for Systems Engineering 2005I-Logix RhapsodyTAU Architect and TAU DeveloperOPCATSpecification Analysis Tool (SAT)
Response DateJune 20, 2005July 07, 2006May 24, 2005March 16, 2005June 09, 2005June 11, 2005October 28, 2005September 15, 2005February 19, 2006February 10, 2006
1 Support Quality System Design FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
1.1 Evaluate an architecture’s effectiveness, quality and completeness? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.2 Map and verify requirements to arch. description?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.3 Cycle through all impacted data and products after an architectural modification? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.4 Indicate impact on associated arch. components? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.5 Relate Data Dictionary and component definitions to a defined architecture? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.6 Relate description of inputs, outputs and process to each arch. element? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.7 Allow the user to define/use their own heuristics and rules? FullFullFullFullPartPartFullFullFullPart
1.8 Provide user input definition completeness checking at all levels (e.g. interfaces)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.9 Checks for input(s), output (s) and process(s) descriptions for each arch. element? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.10 Allow the user to tag architecture elements with requirements?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.11 Assist in developing the operational concept ("Ballpark" or "Blue Sky" perspective)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
1.12 Relate operational concept to arch. elements? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
1.13 Allow cost estimation through a spreadsheet feature? PartFullFullFullFullFullFullPartFullNone
1.14 Map cost to arch. elements and maintain in row/column format? PartFullFullFullFullFullFullPartFullNone
1.15 Support architecture evolution with easy editing features? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2 Support Multiple System Views FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2.1 Produce architecture views from functional and object oriented (OO) perspectives (examples: WBS, functional, physical, data flow, state diagrams)?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2.2 Produce a view of interface connectivity? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2.3 Support various physical architectures (view from a number of levels, Black box, Rack, circuit board, chip)?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2.4 Support various types (i.e. technology applications) of architectures: Mechanical, electrical, chemical, Information etc.?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
2.5 Relate views to each other (changes should automatically cycle through all views)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
3 Methodology Independent FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
3.1 Is your product of general structure allowing definition of tool functions, conventions, and methods? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
3.2 Enable tailoring to specific standards and requirements, IEEE, ISO, MIL-STD? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
3.3 Impose a specific design methodology (e.g., only functional, only OO)? FullFullNoneFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
3.4 Accommodate other approaches (i.e. Functional, OO, Quality Functional Deployment etc.)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
3.5 Allow technology insertion and application customization (API)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
3.6 Allow customization of diagrams, icons, heuristics, functions, etc.? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
4 User Interface FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
4.1 User friendly & menu driven (drag and drop capabilities)? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
4.2 Begin jobs using templates, fill-in lists, etc. to guide the user? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
4.3 Provide prompts for functional attributes, interface characteristics, objects, etc.? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullPartFullNone
4.4 Provide a standard icon library for architecture development? (Vendor supplied) FullPartFullFullFullFullFullPartFullNone
4.5 Allow drag and drop control of icons within the architecture? NonePartFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
4.6 Does your product allow the user to customize icons with definitions for specific architectures? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPartNone
5 Communication with Other Tools FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
5.1 Allow import/exchange of data from others formats and tools? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
5.2 Create files in formats readable by other tools? Which formats? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
5.3 Interface to requirements traceability software? Which products?FullFullFullFullPartFullFullFullFullNone
5.4 Interface with word processing, spreadsheet and illustration software? Which products?FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
5.5 Interface with CAD and software design and coding tools? Which products?FullFullFullFullPartFullFullFullFullNone
6 Documentation ProductionFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
6.1 Store standard document outlines - used as starting points? User definable templates or modifiable? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
6.2 Support production of Operational Concept Document? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
6.3 Support production of Functional Description Document? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
6.4 Support production of a Data Dictionary? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
6.5 Support production of Requirements Allocation Document? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
6.6 Produce context diagrams, Functional Flow Block Diagrams, Hierarchy charts, Connectivity diagrams, and Physical layouts? FullFullFullFullPartFullFullFullFullNone
6.7 Produce printouts? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
7 Computer Environment FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
7.1 Support a single user or multiple concurrent users? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
7.2 Which platforms and operating systems does the tool run on? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
7.3 Does the tool use a proprietary or commercially available database? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
8 Resource Requirements FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
8.1 Please identify hardware/software configuration requirements: FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
8.2 Memory requirements FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
8.3 CPU requirements FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
8.4 Disk space requirements FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
9 User Interfaces FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
9.1 Allow doing one thing while you are looking at another? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullPartFullNone
9.2 User has the ability to run a report and look at a requirement at the same time? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
9.3 Product executable via scripts (recordable) or macros? FullFullFullFullPartPartFullFullNoneNone
9.4 Allow the user to create and playback commands or macros that allow the user to automate various tedious tasks? FullFullFullFullPartPartFullFullFullNone
10 Support and Maintenance FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullPart
10.1 Does your tool have a warranty, if so, what is it? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.2 Does the tool support network licensing (floating, node locked, etc.), if so, which license manager? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.3 How often are software updates released; are updates separately priced items, etc.? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.4 What is the recommended training time for a user to become proficient in using the tool? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.5 Are the users manuals online, is there online help with the tool? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.6 Does the tool supplier have Internet access/Website? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
10.7 What type of phone support is available from the tool supplier? FullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullFullNone
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