Introduction

Inspired by the various enterprise architecture frameworks the System Architecture Framework (SAF) is a common, domain independent system architecture framework dedicated to support Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) of technical systems.

The SAF can be used stand-alone and also complementary to enterprise architecture frameworks. SAF starts where an enterprise architecture framework stops.

What is SAF?

• SAF is SysML based architecture framework intended to support the Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) of technical systems.
• SAF is an open and extensible toolbox. It is developed by the SAF Working Group of the german INCOSE chapter GfSE.
• SAF is based on a Systems Engineering Ontology and structured by viewpoint definitions.
• SAF supports 3 major MBSE Tools.

SAF Grid

The following table shows the organisation of the SAF in Domains and Aspects. The cells of the grid contain the Viewpoints, please click on the links in the table to navigate to detailled descriptions of Domains, Aspects and Viewpoints.

	Aspect Context & Exchange	Aspect Taxonomy & Structure	Aspect Process & Behavior	Aspect Interaction & Collaboration	Aspect Interface	Aspect Requirement	Aspect Safety & Security	Aspect Traceability & Mapping
Common Domain		C2_ARASArgumentation Assurance Viewpoint C2_CSTDCommon Standards Definition Viewpoint C2_TRMDCommon Terms Definition Viewpoint C2_GRIDGrid Definition Viewpoint
Operational Domain	O1_OCXDOperational Context Definition Viewpoint O1_OCXEOperational Context Exchange Viewpoint O1_OSTYOperational Story Viewpoint	O2_OCYDOperational Capability Definition Viewpoint O2_ODIKOperational Domain Item Kind Viewpoint O2_OPRFOperational Performer Viewpoint O2_STIDStakeholder Identification Viewpoint	O3_OPROOperational Process Viewpoint	O4_OCXIOperational Context Interaction Viewpoint		O6_SKRDStakeholder Requirement Definition Viewpoint		O8_OCYMOperational Capability Mapping Viewpoint O8_OPRMOperational Process Mapping Viewpoint
Functional Domain	F1_SCXDSystem Context Definition Viewpoint F1_SCXESystem Context Exchange Viewpoint F1_SUCDSystem Use Case Viewpoint	F2_SCYDSystem Capability Definition Viewpoint F2_SDIKSystem Domain Item Kind Viewpoint F2_SFBSSystem Functional Breakdown Structure Viewpoint	F3_SFRESystem Functional Refinement Viewpoint F3_SPROSystem Process Viewpoint F3_SSTASystem State Viewpoint	F4_SCXISystem Context Interaction Viewpoint	F5_SIFDSystem Interface Definition Viewpoint	F6_SRQDSystem Requirement Definition Viewpoint	F7_ASIDAsset Identification Viewpoint F7_IMANImpact Analysis Viewpoint F7_SECTSecurity Context Viewpoint F7_RIANSecurity Risk Analysis Viewpoint F7_THSCThreat Szenario Viewpoint	F8_SCYMSystem Capability Mapping Viewpoint F8_SRQTSystem Requirement Traceability Viewpoint
Logical Domain		L2_LSTDLogical Structure Definition Viewpoint		L4_LIEXLogical Internal Exchange Viewpoint L4_LITILogical Internal Interaction Viewpoint				L8_LFUMLogical Functional Mapping Viewpoint
Physical Domain	P1_PCXDPhysical Context Definition Viewpoint P1_PCXEPhysical Context Exchange Viewpoint	P2_PSTDPhysical Structure Definition Viewpoint		P4_PIEXPhysical Internal Exchange Viewpoint	P5_PIFDPhysical Interface Definition Viewpoint			P8_PFUMPhysical Functional Mapping Viewpoint P8_PLIMPhysical Logical Item Mapping Viewpoint P8_PLOMPhysical Logical Mapping Viewpoint
SAF Development Domain		D2_COTDFramework Concept Definition Viewpoint D2_STKDFramework Stakeholder and Concern Definition Viewpoint D2_STYDFramework Stereotype Overview Viewpoint D2_VPTDFramework Viewpoint Definition Viewpoint D2_VPTIFramework Viewpoint Implementation Viewpoint D2_VPTOFramework Viewpoint Overview Viewpoint						D8_STYDFramework Implementation Traceability Viewpoint

SAF Documentation

This site contains both documentation for users of SAF and developers of SAF. To understand how to use SAF, head over to Using SAF. To understand how we develop SAF, see Development Documentation. We always welcome contributions from our MBSE community to improve SAF, see how to contribute.

Example

The System Architecture Framework Specification application is demonstrated using the Fire Forest Detection System (FFDS) example, courtesy of Tim Weilkiens. The Fire Forest Detection System example is based on the publication SYSMOD - The Systems Modeling Toolbox, 3rd edition Pragmatic MBSE with SysML, Tim Weilkiens

Releases

This documentation is for the main branch of SAF that reflects the current state of development and it is updated as required. See the change report for an information about major changes.

The following SAF releases are available, each of which is managed in a separate branch:

• Initial Release
• TdSE2022
• TdSE2023
• TdSE2024

Tool Implementations

The SAF specification is implemented by 3 tool specific profiles which are available in separate github repositories:

• Cameo Systems Modeler (by Dassault Systèmes)
• Engineering Systems Design Rhapsody (by IBM)
• Enterprise Architect (by Sparx Systems)