The NEMO summer school series is an annual event organized by the OMiLAB team. It brings together a wide international community and showcases the current state of research, theory and practice of modeling, with a focus on the design and implementation of Enterprise Digital Twin and Ecosystem using conceptual modeling methods. The 9th edition of the summer school was hosted by the University of Vienna and lasted for two weeks in July. The event provided an opportunity to acquire knowledge from numerous lecturers who contributed to describing the main topic from their perspectives, making this adventure a valuable multidisciplinary knowledge exchange. Apart from theoretical lectures, practical sessions have been held where students presented their ideas and showcased developed model prototypes. The summer school organized several social events and cultural activities that helped form a link between international communities and their culture in the beautiful city of Vienna.
OMiLAB community
OMiLAB is a global community with a clear vision: to promote three key concepts:
- Digital Innovation
- Conceptual Modelling
- Design Thinking
It serves as an inclusive ecosystem that invites both individuals and institutions to actively participate in the exploration of modelling methodologies. Within this community, specialized laboratories provide the ideal environment for research and experimentation in modelling method engineering, equipped with innovative tools. OMiLAB encourages collaboration where ideas are cultivated, existing concepts are expanded, and new methodologies are engineered. Furthermore, it fosters a constructive dialogue between digital innovators and engineers, leveraging their collective expertise to influence the digital landscape positively.
Overview of Modeling and Digital Twins
Conceptual modeling is a critical tool for managing the complexity of digital ecosystems that are becoming increasingly prevalent in our current and future work environments. These ecosystems involve a variety of stakeholders, including programmers, clients, users, and domain experts, each with their own unique “language” or perspective. This diversity can lead to confusion and miscommunication.
Conceptual modeling serves as a common language that bridges these different perspectives. It provides a structured approach to understanding and representing the system at hand, reducing complexity through abstraction. This is beautifully encapsulated in Professor Karagiannis’s quote: “We use abstraction to reduce complexity in a domain for a specific purpose”.
In the context of software development, conceptual models are like blueprints. They provide a clear and concise representation of the system’s structure and behavior. However, traditional models are often not reusable, leading to inefficiencies in time and resources when new projects arise.
The NEMO summer school proposes a solution to this problem through the use of design thinking and engineering with digital twins. Digital design thinking leverages technological and organizational changes to disrupt business models and drive transformation. Enterprise Digital Twins, which are virtual representations of an organization’s processes, services, and systems, can be used for analysis, simulation, and feasibility verification. This approach promotes reusability and efficiency in software development.
Conceptual modeling, a key tool that we use to manage complex systems in our everyday lives, can be easily understood through the simple example of learning to paint. Embarking on this artistic journey is not as simple as haphazardly applying paint to canvas. It requires a structured approach, much like a tutorial or guide, which serves as our conceptual model.
This guide demystifies the painting process by outlining the necessary materials (similar to system components), providing detailed instructions for creating the artwork (mirroring system behavior), and offering a visual or description of the expected outcome (representing the system’s goal).
This model, much like in software development, transcends individual expertise levels, offering a universal language comprehensible to both novice painters and seasoned artists. It simplifies the intricate process of painting by delivering clear, sequential directives.
Key Takeaways
The summer school program was meticulously organized. The commencement of the first week was marked by lectures elucidating the practical aspects of Digitalization, the role of Conceptual Models, and the prerequisites for software design. The curriculum further encompassed metamodeling, an array of tools for modeling, and data modeling and management. To ensure that all participants were at the same level and to acquaint us with OMiLAB's tools, the school arranged a series of practical sessions. These special courses introduced all the participants to two key tools they have developed: ADOxx and Bee-Up. Here, we gained valuable insights into the process of conceptualizing and drawing models. By the end of the experience, we had all acquired the skills to craft a variety of models, including those in BPMN, UML, Petri nets, and even the ability to develop custom models. This project exemplified how conceptual modeling can serve as a bridge between a scenario and the physical environment layer. A notable instance of this was demonstrated through the smart house scenario.
One of the highlights of the program was a lecture by Professor Hans-Georg Fill titled “Enterprise Modeling and Blockchains: Recent Findings and Future Prospects”. Blockchains, a technological advancement that gained significant attention with the advent of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, present fascinating opportunities for the development of innovative business models. These models leverage the transparency and decentralization that blockchains offer, especially in environments where trust may be lacking. In his lecture, Professor Fill delved into the application of enterprise modeling in this scenario. He examined contemporary strategies that merge enterprise models with blockchain technologies and elaborated on the technical implementation of these combinations.
At the program's midway point, we had the privilege of meeting the school's main sponsor, Hilti, who delivered two enlightening lectures. These sessions showcased the practical application of OMiLAB Innovation tools within an industrial context. During one of these lectures, Dr. Martin Nemetz initiated a thought-provoking problem-solving exercise. Using the simple example of road sign design and semantics, he sketched a series of road signs on paper. This presented a challenge centered around meta modeling, where we were tasked with understanding the abstraction at each level above the instance and model level. The rest of us actively participated in this brainstorming session, endeavoring to comprehend and interpret the semantics of these road signs at different levels of abstraction. This exercise served as an engaging platform for stimulating our creative and critical thinking skills. As a final contribution, a special dinner was organized with the two representatives, Dr. Martin Nemetz and Marcel Müller. The purpose of this gathering was to discuss internship opportunities and delve into the topic of meta modeling and various modeling approaches.
Across the 40 lectures curated by the program, each presentation bore a distinct character, enriched by the individual expertise and the unique academic or industrial backgrounds of the professors and their respective universities. The topics spanned a wide spectrum, encompassing diverse subjects such as business, mathematics, digitalization, innovation, programming, and a multitude of other areas.
Digital Twin for Smart Cities – Practical Sessions
The program offered more than just lectures and tutorials; it also included two engaging practical exercises that involved participants being divided into different groups, confronting challenges within the context of Smart Cities. This was intended to make us develop the concept of Design Thinking, with the help of the Scene2Model tool. Scene2Model, a program derived from ADOxx, enables the transformation of physical visualizations into digital models, enabling global collaboration. This approach bridges the gap between design artefacts and formal abstractions, enhancing innovation.
The first project, titled "Digital Leaders," had the primary goal of challenging us to solve a real-life problem using conceptual modeling. This module encompassed four main phases:
- “Innovate Business Models” - Foster co-creation in multi-disciplinary teams through design thinking using the Scene2Model tool and environment.
- “Design Conceptual Models” – Develop a solution by crafting a storyboard and then encapsulating it within a concise model.
- “Engineer IoT Environments” - Being aware of the semantic technologies at hand and understanding the capabilities and requirements of IoT hardware components.
- “Realize CPS Applications” - Experiment with, instantiate a selected modelling method and realize an experiment based on the application scenario chosen.
In the second project, each group was challenged to conceive a disruptive idea for an innovative product or service that could ultimately contribute to the enhancement to the city of Vienna. Following the same structured approach as in the first project, the groups developed the following inventive concepts:
- CardioSense
- Enhancing Pedestrian Safety through Mesh-Connected Vehicles
- Recycling in the Smart City
- SkyShield
- Automated Proactive Healthcare
- Easy2Explore
- A smart assistance system for pupils with special needs
Conclusion
Participating in the NEMO summer school, organized by the OMiLAB team at the University of Vienna, was a valuable two-week experience that brought together a diverse international community to explore conceptual modeling, focusing on Enterprise Digital Twins and a variety of meta-modeling tools. The program featured expert lectures, practical sessions for student presentations and model prototypes, and offered cultural activities to foster global connections. All these aspects combined, made the NEMO summer school more than just an educational event; it was a journey of discovery and connection. It allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of conceptual modeling, engage with peers from all over the world, and experience the rich culture of Vienna. We thank OMiLAB for organizing this event and we are truly grateful for this opportunity provided by the University of Fribourg and look forward to applying the knowledge and experiences gained during the program in our future endeavors.
Elena Cascavilla in the center
Iva Vasic in the center
Authors: Elena Cascavilla and Iva Vasic
