Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-p2v8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T12:09:20.725Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING IN REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING AND ITS CHALLENGES FOR REQUIREMENTS MODELLING IN THE ENGINEERING DESIGN DOMAIN

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2023

Judith Sophie van Remmen ,
Dennis Horber ,
Adriana Lungu ,
Fan Chang ,
Sebastiaan van Putten ,
Stefan Goetz  and
Sandro Wartzack
Judith Sophie van Remmen*
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg;
Dennis Horber
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg;
Adriana Lungu
Affiliation:
AUDI AG
Fan Chang
Affiliation:
AUDI AG
Sebastiaan van Putten
Affiliation:
AUDI AG
Stefan Goetz
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg;
Sandro Wartzack
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg;
*
van Remmen, Judith Sophie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, van_remmen@mfk.fau.de

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Requirements represent a central element in product development. The large number of requirements inevitably results in an increased susceptibility to errors, an expenditure of time and development costs. The associated problems motivate the application of Artificial Intelligence in the form of Natural Language Processing (NLP). In Requirements Engineering one main task is the classification of requirements which serves as the input in architectural models e.g. in SysML. In mechanical engineering there is still little overview regarding the interface between requirements classification and modelling. This paper provides an overview of the requirement classes and entities used in the literature and analyses their utilisation in modelling. Existing requirements classes usually do not offer the flexibility to be transferred to other domains. However, basic structures can be adopted from those classifications. This enables a clear assignment of existing classes to object classes in modelling. Resulting from the conducted literature study the observed predominant focus of research on the software industry requires an extension of the existing requirement classes and entities to enable further use and transfer to mechanical engineering.

Keywords

RequirementsArtificial intelligenceNatural Language ProcessingSystems Engineering (SE)Literature review
Type
Article
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 3: ICED23 , July 2023 , pp. 2765 - 2774
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

References

Abdelnabi, E. A., Maatuk, A. M. and Abdelaziz, T. M. (2021), “An Algorithmic Approach for Generating Behavioral UML Models Using Natural Language Processing”. ICEMIS'21, Almaty Kazakhstan, 11 10 2021 13 10 2021, ACM, New York, NY, USA, pp. 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3492547.3492612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adam, S., Wünch, C. and Koch, M. (2013), Ergebnisbericht „RE-Kompass 2013“, IESE-Report Nr. 053.13/D, Fraunhofer IESE, Kaiserslautern.Google Scholar
Alami, N., Arman, N. and Khamyseh, F. (2017), “A semi-automated approach for generating sequence diagrams from Arabic user requirements using a natural language processing tool”. 2017 ICIT, Amman, Jordan, 17.05.2017 - 18.05.2017, IEEE, pp. 309–314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ICITECH.2017.8080018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alenazi, M., Niu, N. and Savolainen, J. (2019), “SysML Modeling Mistakes and Their Impacts on Requirements”. 2019 IEEE REW, Jeju Island, Korea (South), 23.09.2019 - 27.09.2019, IEEE, pp. 14–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/REW.2019.00010.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anwar, M.W., Ahsan, I., Azam, F., Butt, W.H. and Rashid, M. (2020), “A Natural Language Processing (NLP) Framework for Embedded Systems to Automatically Extract Verification Aspects from Textual Design Requirements”. ICCAE 2020, Sydney NSW Australia, 14 02 2020 16 02 2020, ACM, New York, NY, USA, pp. 7–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3384613.3384619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bozyiğit, F., Aktaş, Ö. and Kılınç, D. (2021), “Linking software requirements and conceptual models: A systematic literature review”, Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 71–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2020.11.006.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Denger, C., Berry, D.M. and Kamsties, E. (2003), “Higher quality requirements specifications through natural language patterns”. SwSTE'03, Herzlia, Israel, 04.11.2003 - 05.11.2003, IEEE, pp. 80–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SWSTE.2003.1245428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dermeval, D., Vilela, J., Bittencourt, I.I., Castro, J., Isotani, S. and Brito, P. (2014), “A Systematic Review on the Use of Ontologies in Requirements Engineering”. 2014 SBES, Maceio, Brazil, 28.09.2014 - 03.10.2014, IEEE, pp. 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SBES.2014.13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drave, I., Rumpe, B., Wortmann, A., Berroth, J., Hoepfner, G., Jacobs, G., Spuetz, K., Zerwas, T., Guist, C. and Kohl, J. (2020), “Modeling mechanical functional architectures in SysML”. MODELS '20 ACM/IEEE, Virtual Event Canada, 16 10 2020 23 10 2020, ACM, New York, NY, USA, pp. 79–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3365438.3410938.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FIR e.V. (2021), Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz zur Sprachverarbeitung: Anwendung von Natural-Language-Processing in der Industrie, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi), Berlin.Google Scholar
Gausemeier, J., Dumitrescu, R., Steffen, D., Czaja, A., Wiederkehr, O. and Tschirner, C. (2013), Studie Systems Engineering in der industriellen Praxis, Heinz-Nixdorf-Institut, Fraunhofer IPT, Unity AG, Paderborn.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gröpler, R., Sudhi, V., García, E. and Bergmann, A. (2021), “NLP-based requirements formalization for automatic test case generation”. CEUR Workshop Proceedings, Berlin, pp. 18–30.Google Scholar
Hey, T., Keim, J., Koziolek, A. and Tichy, W.F. (2020), “NoRBERT: Transfer Learning for Requirements Classification”. 2020 IEEE 28th International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE), Zurich, Switzerland, 31.08.2020 - 04.09.2020, IEEE, pp. 169–179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/RE48521.2020.00028.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horber, D., Schleich, B. and Wartzack, S. (2020), “CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR (SEMI-) AUTOMATED DERIVATION OF EVALUATION CRITERIA IN REQUIREMENTS MODELLING”, Proceedings of the Design Society: DESIGN Conference, Vol. 1, pp. 937–946. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dsd.2020.52.Google Scholar
Jaiwai, M. and Sammapun, U. (2017), “Extracting UML class diagrams from software requirements in Thai using NLP”. 2017 JCSSE, NakhonSiThammarat, Thailand, 12.07.2017 - 14.07.2017, IEEE, pp. 1–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JCSSE.2017.8025938.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koscinski, V., Gambardella, C., Gerstner, E., Zappavigna, M., Cassetti, J. and Mirakhorli, M. (2021), “A Natural Language Processing Technique for Formalization of Systems Requirement Specifications”. 2021 REW, Notre Dame, IN, USA, 20.09.2021 - 24.09.2021, IEEE, pp. 350–356. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/REW53955.2021.00062.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krisch, J. (2017), “Sprachliche Kontrolle von Anforderungsdokumenten”, Dissertation Universität Hildesheim, Hildesheim, 2017.Google Scholar
Loniewski, G., Insfran, E. and Abrahão, S. (2010), “A Systematic Review of the Use of Requirements Engineering Techniques in Model-Driven Development”, In Petriu, D.C., Rouquette, N. and Haugen, Ø. (Eds.), Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 6395, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 213–227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16129-2_16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
M. Maatuk, A. and A. Abdelnabi, E. (2021), “Generating UML Use Case and Activity Diagrams Using NLP Techniques and Heuristics Rules”. DATA'21 2021, Ma'an Jordan, 05 04 2021 07 04 2021, ACM, New York, NY, USA, pp. 271–277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3460620.3460768.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mir Khatian, V., Ali Arain, Q., Alenezi, M., Owais Raza, M., Shaikh, F. and Farah, I. (2021), “Comparative Analysis for Predicting Non-Functional Requirements using Supervised Machine Learning”. 2021 CAIDA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 06.04.2021 - 07.04.2021, IEEE, pp. 7–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CAIDA51941.2021.9425236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
OMG (2019), “Systems Modeling Language, SysML, v1.6”.Google Scholar
Page, M.J., McKenzie, J.E., Bossuyt, P.M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T.C., Mulrow, C.D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J.M., Akl, E.A., Brennan, S.E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J.M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M.M., Li, T., Loder, E.W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinness, L.A., Stewart, L.A., Thomas, J., Tricco, A.C., Welch, V.A., Whiting, P. and Moher, D. (2021), “The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews”, BMJ (Clinical research ed.), Vol. 372, n71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pohl, K. and Rupp, C. (2015), Requirements engineering fundamentals: A study guide for the certified professional for requirements engineering exam foundation level - IREB compliant, Rocky Nook computing, 2nd edition, Rocky Nook, Santa Barbara, CA.Google Scholar
Rago, A., Abait, E., Marcos, C. and Diaz-Pace, A. (2009), “Early aspect identification from use cases using NLP and WSD techniques”. the 15th workshop, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, 03.03.2009 - 03.03.2009, ACM Press, New York, New York, USA, p. 19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/1509825.1509830.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raharjana, I.K., Siahaan, D. and Fatichah, C. (2021), “User Stories and Natural Language Processing: A Systematic Literature Review”, IEEE Access, Vol. 9, pp. 53811–53826. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3070606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahman, M.A., Haque, M.A., Tawhid, M.N.A. and Siddik, M.S. (2019), “Classifying non-functional requirements using RNN variants for quality software development”. the 3rd ACM SIGSOFT International Workshop, Tallinn, Estonia, 27.08.2019 - 27.08.2019, ACM Press, New York, New York, USA, pp. 25–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3340482.3342745.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reder, B. (2021), Studie Machine Learning 2021, IDG Business Media GmbH, München.Google Scholar
Shehadeh, K., Arman, N. and Khamayseh, F. (2021), “Semi-Automated Classification of Arabic User Requirements into Functional and Non-Functional Requirements using NLP Tools”. 2021 ICIT, Amman, Jordan, 14.07.2021 - 15.07.2021, IEEE, pp. 527–532. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ICIT52682.2021.9491698.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shweta, and Sanyal, R. (2020), “Impact of passive and negative sentences in automatic generation of static UML diagram using NLP”, Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 2047–2059. http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-179871.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sonbol, R., Rebdawi, G. and Ghneim, N. (2022), “The Use of NLP-Based Text Representation Techniques to Support Requirement Engineering Tasks: A Systematic Mapping Review”, IEEE Access, Vol. 10, pp. 62811–62830. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3182372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sundararajan, M., Srikrishnan, P. and Nayak, K. (2018), “Requirements Complexity Definition and Classification using Natural Language Processing”. 2018 IC3I, Gurgaon, India, 10.10.2018 - 12.10.2018, IEEE, pp. 76–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IC3I44769.2018.9007287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varenov, V. and Gabdrahmanov, A. (2021), “Security Requirements Classification into Groups Using NLP Transformers”. 2021 REW, Notre Dame, IN, USA, 20.09.2021 - 24.09.2021, IEEE, pp. 444–450. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/REW53955.2021.9714713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlas, R. and Robinson, W.N. (2011), “A Rule-Based Natural Language Technique for Requirements Discovery and Classification in Open-Source Software Development Projects”. 2011 HICSS 2011, Kauai, HI, 04.01.2011 - 07.01.2011, IEEE, pp. 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.2011.28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, L., Alhoshan, W., Ferrari, A., Letsholo, K.J., Ajagbe, M.A., Chioasca, E.-V. and Batista-Navarro, R.T. (2022), “Natural Language Processing for Requirements Engineering”, ACM Computing Surveys, Vol. 54 No. 3, pp. 1–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3444689.Google Scholar