Arabic Domain Modeling: A Rule-based Tool for Extracting Domain Models from User Requirements using ANLP

Abstract

A domain model, also known as a conceptual model, is a crucial step in the transition from natural language requirements to precise specifications. It helps identify the main points of a problem in terms of the flow of real-world objects and their relationships. Domain modeling is also considered one of the best methods for requirements analysis. However, building a domain model manually for large systems is a challenging task. There are several ways to assist engineers with this task, such as using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to automatically extract candidate domain model elements. However, these methods are only applicable to the English language. Building a domain model in the Arabic language is particularly challenging due to the different concepts of the Arabic language compared to English. To assist analysts who use Arabic to document their work, a new approach for developing a tool that automatically extracts a domain model has been proposed. This is achieved by creating a set of rules extracted from the rules of the Arabic language and then reviewing them with language experts. Additionally, rules for writing requirements are imposed in accordance with recommended international standards. The tool showed effective performance in a case study presented in this research, with a performance rate of 87.9%.