Mohammadreza Sharbaf, Ph.D. ,

Assistant Professor

Department Of Software Engineering
Faculty Of Computer Engineering

Email

m.sharbaf@eng.ui.ac.ir

Phone

37935641

Address

University of Isfahan Azadi square Isfahan, Iran
Postal Code : 8174673441

2009

2025

Research activities per year

Overview

Biography

Mohammadreza Sharbaf is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Engineering at the University of Isfahan. He received the Ph.D. degree (double-degree) in computer engineering from the University of Isfahan, Iran, and the University of Nantes, France, in 2022. He was selected in 2019 for the Cotutelle Ph.D at the University of Nantes in France and the University of Isfahan in Iran. The Cotutelle scholarship is very prestigious, and in 2019 only 15 people across Iran got awarded. He also is a member of Iran's National Elites Foundation (INEF). He is interested in Model-Driven Software Engineering (Domain-Specific Modeling Languages, Model Management, and Model Transformation), Low-Code Development Platforms, Software Development Methodologies, Design Patterns, and Semantic Web (Semantic Reasoning). His current research is focused on Collaborative Modeling, in particular, worked on Model Comparison and Merging, Conflict Management, Model Versioning, and Multi-View Modeling. Mohammadreza received his B.Sc. from the Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, in 2013, and his M.Sc from the University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran in 2016, both in Computer Engineering (Software). Nowadays, he is the director of Model-Driven Software Engineering Research Group at the University of Isfahan.

Research Output

All

Article

2026

2015

Articles

2026

A configurable approach for intra-model inconsistency management in multi-view collaborative modeling

( Article . Gold )

Alsharuee, H.A.N., Sharbaf, M., Torkladani b., B.

Publication Date: 2026

Frontiers in Computer Science (26249898)7

Introduction: In the software development life cycle, collaborative modeling through multiple projective views of a single, shared model is a critical activity that enables effective collaboration among experts and stakeholders. Real-time optimistic collaboration in multi-view modeling allows concurrent modifications but often introduces inconsistencies that must be resolved to achieve an integrated and valid model. Existing inconsistency management methods frequently focus on isolated repairs or offer limited alternatives, lacking support for collaborative dynamics and configurable resolution strategies. This study aims to develop a configurable framework for managing intra-model inconsistencies in real-time multi-view collaborative modeling environments. Methods: We propose a novel framework for inconsistency management tailored to multi-view collaborative modeling, based on Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) principles. The framework supports real-time modeling scenarios and enables change propagation according to the online collaboration mode. Key components include a consistency oracle and incremental consistency checking, which together manage the integration of model changes and overlaps. We introduce the COMIM approach, which assists collaborators in handling inconsistencies by considering team interactions, individual ownership, and configurable repair strategies. Results: The framework was evaluated through a case study involving multi-view collaborative modeling sessions. Empirical results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the COMIM approach in maintaining consistency during concurrent modeling activities. The system performed efficiently for teams of up to seven concurrent users, successfully managing change propagation, detecting inconsistencies incrementally, and supporting configurable resolution aligned with collaborative priorities. Discussion: The proposed framework effectively addresses the complexities of repairing inconsistencies across diverse software models in a collaborative setting. By emphasizing collaborative dynamics, our approach advances traditional inconsistency management methods, which often lack personalization and configurability. Future work may explore scalability to larger teams and adaptation to additional modeling paradigms. Copyright © 2026 Alsharuee, Sharbaf and Tork Ladani.

Evaluating the requirements engineering process in model transformation development: a state of practice analysis

( Article . Hybrid Gold )

Tehrani, S.Y., Lano, K., Sharbaf, M., Rahimi, S.K., Zschaler, S., Hussein, S.

Publication Date: 2026

Software and Systems Modeling (16191374)

Model Transformations (MT) are a central element of Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) methods. As MT adoption increases in both industry and academia, there is a growing need for systematic software engineering practices, particularly in Requirements Engineering (RE) for MT development. This paper investigates the state of RE in MT through two complementary empirical studies: semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners and a systematic literature review (SLR) analyzing published transformation cases. Both studies address the same research questions but differ in the populations they cover. The interviews focus on industrial settings, while the SLR reviews published work, the majority of which comes from academic sources. Our findings reveal that the RE processes used in MT development tend to be largely informal and lack structured methodologies. While some RE techniques such as prototyping and scenario-based generalization are used, they are typically applied in an ad-hoc manner based on personal experience rather than through a well-defined RE framework. Our studies highlight challenges in stakeholder engagement in MT RE, particularly limited access to stakeholders, which restricts the effective application of RE techniques. Furthermore, our analysis identifies a predominant focus on MT implementation, with limited MT specification and systematic RE activities, which often leads to requirements being implicitly defined rather than explicitly documented. Despite these shared findings, the interview study and SLR differ in their perspectives: the interview study reflects real-world industrial constraints on requirements engineering, while the SLR reflects more research-driven RE practices. These findings underscore the gap between research and practice in model transformations, and highlight the need for lightweight, structured RE frameworks tailored to MT development. Future work should focus on bridging this gap by integrating agile RE techniques with structured methodologies to support flexibility, traceability and stakeholder collaboration in MT projects. © The Author(s) 2026.

2025

A Systematic Review of Model-Driven Game Development Studies

( Article )

Payandeh, A., Sharbaf, M., Rahimi, S.K.

Publication Date: 2025

IEEE Transactions on Games (24751510)17(1)pp. 1-12

CoMPers: A configurable conflict management framework for personalized collaborative modeling

( Article )

Sharbaf, M., Zamani, B., Sunyé, G.

Publication Date: 2025

Journal of Systems and Software (01641212)219

Context: Modeling is an activity in the software development life cycle where experts and stakeholders collaborate as a team. In collaborative modeling, adhering to the optimistic versioning paradigm allows users to make concurrent changes to the same model, but conflicts may arise. To achieve an integrated and consistent merged model, conflicts must be resolved. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to provide a customizable and extensible framework for conflict management in personalized change propagation during collaborative modeling. Methods: We propose CoMPers, a customizable and extensible conflict management framework designed to address various conflicts encountered in collaborative modeling. We present the duel algorithm for automatically detecting and resolving conflicts according to user preferences. The framework utilizes personalized change propagation to customize collaboration and supports the conflict management process by executing the duel algorithm based on user preferences. As a proof-of-concept, we have implemented the CoMPers framework and extended the EMF.cloud modeling framework to demonstrate its applicability. Results: We have constructed a proof-of-concept implementation and conducted a real-world case study, a benchmark experiment, and a user experience evaluation. Our findings demonstrate that: (1) CoMPers enables collaborators to configure propagation strategies according to their habits; (2) CoMPers successfully identifies all anticipated conflicts and achieves a 100% accuracy in conflict handling; (3) The majority of participants agreed that CoMPers is user-friendly for collaborative modeling. Conclusion: This paper presents the CoMPers framework, which is based on personalized change propagation, and helps collaborators customize conflict management activities. The results confirm the feasibility and advantages of consistent and concurrent modeling within the collaborative CoMPers platform, with an acceptable functionality for approximately ten collaborators. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.

POOLER: A No-Code Platform to Automatically Generate Analytical Polls

( Article )

Zamani, Z., Alihosseini, M., Sharbaf, M.

Publication Date: 2025