bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXTENDING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FOR SAFETY‐CRITICAL DEFENCE APPLICATIONS
Authors: Katia POTIRON , James INGE
Published: September 2024

Defence sector applications are often characterised by a high level of complexity: in the technical systems involved, in their management and supply chain arrangements, and in the dynamic nature of the risks involved. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 is well established as a standard that provides a common set of life cycle processes and terminology for engineering complex systems. However, it takes a generic approach that does not directly address the needs of systems with a safety impact. In contrast, safety‐specific standards like IEC 61508 provide a well‐known framework for the functional safety of electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic safety‐related systems, but do not address the complexity commonly found in systems in the defence sector.

In IEC 63187‐1, the International Electrotechnical Commission is drafting a new standard to provide a safety framework for defence applications. It uses modern systems engineering principles that build on ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, extending it with requirements to make it appropriate for critical systems in the defence sector. This paper discusses how IEC 63187‐1 uses ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 to achieve the goals of system safety, why this approach was adopted, the expected benefits and some of the impacts of designing the new safety framework this way.
Concept Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Using System Level Assessment
Authors: Genter David , Bauer Stephanie , Baldeosingh Shamil
Published: September 2024

Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) is a process to identify and mitigate risks of failure of a product to perform the intended function(s) for the customer. DFMEAs can be performed at all stages of design from product concept to system to component. Several issues with concept level design FMEAs have been identified by Henshall, et al in 2014: large documents, focus on components with poorly defined connections, focus on hardware rather than integrated electro‐mechanical systems. As a result of these challenges, improvements to the system‐level product concept are unlikely. In 2023 Genter and Bauer described a novel approach to eliciting design considerations representing the needs of both the customer and business using System Level Assessment. These design considerations form the basis for a concept level design FMEA. This approach was applied to a design concept for a technology that had not been previously developed. When compared to a concept DFMEA approach as part of Inclusive Customer Driven Conceptual Design defined by Hari and Weiss, the System Level Assessment based approach took 4.5 hours for the Critical System compared to 8 hours per concept for Inclusive Customer Driven Conceptual Design. When compared to a traditional Concept FMEA yielding 67% prevention tasks, the System Level Assessment Concept FMEA yielded 95% prevention tasks.
Developing an Integrated Mission Simulation to Evaluate Technology Impact on Military Scenarios
Authors: Sarathi Tara , Council Chad , Londner Edward , Shatz Michael
Published: September 2024

Over the past decade, technology has experienced a rapid and widespread evolution, resulting in new capabilities across the defense sector. While these capabilities often bring about beneficial changes, they can also beget unforeseen consequences. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important for the military to understand how this changing technological landscape can impact its missions. To address this issue, we have developed an Integrated Mission Simulation (IMS) to assess the potential impact that different technologies may have on a given mission. The Integrated Mission Simulation combines a mission context model with several technology performance models, which enables users to assess the results of different ‘what‐if’ scenarios on key performance parameters for a given mission. To illustrate its utility, we present two publicly available scenarios and simulate how known technological advances could have altered the outcomes of those scenarios.
Modeling swarm mission with COTS characterization: a series of return on experience
Authors: Brisacier‐Porchon Lorraine , Hammami Omar
Published: September 2024

System design in defense systems is a competitive field, in which economical viability relies on a sequence of architectural decisions, aiming at quality, resource and time (Q,R,T) compromises. We observe that low‐cost unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and drones appear as new threats on current battlefield. To face these new threats, Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) have organized challenges around robotization of battlefield, to design future employment doctrines and help technologies to reach maturity in a reasonable time. This article exposes a NATO Architecture Framework (NAF) 3.1‐based workflow that includes return of experience form the field over yearly iterations of such challenges. The capabilities depicted are requirements to match, constituent systems are based on Components‐Off‐The‐Shelf (COTS) answering to both edition of the challenge. This article details how manually re‐injecting feedback from field back to the system model failed to ensure the next iterations of the challenge. Our works propose conclusions on formulation of the “engineering leakage problem” and how resolution of this problem is NP‐Hard and should be addressed using optimization.
IT/OT Integration by Design
Authors: Schäfer Georg , Waclawek Hannes , Riedmann Sarah , Binder Christoph , Neureiter Christian , Huber Stefan
Published: September 2024

The four Industry 4.0 design principles information transparency, technical assistance, interconnection and decentralized decisions pose challenges in integrating Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) solutions in industrial systems. These different solutions have conflicting requirements, making interfaces between them problematic for both systems and organizations. An Industrial Business Process Twin (IBPT) entity, acting as an intermediary between the realms of IT and OT, has been proposed in a previous work, to effectively reduce the amount of required IT/OT interfaces in an attempt of overcoming this situation. In this work, we investigate the effects of this approach during the design phase. We argue that, by eliminating potentially conflicting direct interfaces between IT and OT stakeholders within the organizational structure, this approach effectively eliminates conflicting communication channels within the system design. To verify our argument, we develop a model of our IBPT concept according to the Reference Architecture Model Industrie 4.0 (RAMI4.0) using an Industry 4.0 scenario addressing the four essential Industry 4.0 design principles. Results show that the IBPT approach indeed eliminates potentially conflicting IT/OT interfaces during the system design phase.
Extending SysML Model Federation to Support Systems of Systems Multilevel Security Development
Authors: Swickline Chris
Published: September 2024

Practitioners of modern systems engineering within the defense industry and intelligence community often find themselves being pulled in diametrically opposed directions. On the one hand, systems engineering is quickly evolving into a digital practice, strategically connecting heterogeneous sets of models to form digital threads and digital twins capable of providing insights more valuable than the sum of their parts. On the other hand, the inherent nature of working within the national security space necessitates information be held a multiple levels of classification, safeguarded from release, and compartmentalized. This paper focuses on Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development to introduce methods and tools to aid in overcoming these challenges. The work presented here builds on previously published works in SysML Model Federation for Systems of Systems (SoS) Architecting, the experience of applying this methodology on real world programs. Furthermore, it leverages freely available MBSE tools, processes, and methods in the construction of System Architecture Models (SAMs). This paper culminates in a call to action for additional published research and development to address residual challenges and gaps with respect to executing MBSE for Multilevel Security (MLS) development.
Evaluation of Visual ConOps in Early Solution Validation in a Small and Medium‐sized Enterprise
Authors: Hadadpour Mahsa , Kjørstad Marianne , Muller Gerrit
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on the design, implementation, and assessment of the visual Concept of Operations (ConOps) as an informal visualization technique employed for early solution validation in Small and Medium‐sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs face significant challenges in early solution validation due to the complex nature of modern systems and the constantly changing market demands. These challenges may be further intensified by immature leadership and ineffective communication within the organization. By applying an industry‐as‐laboratory approach in an SME industry case, this study aims to reduce the negative impacts of miscommunication between internal and external stakeholders and contribute to needs elicitation and system validation process. The results show that visual ConOps can effectively support the need elicitation process, which is crucial for early validation, however, it may not independently serve as a comprehensive communication tool between the developer team and stakeholders. It is essential to supplement visual ConOps with complementary tools to effectively convey stakeholder input to the developer team.
Systems‐Theoretic Concept Design: An Intent Model for Early Concept Generation
Authors: Hillman Alexander P. , Leveson Nancy , Young William
Published: September 2024

The complexity of engineered systems has grown leaps and bounds over the last forty years. One of the main challenges in modern engineering is managing this complexity, particularly as the pace of technological change continues to accelerate across industries. While most systems professionals agree, a viable early design concept is crucial to meeting stakeholders' needs and successfully scoping a development program, traditional early concept generation approaches focus on a design‐first approach, often glossing over an analysis of system intent and a synthesis of system goals and objectives. This tendency leads to an early focus on low‐level, highly‐granular design activities that focus on advanced technologies as design components instead of on the high‐level policy or desired emergence that the new system is being designed to achieve. To combat these shortcomings, this paper introduces a new framework for conceptualizing an early design for novel, complex systems in aerospace and defense that are employed as part of a portfolio‐of‐systems in an attempt to achieve a high‐level policy or portfolio‐level capability. It outlines an intent model for framing a new system's contribution to a portfolio‐level capability, and it posits a framework for delivering a new model for early design concepts while providing a foundation to extend system‐theoretic hazard and security analysis techniques to systematically analyze safety and security engineering challenges for the designs in the earliest possible phase of their lifecycle.
Systems Engineering roles to handle emergent properties and behaviors in complex technical systems
Authors: Graessler Iris , Pfeifer Jan , Hintz Florian , Meyrl Nicolas
Published: September 2024

Engineering projects for complex technical systems such as automobiles demand extensive requirement specifications and corresponding hierarchy levels in system architectures. Especially when considering emergent phenomena, such as total weight or aerodynamics, a closely networked collaboration of discipline‐specific and cross‐disciplinary roles is required. Further, in large organizations with a group structure, resulting functional and non‐functional contents need to be managed by distinct Systems Engineering roles. For example, the role “property manager” takes care of achieving overarching product properties, such as weight or aerodynamics, which cannot be directly fixed, but result from many specifications. This paper proposes new Systems Engineering roles and their application in a German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). For validation, the roles have already been applied in everyday engineering projects at the OEM. The concept proved to be indispensable and transferable to other Systems Engineering projects.
Sustainability Mindshift: Incorporating the Systems Perspective
Authors: Keating Charles B. , Katina Polinpapilinho F. , Pyne James C.
Published: September 2024

The pursuit of sustainability is a noble undertaking and unarguably ‘a good thing’. The concept can hardly be denied as something good for future societal well‐being. However, beyond a superficial acknowledgment of the inherent ‘goodness’ of sustainability, there is much to be gained through reframing sustainability as an engineered byproduct, subject to trade‐offs, from an underlying system as opposed to a ‘development goal.’ A Mindshift is a change in assumptions, beliefs, and ways of thinking about something. In pursuit of a sustainability Mindshift, following an introduction and discussion of the sustainability landscape, three challenges for sustainable systems development are explored. The first Mindshift challenge examines sustainability as a byproduct of an underlying system. Thus, the focus is shifted from sustainability as a goal to sustainability as a purposefully designed outcome from an engineered system. The second Mindshift challenge explores sustainability through the lens of Systems Theory. Systems Theory is a set of axioms (taken‐for‐granted ‘truths’) and propositions (system concepts, laws, and principles) that govern systems’ behavior, structure, and performance. The implications of Systems Theory have profound implications for how we view sustainability. The third Mindshift challenge suggests that sustainability can be enhanced through the purposeful identification, assessment, and resolution of violations of system propositions (pathologies) spanning system design, execution, and development. Thus, sustainability is a ‘systems‐engineered byproduct’ resulting from an underlying system and developed by addressing systems‐based disparities (pathologies) in the system. The paper closes with a capsule of Mindshift challenges for sustainability and their implications for supporting the INCOSE SE Vision 2035.
SYSTEM REVISITED – AGAIN
Authors: Quayle Anthony J
Published: September 2024

This paper reviews the revised foundational definitions of system and systems engineering in the recently published (2023) fifth edition of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook. The new INCOSE definitions derive from an earlier INCOSE Fellows' Initiative on System and Systems Engineering Definitions that began in 2016 and finally reported in 2019. After introducing the concept of system and reviewing the new definition, the paper concludes that the concept, not rooted in a single science or exemplar domain, is so pervasive as be a meta‐concept that does not have a dominant scientific definition. It proposes further work towards a more scientific definition of an engineered or artificial system – the primary interest of INCOSE – at a lower level of abstraction.

While the authors define systems engineering functionally as a process or approach, we see the essence of systems engineering as abstraction. Using the more accepted metaphysical distinction between the real, virtual, and abstract, we define the output of systems engineering as an abstract (simplified symbolic) representation or model that is the basis for defining the real; firstly, the virtual representation of something not (yet) existing physically but made to appear so and, finally, the physical. Thus, we position systems engineering as the abstract phase within a three‐phase abstract‐virtual‐physical engineering design and realization process.
Enterprise: Exploration of Concepts, Perspectives and Implications for Systems Engineering
Authors: Keating Charles B. , Katina Polinpapilinho F. , Bradley Joseph M. , Hodge Richard , Martin James N. , Caskey Sue A.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of ‘enterprise’ in the context of Systems Engineering (SE). The term ‘enterprise’ has been used extensively to generally describe large complex entities that have an extensive scope of operations. However, a deeper examination of ‘enterprise’ significance for SE can provide insights as our challenges continue with increasingly complex, uncertain, ambiguous, and integrated entities struggling to thrive in the future. The paper explores three central topics. First, the concept of enterprise is introduced as a central aspect of the future focus for SE, as recognized in the INCOSE SE Vision 2035. Second, a more detailed examination of the enterprise concept is developed in relationship to SE. The thrust of this examination is to understand the nature and role of ‘enterprise’ across a broad spectrum of literature and knowledge, ultimately providing a more informed perspective of enterprise for SE. As part of this exploration, a bibliometric analysis of the term ‘enterprise’ is performed. This exploration extracts key themes (clusters) in the ‘enterprise’ literature. Third, challenges for further development and inculcation of ‘enterprise’ within the SE discipline and support for realization of the SE 2035 Vision are suggested. These challenges point out the need to ‘think differently’ about ‘enterprise’ within the SE context. ‘Enterprise’ is proposed as a central, albeit different, perspective for the SE discipline. The paper closes with a first‐generation perspective for ‘enterprise’ in pursuit of the SE Vision 2035.
The Convergence of COSYSMO Parametric Cost Estimation with Model‐Based Systems Engineering
Authors: Papke Barry , Wang Gan , Densford Sean , Valerdi Ricardo
Published: September 2024

The promise of Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and its advertised benefits hinge on the ability of our profession to integrate engineering disciplines and project management across the system life cycle. In particular, connecting system architecture and design decisions to the economics of the system's development is a critically important topic, but has often been overlooked by the system engineering community. Achieving such integration requires two key elements: (1) the standardization of multidisciplinary terms and functions, and (2) the establishment of rules governing relationships between cross‐functional models and modeling environments. This paper contributes to these areas by (1) establishing common terminology describing systems engineering and cost estimating, and (2) proposing specific cost drivers and counting rules within an MBSE environment that can be applied to estimating systems engineering effort using the COSYSMO cost model. COSYSMO is a systems engineering cost model, originally developed in 2005, and was grounded on document‐based systems engineering methods. This paper facilitates the convergence of COSYSMO and MBSE by updating the COSYSMO counting rules to specifically address size driver selection and assessment in a SysML model. It illustrates how advanced modeling tool features streamline and automate cost estimation activities, while queries and crosscutting views offered by modern MBSE tools enhance the completeness, quality, and consistency of parametric cost estimation process. Additionally, it provides guidelines for identifying system model content and level of detail for cost estimating, and proposes an approach to link attributes and properties in a system model to the variables in the COSYSMO cost estimating relationship.
Model‐Based Systems Engineering Approach for Designing an Artificial Magnetic Field Generator System for Spacecraft Radiation Protection
Authors: Baker Charles J. , Simske Steven J.
Published: September 2024

The hazardous environment of space, dominated by cosmic and solar radiation, poses a significant threat to spacecraft and their occupants. Traditional radiation shielding methods, like passive materials, have limitations in weight and effectiveness. An artificial magnetic field generator system emerges as a promising solution to replicate Earth's magnetosphere, providing a protective magnetic shield against harmful radiation. (Dick, Launius, 2007) This paper presents a Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach to the holistic modeling and design of such a system.

Utilizing the MBSE approach, this study models the system's components, their interactions, and the offered services, incorporating Radiation Monitoring, Magnetic Shielding, Power Management, System Health & Diagnostics, and Crew Communication services. The conceptual data model captures key entities and their relationships, ensuring a coherent integration of the system's parts. The activity diagram illustrates the operational flow, providing clarity on the system's dynamic behavior under varying radiation conditions and power reserves. A services taxonomy is developed to hierarchically categorize and ensure the comprehensive functionality of the system.

The application of MBSE methodology provides numerous advantages, including a unified visualization of the system's complexities, enhanced stakeholder communication, and a streamlined validation and verification process. Furthermore, the flexibility inherent in the MBSE approach ensures that the system can be easily updated or scaled based on advancements in technology or changing mission requirements. (ECLIPSE Suite, 2022) The MBSE approach's application to the design of an artificial magnetic field generator system for spacecraft presents a robust and systematic method to ensure optimal performance, safety, and adaptability in the perilous realm of space.
Systems Lessons from the Panama Canal
Authors: Beasley Richard
Published: September 2024

This paper addresses the building of the Panama Canal (particularly from 1870‐1914) and looks at lessons that modern day Systems Engineers can apply from this significant infrastructure project. There were great successes and failures during the attempts to build a canal. The Systems issues include the importance of understanding the environment, recognizing the need to think beyond the physical object ‐ Panama Canal project had significant health issues, need for infrastructure / “realization systems”, and even the need for a political revolution in Panama to enable it to be built. The importance of the organization building the system, and its leadership was also important.

It is always instructive to look back at significant historical projects and learn the lessons (positive and negative). There is much to learn from a project and a system as big and important as the Panama Canal.
Tailoring of NASA‐STD‐3001 to Lunar Gateway Program Requirements
Authors: Silva‐Martinez Jackelynne
Published: September 2024

The Gateway Program must meet NASA's Agency‐level human rating requirements, which are intended to accommodate human capabilities and limitations while protecting the safety of the crew, and providing to the maximum extent practical, the capability to safely recover the crew from hazardous situations. Human systems integration represents a key human rating component of Moon to Mars systems to support the execution of Artemis missions, including compliance with mandatory standards for Health and Medical, Safety and Mission Assurance, and Engineering. The human system requirements, together with the human systems integration plan, medical operations requirements, and Gateway subsystem specifications, represent the flow‐down of NASA Health and Medical Standards (NASA‐STD‐3001, Volumes 1 and 2) into the Gateway system. This paper discusses how these documents and other human systems integration activities provide full consideration of human capabilities and limitations as part of the total system design trade space, serving as an example on how the human must be effectively integrated as part of the system in order to achieve mission success. At a bigger scale, the paper contributes to the application of systems engineering standards to cutting‐edge space exploration initiatives and to the dialogue on how systems engineering can continue to evolve to meet the needs of such ambitious projects.
Identifying Reference Architecture Types for Stakeholder Groups in Industry 4.0
Authors: Riedmann Sarah , Binder Christoph , Neureiter Christian
Published: September 2024

New developments in the area of the Industrial Internet‐of‐Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 offer huge potential for a more efficient and flexible industrial production, but are also accompanied by rising system complexity. Consequently, to deal with the increased system complexity, novel approaches, such as reference architectures, are emerging. However, most of these approaches are not yet mature and rather theoretical than ready‐to‐use. Thus, companies need to be provided with frameworks that actively support the transformation of their systems towards Industry 4.0. One of those frameworks has been introduced with Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0 (RAMI 4.0), which counteracts the mentioned complexity and can be used for various use cases. However, as most of its concepts are too general to be applied directly to actual systems, the need for directly applicable reference architectures emerges. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to derive more detailed reference architectures based on RAMI 4.0 by making use of model‐based systems engineering (MBSE), which target single manufacturing domains rather than the whole industry. Therefore, relevant stakeholders are analyzed and different types of reference architectures targeting their concerns are identified. The resulting reference architectures should be ready‐to‐use for interested manufacturers and thus, enhance the acceptance of RAMI 4.0 as well as improve systems engineering in industrial manufacturing. Finally, the developed reference architecture is evaluated in a proof‐of‐concept case study of a flexible production system.
The Updated SERC AI and Autonomy Roadmap 2023
Authors: McDermott Tom , Pepe Kara , Clifford Megan
Published: September 2024

The first Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomy Research Roadmap was developed in 2020 and published in the first quarter 2021 special INSIGHT issue on Systems Engineering and AI. This roadmap development was heavily informed by the INCOSE Future of Systems Engineering (FuSE) initiatives. Following on in 2020, INCOSE and the SERC collaborated with the Association for Advancement of AI (AAAI) to execute two workshops entitled “AI meets Systems Engineering.” These resulted in version two of the roadmap which was published as an introductory chapter to the book “Systems Engineering and Artificial Intelligence.” In 2020 through 2023 the SERC hosted four SE4AI/AI4SE workshops with the U.S. Army that have further informed research and application at the intersection of AI and SE. This paper presents the updated version of the roadmap resulting from engagement across those four workshops. It is provided as a means to inform the SE community of the critical research needs and related applications emerging at the intersection of AI and SE.
Human‐centered Smart Cities: An evaluation of a small community using the Smart Cities Initiative framework
Authors: CSEP Jennifer L. Russell, EISE, , Dugar Jargalsaikhan , III Joseph W. Sweeney
Published: September 2024

In September 2023, the INCOSE Smart Cities Initiative released a framework to evaluate and define smart city systems. The framework includes a human‐centered definition of a smart city and offers metrics of a smart city. The definition, metrics, and framework are based on a systematic process that allows consistent evaluation of city that focuses on providing for fundamental human needs.

Many smart city applications still focus on technology, regardless of whether that technology provides a clear benefit to the stakeholders of the city. Systems engineering tools and practices offer potential for improving smart city implementations by improving the alignment of needs and solutions. Unfortunately, in new domains, such as the plethora domains involved with smart cities, systems engineering can be viewed as unnecessary overhead. Therefore, the usefulness of the systems engineering concepts that underlie the INCOSE Smart Cities framework could be overlooked unless it can provide immediate value. As a demonstration of how the new framework could be used by someone interested in engaging INCOSE Smart Cities concepts, a high‐level application of the definitions and framework was performed.

The analysis demonstrated that a simple review of the city system, using the perspectives of the INCOSE Smart Cities initiative, could reveal strengths and weaknesses of a smart city and identify potential next steps for improvement. This paper is a case study of how to use qualitative analysis to apply the human‐centered definition and framework to evaluate a Smart City. The case study provides an opportunity to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the new INCOSE framework.
Hyundai's Modular MBSE Approach to ‘Purpose Built Vehicle’ Architecture Development
Authors: Jeong Ilsoo , Alai Shashank , Joo Jaekop , Baloh Michael , Yun Sunkil , Kim Tae Kook , Park Hwi Seob
Published: September 2024

This paper discusses an ongoing effort at Hyundai to develop a model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) methodology for cross‐domain vehicle architecture development that is practical at the enterprise level. Our approach follows a modular modeling process that complements MBSE. In the age of smart mobility, automobile systems are indeed interdependent elements of a system of systems (SoS). Connectedness favors numerous mobility features that emerge due to the interfaces among these constituent systems. Managing emergent product line variations, changing consumer demands coupled with faster market response require manufacturers to modularize their architecture development processes. This can help scale MBSE across vehicle programs. This study proposes a modular system architecture approach for developing Hyundai's purpose‐built vehicle (PBV) concept that maintains a link to the legacy vehicle breakdown structures already in use. Using the Arcadia method, the ‘to‐be’ developed electric vehicle is expressed as a hierarchical functional partitioning of the subsystem modules. A physical architecture is defined as a solution to the functional partitioning based on an existing vehicle breakdown in a combined ‘top‐down/bottom‐up’ workflow thus capturing a realistic system decomposition. In the SoS hierarchy, the PBV is at the top level and is partitioned into multiple levels of nested subsystem architectures owned and developed by designated module teams in a distributed modeling environment. Results of the preliminary architecture modularization effort indicate significant potential for benefits over classical architecture modeling such as iterative knowledge capture, enhanced reusability across projects, products and programs, and distributed vehicle performance development across the extended MBSE enterprise, which includes the tier 1/2 suppliers.
DESIGN THINKING IN A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING WORLD, WITHIN A GOVERNMENTAL CONTEXT
Authors: Braun Kavita
Published: September 2024

Systems engineering evolution has been an incredible asset to innovation. This is particularly true in industries that drive its academic advancement and maturity. In these industries, systems engineering is a proven approach to developing a program from conception through retirement. Design thinking is a design methodology and separate from systems engineering/ thinking; it is defined by its intensely human‐centered approach. This report hypothesizes that design thinking processes used during the concept development phase of the systems engineering process enables a more comprehensive view of key challenges due to the inclusion of more contextual stakeholder information, particularly in a government context. A mixed methods approach using 35 surveys and 11 interviews of subject matter experts, project managers, and innovation challenge participants was used to test the hypothesis. Interviewees disagreed on the impact that design thinking processes ultimately have on stakeholder information. There was a common consensus that the process yields key beneficiaries. The quantitative data showed a shift in familiarity with design thinking principles during the innovation challenge as a result of design thinking teaching modules. The increase in familiarity correlated with an increased likelihood to use various design thinking processes during concept development, and stronger agreement that design thinking affected understanding the stakeholders, key beneficiaries, and comprehension of the challenge space. Together, the qualitative and quantitative data agreement on the addition of key beneficiaries is evidence in support of design thinking processes affecting the context of stakeholder information. Embracing more contextual stakeholder information results in designers seeking a more comprehensive view of the challenge space. Additionally, analogous research can have a significant effect on comprehension of the challenge space but there is a higher barrier to entry for new practitioners.
Integrating AI with MBSE for Data Extraction from Medical Standards
Authors: Ghanawi Ibrahim , Chami Mohammad Wissam , Chami Mohammad , Coric Marko , Abdoun Nabil
Published: September 2024

The growing adoption of Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) in the medical sector has prompted a significant emphasis on the digitization of medical standards into norm models. This transformation promotes consistency and allows for tracing system model elements to the corresponding norm model elements. Despite these efforts, the current digitization activities heavily rely on manual extraction and transformation, particularly from PDF documents into SysML models. Concurrently, the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in recent years presents an opportunity to automate such activities. This paper contributes to the integration of AI with MBSE, focusing solely on the extraction and transformation of medical standards information from documents into SysML norm models. It explores the initial outcomes of augmenting data extraction from medical standards using recent AI algorithms and integrating them into MBSE practices. The evaluation involves two approaches, an open‐source multimodal classifier model and a proprietary large language model. The study assesses these approaches on a medical standard and outlines future work, including the exploration of an open‐source large language model approach.
A Systems Perspective on the Public Perception of Wind Power in Norway
Authors: Mathew Manuel S , Mansouri Mo , Kandukuri Surya Teja , Omlin Christian W
Published: September 2024

The Sustainable Development Goals, a set of ambitious targets embraced by United Nations member states, are designed to meet global challenges head‐on while shaping a sustainable future. Of these, Goal 7, in particular, focuses on the critical need for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Wind energy holds a significant potential in fulfilling Goal 7 of the sustainable development goals. In Norway, there exists a unique scenario, where nearly 98% of electricity is generated from renewable resources. However, without a subsequent increase in power production, a deficit in power is projected by 2027 according to a short‐term market analysis by Statnett. To prevent this, it is imperative to increase the production of electricity from wind. However, in recent years, there has been a significant rise in opposition towards wind power projects in Norway. Some of the wind power projects have even been put on hold because of the increase in protests. In light of this, we apply systems thinking methodologies to improve our understanding of this complex problem. Initially, we identify the stakeholders in our system of interest and categorize them through stakeholder salience analysis framework. Then, we developed a systemigram to graphically represent the system of interest. Finally, we carry out causal loop analysis to find causal loops in our system of interest. Our primary focus with this work is to better understand the factors shaping public perception of wind power projects in Norway. By gaining a deeper understanding about the factors influencing public perception of wind power projects in Norway, we aim to find better solutions to improve the social acceptance of these initiatives in Norway in future works.
Lifecycle of Accident Pathogens: Common Systemic Factors in Construction System Accidents
Authors: Igarashi Takaharu , Marais Karen
Published: September 2024

Construction system accidents are accidents due to defects embedded in the constructed systems (e.g., buildings, bridges, and other infrastructures) originating from failures in construction systems, which we can consider as organic and ephemeral temporary multi‐organizations (TMOs). Understanding the mechanisms of such accidents in transient and multi‐organizational systems requires a system‐wide perspective and consideration of the temporary aspect. This paper examines six accident cases using the framed‐and‐layered accident pathogen propagation (FLAPP) model—‐an accident model we specifically developed to capture system‐wide factors and the time dimension—‐and identifies five types of pathogen threads and eight types of thread elements that contribute to the propagation of latent failures and defects, i.e., accident pathogens. With concrete reference to the processes and products found in accident cases, the concept of pathogen thread provides an explicit structure to the classic metaphor of pathogens that the safety literature has been using to describe latent failures. This paper further proposes the concepts of pathogen susceptibility and transmissibility to explain the mechanisms and dynamics that drive the generation and propagation of accident pathogens. Acknowledging the limitations of the modeling framework, this paper concludes with a discussion of lessons for systems engineering practices and directions for future work to ensure system safety in the construction of systems in various domains.
Real to Real: Deriving Software Development Practices from Film Production Principles
Authors: Hawkey Barry , Vans Marie
Published: September 2024

Software development projects face significant risks of going over budget, over schedule, and of failing to deliver expected benefits. These risks have endured despite methodological changes within the industry, such as the rise in popularity of Agile. This research looks outside of the software industry and seeks inspiration from film production, which has developed different management strategies to address challenges similar to those faced by software development projects.

First, an analysis of film production project management reveals four principles, each evidenced by a set of practices used throughout the industry. Next, we identify sets of practices that would enable software development projects to also align to those same four principles. The synthesis of each principle from its set of supporting film production practices is then validated through structured interviews with veteran film producers. Lastly, the derivation of each principle to a parallel set of supporting practices within the context of software development is validated in a second series of interviews with experienced software development project managers.

In total, this research identifies a set of software development project management practices that mirror film production practices. These practices offer a framework for software development project managers to consider when seeking to tailor existing methodologies, particularly in scenarios that present challenges similar to those encountered in film production.
Model‐Based Cybertronics Systems Engineering (MBCSE)
Authors: Solanti‐Iltanen Susanna , Hall Brendan , Solanti Petri
Published: September 2024

The cybertronics challenges evolve around the complexity of systems and increase in detail and data involved. Existing methods and tools can master some of the rising challenges, but a method being able to handle the challenges was not introduced yet. MBSE is a potential approach to solve these problems, but the available methods were developed for modeling physical systems and software, not cybertronics. Because of the diversity of implementation domains participating in cybertronics systems, the modeling methodology must support the holistic management of requirements, properties, and design data. This paper introduces some promising emerging technologies like Arcadia, SysML V2, SysMD and PMM, that have the potential to interact with other methods and tools, closing the gaps in requirements tracing, system modeling, documentation, and verification. One potential methodology is introduced through a design example from requirements to implementation interface.
A New Horizon for Healthcare Delivery: A System of Systems Perspective and Governing Proposition
Authors: Mogahed Mohamed , Mansouri Mo
Published: September 2024

The healthcare system is grappling with inherent challenges, functioning akin to a fragmented cottage‐like industry, leading to significant cost implications and compromised care quality. This paper employs a systematic approach to scrutinize the Healthcare Delivery System (HDS) comprehensively, categorizing it as a Collaborative System of Systems (SoS), where multiple independent systems operate collectively, maintaining individual autonomy. Through a detailed examination, we identify the Collaborative SoS nature of the current healthcare system as the primary cause of its fragmentation. We address a gap in the current literature on the characteristics of SoS, focusing on the often‐overlooked aspect of dependence and exploring why constituent systems collaborate to achieve common objectives. Then, we propose a hybrid SoS model where an external governing entity at the national level assumes the authority to determine objectives and drivers for the healthcare SoS. We contend that effective SoS governance is indispensable for addressing systemic issues, providing necessary coordination, allocating resources, establishing policies, fostering sustainable change, and ensuring a well‐organized and efficient healthcare system.
An Agent‐Based Ontology to Support Modeling of Socio‐Technical Systems‐of‐Systems
Authors: Axelsson Jakob
Published: September 2024

Systems‐of‐systems are characterized by the independence of their constituent elements. Such an element is usually socio‐technical, comprising technology, humans, or organizations. To capture its independence, it needs to be viewed as an intelligent agent that relies on an internal model of the world for its decision‐making. Hence, a system‐of‐systems model will include multiple agents that inside themselves contain different models of the same system‐of‐systems. Describing these overlapping subjective models and their usage by the agents is essential to properly understand the resulting behavior of the overall system‐of‐systems. Current modeling practices are not well suited for dealing with this, and the paper therefore outlines an ontology that makes the agents and their internal models more explicit. The paper also discusses the implications such models have on systems engineering practices and how they address known system‐of‐systems engineering pain points.
Darth Vader's Secret Weapon: Implementing Mission Engineering with UAF
Authors: Gagliardi Matthew , Hause Matthew C , Martin James N , Phillips Mark A
Published: September 2024

When planning and conducting a Mission Engineering (ME) study, it is important to have a complete, correct, and coherent model of the mission architecture. The Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) has been found to be effective for this purpose. The OUSD (R&E) Mission Integration office is exploring how to use UAF for their ME architectures. This paper will explore some of the required modeling features and constructs that will enable this to occur. The paper “Implementing Mission Engineering with UAF” was presented at a previous conference and this paper will expand on that presentation and will discuss additional work that has been accomplished since then. This paper will also explore the proposed extensions for UAF to better support ME. We created a prototype model using the Battle of Hoth from Star Wars as a proof of concept for these modeling extensions and used the process and ME concepts defined in the Mission Engineering Guide (MEG). Since then there have been several concepts that were explored such as compatibility with the Model‐Based Acquisition (MBAcq) approach, recent initiatives from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, Enterprise Systems Engineering (ESE) process and methods, detailed resource engagement, use of different modeling languages (e.g., Systems Modeling Language (SysML), SysML v2 and UAF v2), Effects and Outcomes, variety of measures, additional attributes/stereotypes such as differentiation between enemy/friendly/neutral ‐ Blue Force, Red Force, etc., provenance/confidence of enemy resources, and so forth. This paper will summarize the research and modeling done to date and explore these additional concepts as well as new ideas introduced in the MEG v2.
Human Frailties: Springboard to Increased Systems Engineering Influence
Authors: Arnold Eileen Patrice , McKinney Dorothy
Published: September 2024

One responsibility of systems engineers is to improve the quality of project decision‐making. Systems engineers often struggle to deal effectively with key decision‐makers who ignore critically important information. It is easy to bemoan human limitations, but in this paper, we advocate something different: using human frailties for constructive purposes. We believe that it is possible to leverage human frailties to ethically increase the influence that systems engineers have on key decision‐makers. Advertisers have been using human frailties for their own purposes for centuries, and we think it is time for systems engineers to capitalize on strategies advertisers and other influencers use successfully. In this paper, we identify the human frailties which have the greatest potential leverage to increase the influence systems engineers can have on key decision‐makers and suggest specific strategies and tactics systems engineers can use to increase their positive impact.
Introduction of Systems Engineering practices in a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) course for master students
Authors: Sutinen Krister
Published: September 2024

This paper presents how a model‐based system engineering approach was used to introduce to master students the strength of and the challenges with a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system. The students were introduced to use various authoring applica?ons to build the product content to be managed by a PLM system.
Model‐Based Switching Costs
Authors: Zhu Haifeng , Hemenway Joseph M. , Wang Grant , Agarwal Naval K.
Published: September 2024

In product development, rarely a product is developed from scratch. In many cases, a product is developed from a prior design or several prior designs. The associated development cost is actually a switching cost (or some called reuse cost), representing the cost incurred from developing the product from prior designs. So far, no proven works in switching cost estimation were found for products developed using MBSE (Model‐Based Systems Engineering). Today, MBSE is being widely adopted. It is important to develop switching cost estimation methods that leverage models and support model‐based development needs. This paper, per the best of our knowledge, is among the firsts that developed switching cost methods for MBSE. Our work identifies different use case scenarios/phases in an MBSE development cycle, and provides corresponding switching cost estimation methods, laying down the fundamental methodology for the model‐based switching cost estimations. Using SysML, an example use case of derivative airplane electrical power system is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods.