bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Facilitating Collaborative Learning in Online Engineering Student Teams
Authors: Neill Colin J. , DeFranco Joanna F. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTeam projects are commonplace in systems engineering education. They address a key educational objective, provide students critical experience relevant to their future careers, allow instructors to set problems of greater scale and complexity than could be tackled individually, and are a vehicle for socially constructed learning. While all student teams experience challenges, those in fully‐online programs must also deal with remote working, asynchronous coordination, and computer‐mediated communications all of which contribute to greater social distance between team members. We have developed a facilitation framework to aid team collaboration and have demonstrated its efficacy, in prior research, with respect to team performance and outcomes. Those studies indicated, however, that despite experiencing improved project outcomes, students working in effective teams did not experience significantly improved individual achievement. To address this deficiency we implemented theoretically‐grounded refinements to the collaboration model based upon peer‐tutoring research. Our results indicate a modest, but statistically significant, improvement in individual achievement using this refined model.
UK Railway System Performance – Gaining Insight Through Systematic Analysis and Modelling
Authors: Hyland Bradley , Best Nigel , Toossi Amir , Bradford Amy 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe British railway is one of the most complex mixed traffic railways in the world. Increasing patronage, and the need to improve performance, have led to industry research on how rail capacity could be better understood and utilised. Two recent studies conducted by Network Rail have focused on the Brighton Mainline as a whole railway system. By using systematic analysis and systems modelling these studies have provided new insight into ways of improving system performance. The results demonstrate for the first time, the significant benefit of both planning a timetable to accurately reflect the operational conditions of the railway and increasing precision across the system. It has made a compelling case for system change supported by modelled and observed evidence.
ISO/IEC 29110 Deployment Packages and Case Study for Systems Engineering: The “Not‐So‐Secret” Ingredients That Power the Standard
Authors: Houde Ronald , Laporte Claude Y. , Blondelle Gaël 
Published: September 2016

AbstractVery small entities (VSEs) play an increasingly important role in the global economy. The products they develop are often integrated into products made by larger enterprises. Clients, furthermore, demand of the VSEs that they assume a much broader role, spanning the entire development life‐cycle of the product instead of being limited to a “build‐to‐print” approach. The ISO/IEC 29110 systems engineering management and engineering guides were developed mainly from ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 to address this new reality, to exploit the lean and efficient nature of VSEs and to adapt to their typical budget and resource constraints. By design, the management and engineering guide is supported by Deployment Packages (DP), the development of which was taken on by the INCOSE VSE Working Group. A DP is a set of artefacts designed to facilitate the implementation of the management and engineering guides of ISO/IEC 29110 by VSEs. In tune with the need for low cost and flexibility, Open Source software tools are emerging to support VSEs and provide a bridge with “Big League” development life‐cycle toolsets. Finally, to make the deployment of ISO/IEC 29110 possible in VSEs, training packages, supported by relevant pilot projects help VSE personnel learn how to apply all of the above. This paper describes the Systems Engineering DP for Requirements Engineering (RE DP) and shows how it can be applied using the Autonomous Rover Case Study developed under the Eclipse Foundation Polarsys project.
Technology planning approach for Very Small Entities
Authors: Buczacki Aleksander , Laporte Claude Y. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSystems engineering is usually seen as the domain of large enterprises. However, small and medium sized (SMEs) and micro‐enterprises are coming to play an ever‐larger role even in industries traditionally dominated by large enterprises. In new product development projects carried out by SMEs or micro‐enterprise using systems engineering, three aspects should be noted. Firstly, such enterprise wants to initiate the project independently, i.e. develop a new product/system under ISO 29110, there is some information regarding how it could do it, i.e. the stage that would involve the definition of the requirements. But enterprise should be able to understand and apply this information. Secondly, it must be underlined that project execution, is preceded by establishment of cooperation of new product development process. This process is frequently tedious, time‐consuming and – especially for small organizations – troublesome. Thirdly, such cooperation should be anchored in the strategy especially in technology strategy of the company. Technology roadmapping could be considered as a tool which is helpful in technology strategy creation process.
Impact of System Integration on Reliability and Maintainability
Authors: Armstrong James R. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIntegration objectives are normally focused on whether the system of interest performs its basic functionality in accordance with stated requirements. Secondary considerations, such as effects on reliability or maintainability due to integration impacts, are often left unaddressed until a problem actually arises. By looking at several instances where these impacts had significant impact, we can take away several lessons learned to guide future integration efforts towards a more fully successful end result.
A truly testing experience – how Model Based Systems Engineering can help to ensure that you build the right product and build the product right
Authors: Wilson‐Smith Mike , Kibler Anna 
Published: September 2016

AbstractModel Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tends to be very focused on the early system lifecycle stages (the “left side of the Vee” in a traditional, sequential lifecycle model) which, whilst understandable, can mean that some of the benefits of MBSE are not fully flowed through to the Verification and Validation (V&V) stages of the lifecycle. The goal of this paper is to illustrate how an MBSE approach and associated methods can be used to influence and guide the V&V of systems and the Systems of Systems (SoS) that are formed from the interoperation of these systems. The approaches and methods illustrated have been applied in both the development of naval platforms (or systems) and the interoperation of these platforms via military communications with other platforms across multiple domains (air, sea and land).
What does it mean to be Lean in SoSE environment?
Authors: Tregubov Alexey , Lane Jo Ann 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWhile Lean practices are common across many fields and domains today, adaptation of Lean in system engineering began not so long ago. Value‐driven processes with minimum waste are especially important in system of systems environments. In this paper, we discuss how system of systems engineering (SoSE) processes differ from single system development processes, and how Lean practices are often employed in SoSE. Finally, we explored the original Lean enablers for system engineering, developed by the INCOSE Lean System Engineering Working Group, and discussed how these enablers can be applied to SoSE.
Beauty as a Guiding Principle for Systems Engineering
Authors: Devaney Kevin 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper proposes that beauty is a useful guiding principle for systems engineering. Integral Theory, a school of philosophy founded by Ken Wilber, suggests that systems engineering should pay more attention to subjective perspectives, including things like culture and beauty. Beauty and aesthetics are often considered in product design. Beauty has been observed to be a valuable guiding principle in the world of science. This paper suggests that beauty may also be a useful guiding principle for systems engineering, and looks at ways this idea can be applied.
Functional Analysis and Design Approach for an Optimal Virtual IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Architecture
Authors: Gevorgyan Arevik , Krob Daniel , Spencer Peter 
Published: September 2016

AbstractNetwork Functions Virtualization (NFV) is the greatest transformation in Telecommunications industry. It reveals the challenge of transformation from traditional monolithic to optimal virtual architectures, while meeting the standards driven functional, performance constraints and stakeholders conflicting objectives: maximizing flexibility, capacity, autonomy, minimizing expense in terms of financial and human effort (Capex, Opex), etc.Our analysis approach, specifying a customizable policy baseline to arbitrate and optimize for the NFV strategic objectives and enablers, defines an optimal functional architecture adapted to the context at any levels: from orchestration of network functions resources (virtual machines scaling/growth, placement) till an infrastructural equilibrium (integration of multiple virtual IMS systems).To define the optimal functional sets, we explore the multi‐objective optimization for decisions trade‐offs, incorporating it with the system views and environment, modeled through an adapted model‐based Architectural Framework combined with PESTEL and FURPSE analyses.We case study the IP Multimedia Subsystem, as essential for communication services across networks and the only for Voice over 4G/5G.We further discuss our vision: self‐regulating system and the related constraints.
Large Scale Engineering Systems – Insight on Desalination for Agriculture in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Doufene Abdelkrim , Ishimatsu Takuto , Alhassan Abdulaziz , de Weck Olivier , Strzepek Kenneth , Alsaati Adnan 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAs agriculture water demand in Saudi Arabia is fully met through underground water resources, and their levels of depletion are not sustainable, we evaluate in this paper the concept of “Desalination for Agriculture” at a national level. We discuss a case study and some results using a graph‐theoretic framework called the Interdependent Network Flow with Induced Internal Transformation (INFINIT) model. This model can be used to optimize the flow of resources and placement of new facilities (and expansion or retirement of existing facilities) at the individual facility level over multiple dimensions of geographical networks. This model can solve an optimization problem considering both spatial and temporal dimensions: a spatial dimension, that is, where a new infrastructure should be invested at a given time; and a temporal dimension, that is, when a new infrastructure should be invested. We conclude with a set of perspectives.
Architectural parallels between biological and engineered solutions in defence and security
Authors: Smith Gary Robert , Daniel‐Allegro Brigitte 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBio‐mimetics have often provided a useful means of inspiration for engineering design – for instance in fabrication of materials for aerospace. One more recent area of interest, from the perspective of cyber security has been in the remarkable ability of the immune system to cope with the diversity and evolution of threats such as bacteria and viruses. The focus of this paper is to further examine the architectural parallels between biological systems and engineered solutions in defence and security. Systems thinking and modelling are the tools utilized in examining the architectures and the capabilities of the biological systems such as anticipatory, adaptability and self‐respect. In performing such an examination, it is anticipated that insight and potential improvements may be found in both directions – improvements in our approaches to combat complex disease and also possible inspiration in the science, architectures and designs for our engineered systems.
‘Echoes from the Field’ Study Outcome and Discussion: Reflections on Software Systems Engineering Practice.
Authors: AlQaisi Raid , Gray Edwin , Moffat David , Wang Bo 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTo date, despite that various software development approaches have evolved and demonstrated success, many software development projects still fail. This paper argues that the reason for such failure is the result of not addressing the human‐side of the Software Systems Engineering (SWSE) adequately. Humans are relatively unpredictable components in the larger system of the sociotechnical environment, therefore requires adequate consideration. The study investigated the experience and perception of software engineers for the contemporary practice of SWSE. A suite of multidisciplinary theories was consulted and adapted to broaden the understanding of the role human‐element plays in SWSE, such as the Knowledge Creation Theory (KCT), Toyota Production System (TPS) known as “Lean” and Emotional Intelligence (EI). An overall conclusion is that SWSE is a human‐centric activity, and its success is heavily reliant on the human‐element and its related social dynamics. The findings can help viewing SWSE from a different prospective that could help improving the practice.
Systems Thinking in Systems Engineering
Authors: Camelia Fanny , Ferris Timothy L. J. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractSystems thinking (ST) offers a holistic approach rather than a reductionist approach, through appreciating all the interrelated dimensions of complex problems. It is important for understanding and interacting with all kinds of systems, in order to manage complex problems. However, the broad range of the ST‐related literature found in various disciplines, generates a great deal of disagreement about definitions and understanding of systems thinking. Despite the current ambiguities of ST definitions, its underlying philosophy has a long history. This paper aims to clarify what ST is in the modern day and why it is defined in so many different ways. It identifies a number of interpretations of systems thinking with the purpose of clarifying what it is and why it is variously understood. The main aims of this paper is to propose a new ST construct, and to define its role in the practice of Systems Engineering (SE). This paper then draws implications of the new ST construct for SE education.
A Model‐Based Systems Engineering Application for Radiometric Measurement Uncertainty
Authors: Phojanamongkolkij Nipa , Walker Joe A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe current practice in radiometric measurement uncertainty of an instrument is to build the computational model in spreadsheets. Albeit easy to use, the spreadsheets are difficult for users to understand the computational structure hierarchy, and in traceability to the performance requirements. The motivation of this study is to overcome these weaknesses by transforming the spreadsheets to the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) model. The SysML model visually provides the structure hierarchy (using block definition diagrams) to the traditional spreadsheets and presents uncertainty calculations as mathematical constraints captured by parametric diagrams. In addition, the SysML requirement diagrams give requirement traceability to the uncertainty elements. The current model has been extended beyond the uncertainty analysis to include structure decomposition of the physical instrument as well as the total instrument mass analysis. A system‐level design trade analysis that encompasses both radiometric measurement uncertainty and system mass is demonstrated. The Desirability Function method is applied to optimally select the design, where both the uncertainty and mass are simultaneously considered.
Case Study: Customised Enhancement of an MBSE Environment for Transport Infrastructure Projects
Authors: Scott William , Shirvani Farid , Arabian Gary , Campbell Peter 
Published: September 2016

AbstractArchitecture tools have become axiomatic for project success however these tools are designed for tailoring to better meet user's needs. Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), under the guidance of its Asset Standards Authority, is currently building an architecture framework model to help stakeholders understand and guide transport infrastructure projects in the future so that the delivered systems are more successful. To augment the work of developing the framework, the off‐the‐shelf tools have been tailored with a series of routines designed to standardize diagrams and structure, validate the model, detect anomalies and distribute data.
Instantiating Product‐Specific Processes: A Framework for Product Quality Achievement
Authors: Natarajan Swaminathan , Nistala Padmalata V. , Nori Kesav V. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIn current systems and software engineering practice, processes are defined generically at a level of abstraction above the specific product to be delivered. Processes capture engineering best practice but do not provide specific guidance on the technical work to be done to produce the product. Best practice guidance is sufficient where expert teams work on a stream of relatively similar problems, but in project organizations where the problems being addressed differ from project to project, particular quality concerns may be missed, leading to significant quality gaps that get identified and closed only late in the life cycle.We close this gap by deriving project‐specific processes from the generic organizational processes, instantiating the processes with the specific tasks needed to address the particular functional and quality concerns of each deliverable. Instantiation utilizes institutional knowledge from organizational and other knowledge repositories. This framework for systematically achieving product quality has been utilized successfully on several large programs, and published recently as an ISO Technical Specification, ISO TS30103. We present a case study of its application to a large insurance project.
On the Automation of Intelligence, Sensing, and Reconnaissance Systems in Low UDR Operations
Authors: Schaffner Michael A. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCurrently deployed Intelligence, Sensing, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems fall along the spectrum of autonomy in operations, ranging from those systems that collect and analyze data autonomously to those systems that require humans for effective collection operations. This paper outlines two traits of ISR systems that require relatively less human involvement in operations, introducing the measurement of an operation's Understanding‐to‐Data Ratio (UDR) to help determine the appropriateness of automating a system in a given operating context. Human and automated capabilities in existing systems are contrasted, with the strengths of each identified. Finally, a spectrum of system capability and human involvement is proposed for considering tradeoffs involved with new acquisitions in the ISR domain, with an emphasis on the interface between human operators and automation in partially autonomous systems.
Systems Engineer: the ultimate phronetic leader?
Authors: Arrichiello Vincenzo 
Published: September 2016

AbstractLeadership is charged with the expectation of providing guidance to decision making under conditions of uncertainty, incomplete information and high complexity; to that end, wisdom is needed. The pertinence of wisdom to leadership has been outlined by ancient philosophers (Aristotle “phronesis”, Thomas Aquina “prudentia”), and continues to be the subject of study today. This has resulted in the identification of the traits that, mainly, characterize wise leaders. The purpose of benefiting humankind is a deep rooted trait of engineering. This trait, conjoined with the fast growing interdependence between technological and societal issues, increasingly forces Engineering to deal with problems that exceed its traditional (technical) boundaries. As a consequence, engineers have to perform, ever more frequently, a decision making of the unstructured kind, that requires wise judgment. When comparing the traits of wise leaders with those deemed as characteristic of Engineering Leaders, and with those traditionally considered typical of effective Systems Engineers, a large overlapping becomes apparent. Thus Systems Engineering appears to be in a vantage position to respond to the demand of phronetic leadership. The Systems Approach, and its inherent Systems Thinking, can be reasonably seen as a solid foundations for an Engineering Leadership able to help mankind in meeting its present and future needs.
Benchmarking the Content of Master's Degrees in Systems Engineering in 2013
Authors: Kasser Joseph , Arnold Eileen 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper fills a gap in the literature by describing a benchmarking study of the knowledge taught in a sample of systems engineering degrees performed in October 2013. By describing the methodology, the development of the benchmarking criteria, and presenting the observations from the benchmarking study, the paper provides an example of the activities performed in the early stages of the Scientific Method. Since the study was performed to benchmark the Master of Defence Technology and Systems (MDTS) degree offered by the Temasek Defence Systems Institute (TDSI) in the National University of Singapore (NUS), the paper:
Highlights benchmarks of the MDTS degree against the sampled Masters’ degrees.
Covers the first stage of the Scientific Method, in which observations are made, sorted and analysed before a hypothesis is developed.
Proposes criteria to be used for benchmarking degrees from other institutions.
Development of a Systems Engineering Career Competency Model for the U.S. Department of Defense
Authors: White Corina , Whitcomb Clifford A. , Khan Rabia , Grambow Dana , Delgado Jessica , Vélez José G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation is sponsoring a strategic initiative led by a team from the Naval Postgraduate School Systems Engineering Department to implement an overall approach to study and develop a systems engineering career competency model. The Naval Postgraduate School is working in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Missile Defense Agency to develop and verify the competencies used by defense systems engineers. Verification of the competency model is critical to allow it to be used as a basis for “high stakes” human resource functions for all of the U.S. Department of Defense. This paper presents the development of the systems engineering career competency model, and the subsequent efforts to have the systems engineering competencies verified.
Connecting Systems Engineering and Human Factors through MBSE
Authors: Robert Nilsson , Lars‐Ola Bligård 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper explores the relationship between the domains of Systems Engineering and Human Factors. As complexity of product design increases a clear perspective of how these domains can be combined is necessary if systems under development are to be proficient. The relationship between the two domains is elaborated through the PU2B‐model, Product Utility Usability Business Model, which is a high level meta model developed to support decision making in systems design. With the PU2B‐model as base the paper presents how Systems Engineering and Human Factors relate to each other and can be combined to get the most out of both.