Matthew Hause

System XI · Consulting

One of the most troublesome and challenging parts of systems engineering is that systems keep changing. Some changes are planned as part of a phased system rollout. Others can occur because of changes in the environment, technology, customer need, unexpected emergent properties, competition, discovered system vulnerabilities, etc. Regardless of why...

Hazard analysis for individual systems is a task that is required as part of the production of most complex systems to identify hazards and to take appropriate measures to alleviate such hazards. It is a laborious and expensive task that requires key specialists and lengthy analysis. This is not just for systems on their own. Since collaboration be...

Model‐Based Engineering (MBE) has transformed the worlds of mechanical, electrical, chemical, software, systems engineering, and now cybersecurity. Model based cybersecurity allows this concern to be addressed as an integrated part of the solution as opposed to being a separate solution. To best take advantage of this, we must examine which modelin...

Knowledge and experience are gained during the execution of every project. This knowledge remains in the heads of the engineers, but often is not distributed more widely. In Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) projects, this knowledge can include problem solving techniques, algorithms, libraries of types, patterns, interfaces, components, etc. O...

It has been almost 20 years since INCOSE and the OMG kicked off an effort to create a standardized model‐based systems engineering modeling language. That effort culminated in 2006 with the creation of the Systems Modeling language (SysML). Over the past several years, numerous industries have increased their adoption of SysML and MBSE as a core pr...

Over the past several years, numerous industries have increased their adoption of the systems modeling language (SysML®) and model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) as a core practice within their engineering lifecycles. However, the introduction of SysML and MBSE methodologies has not yet yielded many of the originally envisioned benefits. System m...

Agile systems engineering is not new. Work has progressed on this for many years to the point that criteria has been established regarding best practice as well as a means of quantifying adherence. The future of systems engineering (FuSE) initiative is reexamining how agile systems engineering fits into the FuSE (Willette et al. 2021). As model‐bas...

To put it very simply, but not at all clearly, the 2021 Texas electricity grid failure was both caused by and not caused by the use of renewable energy. In 2020, 46 percent of Texas's energy was generated by natural gas, coal 18 percent, nuclear 11 percent, and renewables wind power 23 percent, and solar 2 percent. During the winter months when pow...

Logical or abstract architectures are an essential concept in systems engineering. They are included in the systems engineering handbook, the OOSEM process, the SEBOK, several modeling languages, and the ISO 15288 process definition. A logical architecture is a solution independent model of the problem domain used to understand "what" needs to be d...

The Multi-Orbit Disaggregated System (MODS) concept is a disaggregation strategy geared towards improved resiliency and flexibility of space missions by dispersing payloads and/or functionality across multiple small satellites (SmallSats). Although SmallSats make good candidates for deployment as a MOD System, their success hinges on the ability to...

Logical or abstract architectures are an essential concept in systems engineering. They are included in the systems engineering handbook, the OOSEM process, the SEBOK, several modeling languages, and the ISO 15288 process definition. A logical architecture is a solution‐independent model of the problem domain used to understand “what” needs to be d...

To put it very simply, but not at all clearly, the 2021 Texas electricity grid failure was both caused by and not caused by the use of renewable energy. In 2020, 46 percent of Texas's energy was generated by natural gas, coal 18 percent, nuclear 11 percent, and renewables wind power 23 percent, and solar 2 percent. During the winter months when pow...

When building systems, it is tempting to start with the stakeholder requirements and jump straight into implementing a preconceived solution and then mapping it to the requirements as best one can. This is “solutioneering.” To avoid this, systems engineers build models of the requirements, elaborating them into use cases, activity diagrams, IBDs, a...

While there are security bundles on the market, most IT departments operate with a wide range of products (an average of 75) just to secure their network (Zurkus 2016). Companies developed the security products independently and offer little to no cross‐product integration. Although many people treat cybersecurity infrastructures as systems, it is...

Services in the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) are not just software services. Services can include transport, surveillance, communications, providing healthcare and medical services, etc. The UAF implements DoDAF using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) as well as the British MODAF and NATO NAF. The DoDAF Service views implement services...

Architectures, systems, subsystems, and the data that they contain, are valuable assets. Systems engineers and architects must plan for system security from concept inception to retirement to ensure that security is embedded into every part of every process, procedure, system and component as well as in the mindset of the people in the enterprise....

Using electricity to directly power moving vehicles has been used for a long time as evidenced by trains, trams, and electrical buses. Providing electricity to move heavy transport trucks on roads Therefore does not represent a huge innovation. Since heavy haulage traffic on roads represents a significant part of carbon dioxide emissions, electric...

At the systems of systems and enterprise levels, systems engineers and architects must plan for system security from system concept inception ensuring security embeds into every process, procedure, system, and component as well as the enterprise's mindset. While the various United States Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) views co...

Product line engineering (PLE) is the engineering and management of a group of related products using a shared set of assets and a means of design and manufacturing. PLE can include systems, software, and assets and involves all aspects of engineering including electrical, electronic, mechanical, and chemical, just to name a few. Engineers normally...

Product Lines are a group of related products manufactured or produced within or between collaborating organizations. Effectively managing a product line requires understanding the similarities and differences between products, optimizing the development life cycle to leverage the similarities, and concentrating development on the differences. ISO...

One can measure the life of a class of submarines in decades. As such, the operational demands and expectations change both strategically and tactically over its lifetime. Coupling this adaptability with the length of time submarines take to design, build, and maintain, no two as‐built submarines in a class will ever be the same, even when construc...

A Frenemy is “a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry.” (OED, 2018). The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and the Object Process Methodology (OPM) are two such frenemies. OPM and SysML are different means of achieving Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), each with their own benefits, issues, supporters and de...

A digital twin is much as it sounds: a digital representation of a specific asset in the field, including current and past configuration states, considering serialized parts, software versions, options, and variants. Condition data is also represented including sensor readings, alerts, and operating environments. A digital twin has significant impl...

A trade‐off study consists of “comparing the characteristics of each system element and of each candidate system architecture to determine the solution that best globally balances the assessment criteria. The various characteristics analyzed are gathered in cost analysis, technical risks analysis, and effectiveness analysis (NASA 2007).” Trade‐off...

Systems interoperate using interfaces. They exist between capabilities, organizations, people, systems, people and systems, systems and nature, systems of systems, and so forth. Interfaces are used to support both system to system communication as well as supporting the complete set of enterprise goals. Interfaces are where the most interesting thi...

Model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) is the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phases. The INCOSE Integrated Systems Engineering Vision 2025 [INCOSE, 2014] des...

ITER is the world's largest fusion device currently under construction in the South of France with >50 diagnostic systems to be installed inside the port plugs (PPs), the interspace (IS), or the port cell region of various diagnostic ports. The plasma facing diagnostic first wall (DFW) and its supporting diagnostic shield modules (DSM) are designed...

Architecture frameworks continue to evolve. The unified profile for the US Department of Defense (DoD) Architecture Framework (DoDAF) and the UK Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework (MODAF) (UPDM) provides a standard means of representing DoDAF, MODAF, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) architecture framework (NAF) conformant a...

Human beings are integral to today's complex systems of systems. Human behaviour, interactions, abilities, complexity, and limitations will have a dramatic effect on the successful realization of system capabilities. Therefore the human factors considerations need to be evaluated in conjunction with the overall systems engineering. Systems engineer...

The development of large, complex, heavy construction equipment can be difficult, time consuming and expensive, even more so if the goal is to design a complete site solution. The example used is taken from an ongoing real project named Electric site. The aim is to electrify a transport stage in a quarry – from excavation to primary crushing and tr...

A System of Systems (SoS) is a large complex system, with varying degrees of operational independence, managerial independence, evolutionary development, geographical distribution and lifecycle independence. Critical Infrastructure such as the electrical grid contains all the aspects of a SoS. Due to the ever-increasing complexity of the grid, a si...

A system of systems (SoS) is a large complex system, with varying degrees of operational independence, managerial independence, evolutionary development, geographical distribution, and lifecycle independence. Critical infrastructure such as the electrical grid contains all the aspects of a SoS. Models are routinely used throughout the complete life...

Architecture frameworks continue to evolve. The Unified Profile for the Department of Defense (DoD) Architecture Framework (DoDAF) and the UK's Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework (MODAF) (UPDM) provides a standard means of representing DoDAF, MODAF, and NATO Architecture Framework (NAF) conformant architectures using the Unified Modeling La...

Product Line Engineering (PLE) is the engineering and management of a group of related products using a shared set of assets and a means of design and manufacturing. PLE can include system and software, assets and involves all aspects of engineering including electrical, electronic, mechanical, chemical, etc. PLE is normally considered after the pr...

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of systems (SoS) in every sense of the definition. A.P. Sage and others list five common SoS characteristics: operational independence of the individual systems, managerial independence, geographical distribution, emergent behavior and evolutionary development or independent life cycles. Typical examples inc...

The life of a class of submarines can be measured in decades. As such the operational demands and expectations change both strategically and tactically over its lifetime. Coupling this adaptability with the length of time submarines take to design, build, and maintain, no two “as built” submarines in a class will ever be the same even when construc...

Large infrastructure projects are complex, difficult and expensive. They are found in the transportation, energy, and communications sectors. These include projects for aerospace, and construction of public works and utilities, airports, sea ports, rail, highways and bridges, among others. They are subject to the requirements of a multitude of stak...

Product Lines are a group of related products manufactured or produced within or between collaborating organizations. To effectively manage a product line, one needs to understand both the similarities and differences between the different products and optimize the development lifecycle to leverage the similarities, and concentrate development on t...

The title of the paper refers to the proverb of the death of Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field. “For want of a battle the kingdom was lost, … and all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” The pattern described is called a chain of causality or causal sequence. DoDAF 2.0 contains many concepts that can document these sequences as w...

Systems of Systems (SoS) modeling is becoming increasingly important in both civilian and military systems. The Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Acquisition Guidebook, [1] defines a SoS as a “set or arrangement of systems that results when independent and useful systems are integrated into a larger system that delivers unique capabilities.” Orga...

The capture of system structure, behavior, configuration, interaction, and compliance is common practice in architectures. These are largely static views showing a specific configuration or behavior. IEEE Std 610.12–1990 defines architecture as “the fundamental organization of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other,...

UPDM is the Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF. The UPDM specification was developed by a diverse group of tool vendors, end users, academia, and government representatives. UPDM enjoys the full support of the DOD and MOD and is a DoD mandated standard. The UML/SysML foundation improves the integration between architectural framework modeling and...

The book of Genesis tells the story of how the peoples of the earth came together to build an enormous tower. To confound them in their task, God changed the languages of the different groups of people so that they were unable to communicate. Since they could not coordinate their efforts, the project was abandoned and the different groups dispersed...

Modeling of the electrical grid is normally done using bespoke or custom tools and programs rather than generic modeling languages. This requires the engineer to develop the complete simulation system from scratch. In addition, it is difficult to model from different viewpoints and levels of abstraction. The models are normally created from a singl...

How do I know that my model is of good quality?“ This question is frequently asked when developing models. This is true whether developing Yourdon, IDEF0, UML, SysML, UPDM, or Lego models. The purpose of the model is to fulfill a need or to answer questions. Consequently, before starting the modeling exercise, one has to determine the questions tha...

The Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF, (UPDM) initiative was started by members of INCOSE and the OMG. UPDM provides a consistent, standardized means to describe DoDAF 1.5 and MODAF 1.2 architectures in SysML/UML-based tools as well as a standard for interchange. The concepts found in the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) such as parametrics, blo...

This paper presents an approach to systems engineering and system-of-systems modeling that is based on the idea of context modeling. Based on over ten years of research and application the approach forms the basis of ACSE (Atego Context-based Systems Engineering). Many traditional approaches to systems modeling represent systems as high-level block...

The Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM) initiative was started by members of INCOSE and the OMG to create a standard profile for DoDAF and MODAF. Although the main goal was to create a standard UML profile for DoDAF and MODAF, UPDM fulfills other goals as well. The standardized format decreases training requirements as well as providing a st...

As systems become increasingly complex and the time to market decreases, systems engineers have to develop novel solutions to testing. The scenario is particularly acute when dealing within the safety critical domain. This paper will seek to highlight how UML and in particular, improvements introduced by SysML can aid the testing process in terms o...

As systems become increasingly complex and the time to market decreases, systems engineers have to develop novel solutions to testing. The scenario is particularly acute when dealing within the safety critical domain. This paper will seek to highlight how UML and in particular, improvements introduced by SysML can aid the testing process in terms o...

OMG SysML, an extension of UML2, provides a standard modeling language for engineers to analyze, specify, design, and verify complex systems. It enhances systems quality, improves the ability to exchange systems engineering information amongst tools and helps bridge the semantic gap between systems, software, and other engineering disciplines. OMG...

Systems are becoming increasingly reliant on software. One of the roles of the systems engineer is to perform a trade-off analysis of the different architectural solutions to a problem, and allocate requirements to different engineering domains within that solution, including software. It is important to investigate effective ways of establishing t...

Technology has developed such that it allows for effective remote collaboration on system development in a team-based environment. Two avionics examples of systems developed in such a way are the Airbus 380, and the Eurofighter, with development split between several European countries. Additionally, outsourcing has become endemic in the industry,...

Matthew Hause, principal consultant, artisan Software tools presents the OMG SysML Artifacts use on mission-critical applications to specify the requirements for solution spaces as software and hardware to provide traceability and handover. The 0MG SysML specification was developed with an aim to provide a standard modeling language for systems eng...

During embedded systems development, decisions must be made regarding which portions of the system will be implemented in software, hardware, firmware etc. The latest version of UML (UML 2.1.1), and the Systems Modeling Language, (SysML) now enable embedded systems developers to more closely model their systems. Systems engineering principals, can...

A building architect would not design a building without due consideration of existing safety standards related to the utilities (gas, electricity and water). These aspects of the building's design cut across the structural aspects of the building. The design of the building (commonly represented as a blueprint) contains aspects of structure, plumb...

Moderne Fahrzeuge verfügen über eine Fülle von Funktionen, die vor allen durch ein sehr komplexes Netzwerk von Elektronikkomponenten ermöglicht werden. Darin versieht eingebettete Software ihren Dienst, die wiederum eng vernetzt sein muss, um korrekt und fehlerfrei zu funktionieren. Artisan Studio unterstützt jetzt die OMG SysML, ein Subset der Uni...

Modern vehicles incorporate a high level of functionality. This is largely underpinned by a complex infrastructure comprising electronic components and embedded software that must be closely coupled in a network structure ensuring complete and accurate performance. Artisan Studio now provides full support for OMG SysML, a sub-set of the Unified Mod...

On July 6th 2006, the Object Management Group (OMG) announced the adoption of the OMG Systems Modeling Language (OMG SysML). The SysML specification was in response to the joint Request for Proposal issued by the OMG and INCOSE (the International Council on Systems Engineering) for a customized version of UML 2, designed to address the specific nee...

A conspicuous disconnect exists between a MoDAF/DoDAF Architectural Model (MAF) and any subsequent Systems Engineering modeling activities. MAF permits the modeling of 'system-of-systems' and they both facilitate the capture of the high-level properties of a system's interfaces. However, how is this critical information communicated to an organizat...

The Human Computer Interface (HCI) is one of the most important aspects of any system. It governs how people perceive the environment in which the system is deployed, and can either enable or hinder their ability to interact with that environment. Specifying the appropriate characteristics of the interface is therefore crucial to the correct implem...

Requirements Engineering is dealt with concurrently and largely separately by a software‐based requirements engineering community anchored in the IEEE and by the INCOSE Requirements Working Group. Apart from such organizational issues, are there fundamental technical differences between Requirements Engineering for software vs. systems in general?...

Systems engineers are using various approaches to address the shortcomings of the Unified Modelling Language (UML), introduced in 1997, which is now the only widely used visual modeling language for software engineering. Some system engineers have made use of the stereotypes provided in UML to create libraries' or profiles of entities in their appl...

Modeling with UML/SysML involves many different organizing principles. These include inheritance and aggregation hierarchies, association networks, and dependency relationships. These can be addressed by the model architecture itself, and by the different UML/SysML diagrams. Also, there are requirements or areas of concern such as safety, risk, and...

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In March 2003, the Object Management Group (OMG) issued a request for proposals for a customised version of UML suitable for systems engineering, supporting the modelling of a broad range of systems, which may include hardware, software, data, personnel, procedures, and facilities. There was only one technology submission to the request, which was...

Modeling requirements with the Unified Modeling Language (UML) can be confusing for both first time and experienced systems engineers. Often this is due to inexperience with UML, or a reliance on object-oriented techniques, where it is necessary to identify objects as the starting point for evaluating a potential system. When modeling requirements,...

The use-case diagrams in UML have many more roles to play in development than describing what should happen. By covering exceptions and potential problems, they can go a long way to improving the robustness of the final system, ensuring it meets its specification and helping build support material such as safety cases.

The following topics were covered in the paper: UML; SysML diagram taxonomy; SysML activity extensions; continuous systems; SysML assemblies; structural modeling; parts, ports, connectors; user customization; engineering block diagram; parametric constraint; requirements modeling; requirements diagram; allocations; hardware profile; real-time concu...

Systems Engineers have been modeling systems since the inception of the discipline. Reasons for modeling systems include among others: definition of the work to be done (requirements), allocation of responsibilities, documentation of the completed system, and communication with the various disciplines who will create, operate, and maintain the syst...

The applications of use-case which provides way of building necessary information for safety case in system design are discussed. Use-cases are used to encapsulate requirements which are valuable tool for graphically specifying large and complex functions in concise and compact format. Scenarios are expressed as interaction diagrams which are avala...

When creating UML models of systems, a common strategy is to model all the elements as classes. This technique is inadequate, because eventually the element has to represent something in a given solution space. Instead, the system should be modeled using a library of Systems Engineering concepts that can be applied to the problem. In this paper, we...

In the book of Genesis, the peoples of the earth came together to build an enormous tower. To confound them in their task, God changed the languages of the different groups of people so that they were unable to communicate. Since they could not coordinate their efforts, the project was abandoned and the different groups dispersed throughout the wor...

Considering the large variety of military architectural frameworks in existence such as DoDAF and MODAF, among others, a way to unite their differing requirements has recently been born: the Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM), which works toward a standardized UML/SysML profile for these and other military frameworks. Amidst a plethora of d...

For decades, Systems Engineers have been modelling systems using functional decomposition resulting in inflexible, non-maintainable systems. Reuse of designs, and concepts is also difficult to achieve. Recently, they have been experimenting with UML, with varying degrees of success. Quite often, the approach is to model all the elements as classes....